At Thunderhouse Falls, which is actually a chain of relatively small waterfalls connected by violent rapids, the river drops 40 metres, part of its descent from the Canadian Shield to the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

In fur trade days the Missinaibi was the main route between James Bay and Lake Superior.

The three main posts, all at times called Brunswick House or similar were[4] Today, the river is used for canoeing, fishing, and camping.

Recreational use is facilitated by an arrangement which allows canoeists to load their boats on a train so they can be returned south, after canoeing the wild stretches of the river.

Missinaibi River Route - stretching for 238 kilometres (144 miles) from the towns of Missinabie to Mattice 2.