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.

In 1775-76 Edward Jarvis from Henley House went up the Kenogami River, crossed to the Missinaibi and went down to Michicopicten.

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.