The Croche River rises at the mouth of Caribou Lake. This source is located northeast of the course of the Raimbault River; south-west of the south shore of lac Saint-Jean; south-west of the village center of Sainte-Hedwidge; and west of lac des Commissaires. Its source is 100 km north of La Tuque and it flows south through a narrow valley forming interconnecting lakes and many bends, which characterize its name. Many small rivers feed the northern half of the river's course. For many segments of its path, the river flows through many rapids, waterfalls and cascades. From The mouth of Lac du Caribou", located on the north side of the lake, the Croche river flows over, with a drop of, according to the following segments:
to the east, crossing Caribou lake, to the dam located at the mouth;
to the East, forming a curve towards the South to collect the water from the outlet of Lac Travers, to the outlet of the Lake Lake trout and Grand lac Bonhomme;
towards the South-East by crossing a marsh area, to the mouth of Lac aux Rats that the current crosses on towards the South;
south-east, to the mouth of Lac du Cygne that the current crosses over its full length;
south-east, to the northwest shore of Lac Panache ;
to the Southwest, crossing Lac Panache to its mouth.
Intermediate course of the Croche river
From the mouth of Lac Panache, the Croche river flows on:
south-west, to the mouth of Lac au Ruisseau that the current crosses over its full length;
towards the Southwest by collecting the waters of the Goélands stream, up to the limit of the canton of Bécart;
southwards, to the mouth of Lac Davenne than the current crosses over its full length;
towards the South, with several falls and rapids, until the confluence of the Patrick River ;
towards the South, by forming a hook towards the West, up to the limit of La Tuque;
towards the Southeast in La Tuque, until the confluence of the rivière du Brûlé ;
Lower Croche River
From the confluence of the rivière du Brûlé, the Croche river flows on:
southwards, to a bridge over a forest road;
towards the South-East by crossing the rapids of the Grosse Roche and the Brûlé falls, and meandering until the confluence of the Petite rivière Croche ;
towards the South by forming a curve towards the North-East, up to the limit of the canton of Lavoie;
to the South, winding up to a bridge over a forest road;
to the South, winding up to the limit of the canton of Langelier;
to the South, passing under two bridges and winding up to the limit of the canton of Malhiot;
towards the South, forming the limit between the canton of Langelier and Malhiot, and passing under the railway bridge, until the confluence of the river.
The Croche river flows in a narrow valley generally in a south direction, forming lakes in succession and numerous meander s in the lower part, which characterize its appellation. Many small streams feed the northern half of its route. For several segments of its route, this river flows through numerous rapids, falls and waterfalls. On its last 20 kilometers, the river forms a valley rich in alluvium in agricultural zone, before throwing in the Saint-Maurice River at 5 km North of La Tuque.
History
Formerly a deciduous forest dominated vegetation in the downstream part of the watershed of the Croche river, because the soil was rich in alluvium. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the watershed of the river was cleared to make way for agriculture. Several farms were established. Despite its shallow depth, the river was used to float logs to feed sawmills and pulp mills located in the La Tuque and downstream on the Saint-Maurice River.
Toponymy
The name «Croche River» was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Bank of place names of Commission de toponymie du Québec. According to the Commission de toponymie du Québec in 1863, Stanislas Drapeau mentioned in his notes the name of "rivière Croche". The land surveyor Du Tremblay described it as well in 1873. In popular language, the term "Croche" often refers to a serpentine path makes a hook or streamers. The toponyms "Croche" and Crooked is widespread in the places names in Quebec, including 102 lakes that are so designated. Given that many rivers used the word «Croche» in their names, the authorities replaced some of them with more distinctive names. The number of 145, these ancient lakes Croche or Crooked particular received or sometimes taken other specific descriptive French terms, "Sinueux", "Coudé". Surnames and forenames or Native American names. In addition, the Bank of place names of Quebec includes five "Croche rivers", a small Croche river and a small North Croche, as well as "rivière crochue". Seven "Croche Rivers" or "Crooked rivers" received or taken other names such as "Lecompte river", Auriac river, "du Gouffre Sud-Ouest" and Camitogama. The "Croche" term is present in the names of three populated places in Quebec: Lac-Croche, Quebec in Matawinie, La Croche, "Rivière Croche" in Mauricie.
