Manitou Falls is the natural counterweight to the village church: a short forest outing to a loud, powerful waterfall west of the village near the Gulf. It makes Rivière-au-Tonnerre feel like more than a roadside stop, especially if you are already driving this stretch of Route 138.
Check local trail conditions before setting out, especially after heavy rain. The walk is short enough for most travellers, but the North Shore is not a place to treat weather or footing casually.