Hmm, doesn't seem like that crazy a route. Try google mapping the route from North Bay to Maniwaki... Yes, that is the Kitigan Zibi stage that it tells you to take...

The Flinton area has some wicked roads - but I would avoid that little 'short-cut'.  The intersection at Kaladar isn't built up at all (just a Tim's on the NW cor.) - certainly quicker.  (I surveyed about the first 1/3 of your proposed route a couple of years ago...).  

Apart from that, the whole route to Renfrew is quite good.

I'll be going thru the Park on 60 and then joining your route at Portage-du-Fort.  301 is hilly in some places, but I towed over it in 'Smoky' in a snow storm one year - and made it  

Robin

Route definitely worked... and is interesting enough.  Never time to get bored, lots of corners and hills.  The 301 was pretty much snow covered the entire way... everyone had been driving in the middle... couple hundred pounds of tools in the car makes it want to slide around a little more.  Definitely glad I swapped the good blizzaks on (had some older Hankook snows on)... driving briskly on friday night with 1" of packed snow on the road was a lot of fun.

That deer sure saw me coming... "just" missed me... turned in time and only caught my mirror.  He just missed the car infront of me, jumped out infront of me, and shifted enough to not go through my windshield.  

Oh... and I love the 90km/h zones in Quebec... no need to speed, thats the perfect speed!