Canoe Trip Reports

TRIP: KAWARTHA HIGHLANDS PROVINCIAL PARK - WEEKEND ON RATHBUN & NORTH RATHNUN
NOTE:Kawartha Highalnds has plenty of opportunities. This trip is a short weekend paddle that is relaxing and leisurely.
LAKE/RIVER: Anstruther Lake to Rathbun Lake to North Rathbun and return.
TYPE: Linear, but a loop is possible in the area (Serpentine Loop).
DAYS: 2 to 3 days
ACCESS PT: Anstruther Lake Access
PORTAGES: 4 portages
LONGEST PORTAGE: 164 Metres
HIGHLIGHTS: Lovely Scenery Scenery. Easy leisurely.
LOW: Cottages on some lakes, however, not a big deal

TRIP: THE MASSASAUGA - SPIDER LAKE LOOP
NOTE: This area is large and has lots of different options including the islands of Georgian Bay. Our trip was limited to Spider Lake and the inner bays of Lake Huron.
LAKE/RIVER: Spider Lake and the inners bays of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron.
TYPE: Loop.
DAYS: 4 to 5 days
ACCESS PT:Three Legged Lake Access Point, register at Oastler Lake Provincial Park.
PORTAGES: 5 portages
LONGEST PORTAGE:780m of mud
HIGHLIGHTS:Lovely Scenery, great wildlife viewing including a chance to see endangered reptiles
LOW: The park is very busy. The sites have to reserved on a site specific basis. Some areas have cottages and motorboats and, unfortunately, those are the most scenic areas like the lake's inner bays.

TRIP: THE BRENT RUN
NOTE: A challenging yet enjoyable trip that visits some beautiful areas of Algonquin Park
LAKE/RIVER: From Canoe Lake, Joe Lakes, Burnt Island Lake, Otterslide Lakes, Big Trout Lake, Longer Lake. Redpine Lake, Burntroot Lake, Perley Lake, Catfish Lake, Narrowbag Lake, Cedar Lake and return the same way.
TYPE: Linear - Same way return.
DAYS: 2 (insane) to 10 days
ACCESS PT: Canoe Lake Access in Algonquin Park
PORTAGES: 46 portages
LONGEST PORTAGE: 2340m
HIGHLIGHTS: A great opportunity to see quite a few lakes on a single trip.
LOW: The portages aren’t too long, but there are a lot of them.

TRIP: FRENCH RIVER DELTA
NOTE: This area is my favourite place to paddle. I have done this trip twice (three if you include the French & the Fox, see below). Our fall trip was completely different than our spring trip due to the water levels and weather.
LAKE/RIVER: French River, Wanapitai River, Georgian Bay
TYPE: Loop
DAYS: 5 to 8 days
ACCESS PT: Hartley Bay Marina. Parking at a cost.
PORTAGES: 2 or more depending on the water levels
LONGEST PORTAGE: 240m
HIGHLIGHTS: Outstanding scenery
LOW: Cottages and motorboats on many parts. The motorboats will not slow down for canoes. Winds can be very high along the Georgian Bay coast. Allow extra time in case of being wind bound

TRIP: FRENCH AND THE FOX
NOTE: There are some very wild areas on this trip. Be sure to bring a good map and a compass
LAKE/RIVER: French River, Fox River, Georgian Bay
TYPE: Loop
DAYS: 5 to 8 days
ACCESS PT: Hartley Bay Marina. Parking at a cost.
PORTAGES: 2 or more depending on the water levels
LONGEST: 240m
HIGHLIGHTS: Outstanding scenery, very rugged terrain
LOW: Cottages and motorboats on many parts. The motorboats will not slow down for canoes.

TRIP: CROW, LAVIEILLE, DICKSON
NOTE: The last portage is a long one, but with the effort to see this gorgeous wilderness area.
LAKE/RIVER: Opeongo, Proulx, Crow River, Little Croe, Big Crow, Crow Bay, Lavieille, Dickson, Bonfield, Wright, back to Opeongo.
TYPE: Loop. A water taxi service is highly recommended as Lake Opeongo is a very big lake to paddle.
DAYS: 4 days or longer if you want to enjoy this scenic area of Algonquin Park.
ACCESS PT: Opeongo Lake - Algonquin Access #11
PORTAGES: 12 portages
LONGEST: 5305m
HIGHLIGHTS: The Crow River was like paddling on a boreal forest river. It was nice to see the virgin White Pines.
LOW: The Dickson - Bonfield portage is a long one.

TRIP: BARRON CANYON
NOTE: When ever I introduce someone to interior canoe tripping, they always want to do the canyon. I have paddled this trip 5 times and I am not complaining.
LAKE/RIVER: Grand, Stratton, St Andrews, High Falls, Barron River, Brigham.
ALTERNATE: Grand, Stratton, St Andrews, High Falls, Ooze, Opalescent, Brigham, Barron River.
TYPE: One way, linear, with two cars. Other options available for a longer trip.
DAYS: 2 to 4 days.
ACCESS PT: Achray Station - Algonquin Access #22; Out (2nd car) at Squirrel Rapids
PORTAGES: 9 portages
LONGEST: 660m (730m if you go by Opalescence)
HIGHLIGHTS: Barron Canyon is the main highlight. Also, High Falls on Stratton is a great place to swim.
LOW: This area can be quite busy.

TRIP: CEDAR, RADIANT, WENDIGO
NOTE: This is a trip not well none or travelled
LAKE/RIVER: Cedar, Petawawa River, Radiant, Shoal, Clamshell, North Depot, Allan, Wendigo
TYPE: One way linear trip using two cars
DAYS: 3 days
ACCESS PT: Cedar Lake Access #26; Out at Wendigo Lake - Access #25
PORTAGES: 11 portages
LONGEST: 960m
HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful area, not as busy as the corridor access points
LOW: Motorboats on Cedar and Radiant. Vehicle driving on old rail bed.

TRIP: RAGGED, LOUISA, ROCK
NOTE: Lake Louisa might be a tough place to get to, but it was worth it as its is a beautiful lake.
LAKE/RIVER: Smoke, Ragged, Big Porcupine, Bonnechere, Phipps, Kirkwood, Lawrence, Rod & Gun, Louisa, Rock
TYPE: One way linear trip using two cars
DAYS: 5 days (we stayed 2 nights on Louisa)
ACCESS PT: Smoke Lake - Algonquin Access #6; Out Rock Lake - Access #9
PORTAGES: 9 portages
LONGEST: 2985m
HIGHLIGHTS: The scenic beauty of Lake Louisa and the gorgeous weather we had through out the trip
LOW: Because we were doing this trip in July, some of the lakes and portages were very busy.

TRIP: ALGONQUIN SOUTH
NOTE: Although this is a very small area and not well known, it has a lot to offer
LAKE/RIVER: Kingscote, Big Rock, Byers, Branch, York River, Benior
TYPE: One way linear trip using two cars or use a vehicle shuttle.
DAYS: 2 or 3 days
ACCESS PT: Kingscote Lake - Algonquin Access #15, Out Pine Grove Lodge.
PORTAGES: 7 portages
LONGEST: 1300m
HIGHLIGHTS: Night of wolves howling and the York River scenic landscape.
LOW: The very loud moose hunters with chainsaws, stacks of beer cases kind of took away the tranquility of this otherwise remote area.

TRIP: FRONTENAC PROVINCIAL PARK
NOTE: This park is a little gem located in the unique Frontenac Axis which is home to some unique flora and fauna.
LAKE/RIVER: Big Salmon, Big Clear, Black, Little Clear, Little Salmon
TYPE: Loop
DAYS: 4 days
ACCESS PT: Big Salmon Lake
PORTAGES: 7 portages
LONGEST: 975m
HIGHLIGHTS: The fall colours were spectacular and the wildlife was abundant
LOW: Campsites are in clusters, so there is very little privacy. Sites are also very heavily used.

TRIP: LOWER MADAWASKA
NOTE: This is the canoe paddlers playground.
LAKE/RIVER: Madawaska River
TYPE: One way linear trip using two cars
DAYS: 3 days, to enjoy. Can be done in 2
ACCESS PT: In at Aumonds Bay, out at Griffin
PORTAGES: There are 13 rapids on this trip and all but 1 have portages.
LONGEST: 750m
HIGHLIGHTS: There are many rapids on the trip with various technical grades for fun and practice. The Madawaska River guide book was very helpful (ISBM 1-895709-06-7)
LOW: There is always a forest access road near by where ATV's and offroad vehicles have access. Some areas are obviously used by people more interested in partying and less

TRIP: ROCK, PEN, CYDEGALE
NOTE: This easy trip makes for a nice weekend getaway. Just make sure you book ahead.
LAKE/RIVER: Rock, Pen, Clydehale
TYPE: Linear, return the same way.
DAYS: 2 days
ACCESS PT: Rock Lake - Algonquin Access #9
PORTAGES: 4 (2x2)
LONGEST: 375m
HIGHLIGHTS: Easy paddling, except for the high winds on the
LOW: Being easy access with very easy portages, this area will always be busy during the summer months.

TRIP: SUNDAY CREEK. NORWAY. FORK
NOTE: My first time here was my first ever solo trip.
LAKE/RIVER: Sunday Creek, Norway, Fork
TYPE: Linear, return the same way.
DAYS: 2 or 3 days
ACCESS PT: Sunday Creek - Algonquin Access #10
PORTAGES: No portages, but be prepared to deal with some liftovers as there are beaver dams.
LONGEST: 5m
HIGHLIGHTS: Easy paddle if Sunday Creek has enough waterflow to navigate.
LOW: Our latest trip was a wet one.

TRIP: TIM RIVER LOOP
NOTE: We did this trip just after ice out in early May. The Tim is a long winding river that can be quite narrow at times.
LAKE/RIVER: Tim River, Tim Lake, Rosebary, Longbow, Shippagew, Longer, Big Trout, White Trout, Grassy Bay, McIntosh Creek, McIntosh Lake, Timberwolf, Misty, Pandion Pond, Shay Lake, Tim River
TYPE: Loop
DAYS: 7 or 8 days
ACCESS PT: Tim lake - Algonquin Access #2
PORTAGES: 18
LONGEST: 1335m
HIGHLIGHTS: This trip visits many different lakes, creeks and rivers and some of Algonquin most beautiful landscapes. In early spring, there are a lot of moose to se seen.
LOW: The day we paddled from Longbow to Longer by way of the winding Tim River was the longest paddling day of my life.