All Campgrounds
Black Lake Canoe Route
Hwy 35 north on Minden, Shoe Lake access road (municipal parking) West through Shoe Lake P 1097 m to Blue Chalk Lake Southwest through Blue Chalk Lake P 46 m to Red Chalk Lake Southwest through Red Chalk Lake P 457 m to Carcass Lake South through Carcass Lake P 823 m to Upper Pairo Lake P 137 m to Lower Pairo Lake P 1463 m to Black Lake East through Black Lake P 914 m L around falls / rapids P 337 m R around falls P 228 m L around falls to Wren Lake East through Wren Lake and Little Wren Lake P 46 m around dam to Raven Lake North then northwest through Raven Lake to Five Mile Bay P 1189 m to retrieve vehicle at Shoe Lake
Minden, Ontario
View Black Lake Canoe Route
Black River - Gunn Lake Loop
Enter off Hwy 35 to Little Wren Parking lot. North on Black River, under bridge, to portage on right around dam. On Raven Lake, across to portage. Into Gunn. Several campsites. Out of Gunn from NW bay, river with a couple of liftovers. Into Raven. SW then south on Raven to bay and portage around dam. Black River to put in.
Pine Springs, Ontario
View Black River - Gunn Lake Loop
Black River North - South Central Ontario
Technical Guide: East of Washago, out RT 6 to the Queen Elizabeth Wildlands. Car is fine just take it easy on the road.Road is not open in the early spring due to flooding.e Upstream on the Black River from the last bridge at the falls. Put in upstream from the bridge. There is a lot going on in a short section of river. Three or four sections of fast water and three rapids. Lined them all going up, beautiful falls campsite past the last set of rapids. Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: What a great solo trip! Cuddles (my dog),(not a six foot blonde) and I had a wonderful time. Nice rock about 5 or 6 KM in to climb and as I said outstanding sandy campsite at the falls, good swimming. Ran all the rapids, except one coming out, but that will depend on water levels of course. Ignore the no camping signs, it's meant to discourage the ATV crowd. Maps Required Topo Maps (1:50,000): Its on a river, you don\'t need a map. Although if you plan on going on th South and North Longford Lakes you should take one. Special Comments: Very nice day trip or overnighter at the falls and completely isolated, no roads , no people, just the way I like it. You might be able to access South and North Longford Lakes but I never went that far.
Muskoka, Ontario
View Black River North - South Central Ontario
Clear Lake Loop
Technical Guide: Hwy 69 just south of Oastler Lake Prov. Park (near Parry Sound) West on James Bay Junction Road, then west on Bluechalk Road Right on Three Legged Lake Road and follow to MNR parking area West through Three Legged Lake P 318 m to Spider Lake To southeast corner of Spider Lake P 638 m to Clear Lake To west side of Clear Lake P 239 m to small bay To north end of small bay P 840 m to Spider lake (just left of remains of old homestead) Return via same route Maps Required Topo Maps (1:50,000): 41 H/7-8 Parry Sound 41 H/1 Sans Souci Other Maps: Massassauga Provincial Park map - shows all campsites and portages Special Comments: This route passes through Massassauga Provincial Park. Permits must be obtained before entering the park.
Parry Sound, Ontario
View Clear Lake Loop
Drag River - Burnt River
Technical Guide: Hwy 121 through Kinmount - turn right on Route No. 1 towards Gelert. North of Gelert, at the bridge over the Irondale River, turn left to Canning Lake Dam Start at Canning Lake Dam (P 100 m L to dam) South on Drag River P 172 m L (or Line / Wade) P 300 m L (or Line / Wade) Junction of Drag River / Burnt River - continue south on Burnt River P 390 m R South on Burnt River P 330 m L around Three Brothers Falls P 235 m R around Kinmount Dam P 40 m R p 375 m R p 60 m R P 60 m L P 430 m R P 240 m R P 40 m R South on Burnt River West on Rosedale River West across Balsam Lake to finish at Balsam Lake Prov. Park
Kinmount, Ontario
View Drag River - Burnt River
Eels Creek Route
Technical Guide: Hwy 28 north of Burleigh Falls, past Woodview Take gravel road past Hwy 28 bridge over creek. Eels Creek for 2 km P 18m L around small falls Eels Creek for 1 km P 54 m R around cataract Eels Creek for 2 km P 162 m L around High Falls Eels Creek for 0.5 km P 50 m L from pond below falls to lower pond Eels Creek for 1.5 km P 40 m L around rapid Exit at Northey`s Road Bridge Special Comments: Campsites are available at High Falls. There is a 4.5 km (four hour return trip) hiking trail from High Falls to Petroglyphs Provincial Park Additional comments:I just came back from that area (Dec 2001). A proper parking lot has been built at the take-out, which has so far been lacking. As an aside, one can hike from that parking lot in a northerly direction through nice woods for maybe 40 minutes or more, along an unmarked trail.Erhard Kraus
Burleigh Falls, Ontario
View Eels Creek Route
Herb and Gun Lakes Route
Turn off Hwy 35 onto Kawagama Road (No. 8) just north of Dorset At first junction, turn right onto No. 8 (continuation of Kawagama Road) Turn right when road forks - approx 11 km down road (just past Minden Bay) turn right on a dirt road. This dirt road is 2.2 km west of Deer Bay Road. South to end of Herb Lake Liftover at beaver dam into pond To southwest corner of pond Liftover beaver dam into Black River P 172 m L around falls Black River for 0.5 km P 62 m R around Brandy Falls Black River into Gun Lake Return via. same route.
Dorset, Ontario
View Herb and Gun Lakes Route
Irondale River - Burnt River
Technical Guide: Gooderham at Hwy 507 - south end of town at bridge for access West on Irondale River P 375 m R around rapid P 590 m R around rapid P 90 m R around rapid P 180 m R around rapid P 120 m R around rapid P 32 m R around rapid P 95 m R around rapid P 350 m R around rapid P 160 m R around rapid P 210 m L around rapid P 100 m R around rapid P 100 m R around rapid P 20 m L around rapid Southwest on Irondale River P 80 m R around Furnace Falls P 105 m R around rapid West on Burnt River P 330 m L around Three Brothers Falls South on Burnt River to finish at town of Kinmount Maps Required Topo Maps (1:50,000): 31 D/10 Fenelon Falls 31 D/15 Minden 31 D/16 Gooderham 31 E/2 Haliburton
Gooderham, Ontario
View Irondale River - Burnt River
Kawarthas Highland Park Loop
Technical Guide: About 50 km north of Peterborough. North of Buckhorn towards Gooderham on Hwy 507 Beaver Lake Road for 3 km to Catchacoma Lake Access Northwest through Catchacoma Lake P 60 m around Bottle Dam into Bottle Creek East on Bottle Creek North then west on Bottle Lake P 180 m L into Sucker Lake Camp on Sucker Lake Return via same route
Peterborough, Ontario
View Kawarthas Highland Park Loop
Long Lake Loop
Long Lake Road off Hwy 28 north of Woodview Southwest through Long Lake and Loucks Lake P 133 m into small pond P 30 m into Cox Lake South through Cox Lake P 1503 m to Triangle Lake South through Triangle Lake P 117 m to Turtle Lake To northeast bay of Turtle Lake P 900 m to Stoplog Lake Camp on Stoplog Lake (2 sites) North on Stoplog Lake P 243 m to Compass Lake North through Compass Lake P 117 m to Loucks Lake
Woodview, Ontario
View Long Lake Loop
Long Lake to Buzzard Lake
Technical Guide: North of Woodview on Hwy 28 to Long Lake Road Parking is available at Long Lake Lodge West through Long Lake P 540 m to Buzzard Lake Camp on Buzzard Lake Return via same route Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: Take the Long Lake road off of 28, register and pay at the office by the parking lot, and you`re off. You can study the office registry book to see how heavy the "traffic" is on the lake you`re heading for, and plan your trip accordingly. It`s a long but pretty paddle down Long to the portage at the end, which is long but flat and well-traveled. Buzzard has several nice sites, some accommodating 3 or 4 tents. You`ll be joined by numerous fishing boats during the day, some chugging along at dawn, but nights are more secluded. There`s an easy portage into Vixen, which isn`t much for campsites but has a nice population of pitcher plants, then a killer carryover into Shark, which looks nicer. Travel time between the Long Lake parking lot and a Buzzard site is 2 hours if the wind is with you, an extra half hour if it isn`t, which is often the case.
Woodview, Ontario
View Long Lake to Buzzard Lake
Long Lake to Cox Lake
Technical Guide: Long Lake Road off Hwy 28 north of Woodview Southwest through Long Lake and Loucks Lake P 133 m into small pond P 30 m into Cox Lake Camp on Cox Lake Return via same route Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: Ask at the office at the beginning of Long Lake whether the water is high enough to paddle into Cox. If there`s been enough rain recently, you may not need to portage. Continue into Loucks when you`ve paddled down Long, but you`ll want to go farther to get past cottages. Clamber, paddle, or haul yourself through the "Rocks of Wrath" and the "Swamp of Despair", wearing suitable water shoes. We did this with three generations of family, aged 8 to 70, so it`s not as bad as it sounds. Cox is a small but pretty lake.
Woodview, Ontario
View Long Lake to Cox Lake
Long Lake to Stoplog
Technical Guide: Start at Long Lake Lodge [$6.00 launch fee 1999] Canoe west on Long Lake through to Loucks Lake. Canoe to west end of Loucks. Potage right 90m, portage is to the south of the cottages. Canoe through unnamed pond to portage 117m left into Compass Lake. Canoe to end of Compass portage left 243m into Stoplog. Return same. Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: Took this trip with my two daughters in July 1997 along with two other fathers and their girls. Left Friday from Woodstock at 4:30 am , stopped for breakfast in Peterborough around 7:00am. Got on the water around 9:00am. Paid our launch fee at the store $5.75 per canoe and parked our truck and van in the parking lot, no fee. Canoed down Long lake and had a coffee break just before the narrows into Loucks Lake. Continued on to the first portage to the left of the two cottages at the end of Loucks. An easy 90m just had to watch out for the sharp rocks at the end of the portage. Went through the unnamed pond to the next portage a flat 117m into Compass Lake. Stopped for lunch at the campsite on the southeast shore of Compass Lake on a bluff about 15 feet above the water, the girls all jumped into the lake off the rocks. After lunch we continued on to Stoplog This portage, of 243m is a little rough and all downhill. On Stoplog we proceeded to the campsite where the lake narrows down for the second time. A big site with a rock self about 20 feet above the water a good spot to sit and catch a breeze. Made supper and went to bed because the mosquitoes were so thick. The whippoorwills called out all night, a nice sound to fall asleep to. Saturday we woke up to a sunny warm day. Finished breakfast and went to spend part of the day playing in the water falls between Compass and Stoplog, lots of water coming down the falls, came here once in September. and there was no water in the falls. The girls just had a blast sitting in the natural Jacuzzi. Did some fishing on the way back to the campsite and caught a four lb. largemouth. sat around rest of day and relaxed and swam. Sunday we retraced our steps and arrived back at the launch site at 5:00 pm home by 10:00pm. A good time had by all. Maps Required Topo Maps (1:50,000): 31 D/9 Burleigh Falls Special Comments: Good weekend trip, secluded lake with four good campsites on it. Long and Loucks lakes can be busy with motor boats on the weekends, but Compass and Stoplog are motor boat free. Good fishing for small and largemouth bass with lake trout and splake also present in Stoplog. There is a nice waterfall between Compass Lake and Stoplog, to the right of the portage trail, there is a shower and a Jacuzzi below some of the chutes.
Burleigh Falls, Ontario
View Long Lake to Stoplog
McKewen Lake Loop
Technical Guide: Hwy 35 to north of Leslie M. Frost Centre by Dorset Access at side of Hwy before bridge Southwest across Wren Lake to shallows P 228 m R around falls Along shallow weedy channel P 337 m L around rapids West through marshy area P 228 m from old dock to Horse Lake To south end of Horse Lake P 208 m to McKewen Lake Camp on McKewen Lake Return via same route. Possible day trip from McKewen to extend to three-day trip... P 448 m from McKewen to Three Island Lake P 664 m from Three Island to Margaret Lake P 308 m from Margaret Lake to Dan Lake Pn 76 m from Dan Lake to McKewen Lake Maps Required Other Maps: Frost Centre Adventure Map by Chrismar Mapping Services
Wren Lake, Ontario
View McKewen Lake Loop
Midway Lake
Technical Guide: Put in on Big Hawk lake, sign in at the marina store, paddle north east to the first portage, 60m, rocky. Paddle across Snowshoe lake to end. Portage runs along a small waterfall. Portage is 100m uphill. Midway lake is a small remote lake, with not a lot of travel. Fish for rainbow trout. Brook trout are in Snowshoe lake. The lakes are small and secluded. Special Comments: Very quiet secluded spot. Good for a weekend get away.
Big Hawk Lake, Ontario
View Midway Lake
Nunikani Route
Technical Guide: Hwy 35 N near Dorset - just past Hall`s Lake turn onto Road 13, then onto Big Hawk Road Parking available near marina North then northeast through Big Hawk Lake P 225 m to Clear Lake North through Clear Lake P 200 m to Red Pine Lake North then to west end of Red Pine Lake P 440 m to Nunikani Lake P 194 m L around Nunikani Dam South through Big Hawk Lake to finish at marina Maps Required Other Maps: Frost Centre Adventure Map by Chrismar Mapping Services
Dorset, Ontario
View Nunikani Route
Poker Lake Route
Technical Guide: Hwy 116 20 km from the junction of Hwy 118 and 35. Park in clearing south of the highway. Access to Bentshoe Lake via a 100 m portage To northwest corner of Bentshoe Lake P 325 m to south end of Poker Lake Follow north shore of Poker Lake to portage P 50 m to small weedy pond (swampy!) To north end of pond P 75 m to Quirt Lake (swampy) To most westerly bay of Quirt Lake P 75 m to Cinder Lake To most southerly bay of Cinder Lake P 175 m to small pond (swampy / overgrown) To south end of pond P 175 m to Poker Lake (wet and muddy) Across bay to next portage P 275 m to Upper Crane Lake To south end of Upper Crane Lake Liftover between Upper Crane Lake and Lower Crane Lake To west end of Lower Crane Lake P 300 m to Bentshoe Lake West on Bentshoe Lake Liftover at mid point of lake To south end of Bentshoe Lake P 100 m back to Hwy 118 to finish Maps Required Other Maps: Chrismar Adventure Map - Poker Lake Area (shows all portages, campsites, other useful information)
Poker Lake, Ontario
View Poker Lake Route
Rockaway and Dividing Lakes
Technical Guide: Hwy 35 north of Dorset Right on Kawagama road and follow to end. Northeast through Kawagama lake P 274 m into Kimball lake East through Kimball lake P 2743 beside Kimball Creek into Rockaway Lake East on Rockaway Lake P 914 m into Minkey Lake East on Minkey Lake P 91 m into Dividing Lake Return by same route Special Comments: We entered via Access point 14 and not Kawagama as the route describes. Both Bear and Livingstone Lakes are heavy cottage areas so make sure you bring potable water for the first part of the trip. The 320m portage from Bear to Kimball runs along a creek that can easily be paddled, I imagine only in really low water conditions would you might need to portage. There are a few campsites on Kimball, one really nice site on Aubrey Island so if you want to make this a weekend trip and need to camp early the first night it is doable. The first two thirds of the 2780m portage into Rockaway are flat and very easy, there is a steady climb the last third but not too bad. There are several rough cabins on Rockaway and an extra campsite not marked on the Chrismar Map Algonquin 3. The site at the portage into Minkey is the one we used and far nicer than the other marked site. Although the site we stayed on is within the park boundries, it is not reservable. This route is not as well used as some of the other Algonquin routes and the trees are impressive. You have to aquire your permit at the Marine shop in Dorset.
Dorset, Ontario
View Rockaway and Dividing Lakes
Serpentine Lake Route
Technical Guide: Turn off Hwy 28 just south of town of Apsley Anstruther Road - travel 10 km to Government Launch North through Anstruther Lake P 162 m around Rathbun Dam Northwest through Rathbun Lake P 135 m into Rathbun Creek P 1584 m into Serpentine Lake South through Serpentine Lake P 160 m into creek P 30 m on creek East then south through Copper Lake P 837 m to Anstruther Creek West on Anstruther Creek P 180 m to Rathbun Lake South on Rathbun Lake P 162 m around Rathbun Dam South on Anstruther Lake to finish
Apsley, Ontario
View Serpentine Lake Route
Shark Lake Route
echnical Guide: North of Woodview on Hwy 28 to Long Lake Road Parking is available at Long Lake Lodge West through Long Lake P 540 m to Buzzard Lake South through Buzzard Lake P 113 m into Vixen Lake South through Vixen Lake P 765 m to Shark Lake To most southerly bay of Shark Lake South on Buzzard Creek P 990 m to small unnamed lake To most easterly end of lake P 22m to second unnamed lake To most easterly end of lake P 22m to third unnamed lake South through lake P 990 m to Coon Lake East to end of Coon Lake Access to finish - Hwy 28 about 1.6 km north of Burleigh Falls, Coon Lake Road
Woodview, Ontario
View Shark Lake Route
Wolf Lake to Crab Lake
I have done several of the canoe routes through the Kawartha Highlands Park. This is mostly crown lands and a beautiful place to canoe through. For this camping there was no cost but some of the parking areas within the Kawartha Highlands require a small parking fee. Like many things, popularity is growing in the sport of canoeing and camping, so there are many people interested. I guess that at times it does get overpopulated. Back to our trip though... We headed out first thing on Saturday, July 1st 2006. Used our GPS's so I am posting that info here for all to see. The parking and portage routes also as GPS coordinates. Took my teen crew and and a wonderful guy whom I have dated a year now out for his first time canoe camping trip. We are into the sport of geocaching, which you can join for free at www.geocaching.com and this will tell you all about it. In a nutshell though, it is a sport where other cachers have hidden treasures in waterproof containers and have enterred the locations by the GPS coordinates onto the website. Then you pick and choose which caches you want to find and download them into your GPS and away you go hiking/treasure hunting. When you find the cleavor hiding spot you remove the container take a treasure out of it and place a treasure back in (to replace the one you took.. for the next person to find)then you write about it in the logbook that is also in the container. Then when you get home you post your find on the website andothers can read about it. Anyway that is what brought us to Crab Lake and what a nice lake. Once was known as Star lake and for good reason I might add. Backpackers mapbook of eastern Ontario and available at Walmart, Zellers, Canadian Tire and many other stores is a great take along as it has the portages and generally a pretty good showing of the canoe routes. Here are the coordinates as promised..... Public boat launch: N44 44.908 W78 09.691 Portage trail from Wolf Lake to Crab Lake: N44 43.730 W78 11.885 Portage trail from Crab Lake to Wolf Lake: N44 43.656 W78 11.877 It was Canada Day weekend and a few campsites around the lake had fireworks being let off or else it was the cottagers on Wolf Lake but who knows it was far away and the sites are very far apart. Privacy is all yours once on Crab Lake. We found that there are two cottages right at the portage on the Crab Lake side for your info. There are, I believe, when we paddled around the entire circumference of Crab Lake, about 11 or 12 sites. All sites are clearly marked with the Orange tent signs and of note the Portage is clearly marked with a yellow portage sign. The portage is easy between Wolf Lake and Crab Lake and rather short, if you want to take your gear in one trip you can or you can make a second trip. (Easy portaging though) We even made a camp table between two trees that we left for others to enjoy. The great thing about interior camping is that for the most part it is maintained by users. So what you pack in, please pack out. This includes your unburnable garbage. Always leave the campsite cleaner then what you found it and take it easy on the ecology around the site. We swam across the lake and had a blast as the temperature finally warmed up enough to enjoy it. Monday morning came and we unset camp and loaded up the two canoes and packed out. Get out and enjoy all the canoe camping has to offer, you won't be disappointed!!!
Kawartha, Ontario
View Wolf Lake to Crab Lake
Wolf/Victoria Lake - QEII Wildlands
Access to Put-In Information: The put in can be found off of Devil's Lake road. It is a well maintained boat launch with some space for free parking. Technical Guide: -Head NW on Devil's Lake for approximately 2km. The 1.5 km portage to Sheldon Lake can be found in a small bay on the W shore in a small bay. There is signage at the landing point along with an old 1940's GMC truck. -The 1.5km portage follows an ATV trail to Sheldon Lake and is fairly flat and well established. Other than the distance and a few detours around muddy spots it is fairly easy. -Paddle W across Sheldon Lake to the next portage which is located directly to the right of a small cabin -The 700m portage to Cooney Lake is another clear trail and again is fairly easy -Cooney Lake is another short paddle follows by a 475m portage -Peter's Pond is small and can be swampy in dry conditions but leads to a short 150m portage to Victoria Lake. While this portage is short, the trail is rough and traverses some jagged rock. -The paddling in Victoria Lake is initially through a marsh for the first 100m but opens up after a lift over. -Paddle 1.5km W to reach the short 30m portage to Wolf Lake -Repeat in reverse to reach Devil's Lake Access Point Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: Day 1 - Arrived at Access point at 10:30am and took our time paddling/portaging to Cooney Lake where we set up camp. Day 2 - Left Cooney Lake basecamp and explored Victoria and Wolf Lakes, stopping along the way to fish and have a shore lunch. Returned to basecamp for the night. Day 3 - Climbed to the peak of the highest peak in the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands PP on the Ganaraska trail which can be accessed from both the E and W end of Cooney Lake Day 4 - Tore down camp and travelled back to the Devil's Lake access point NOTE: While there is no camping on Devil's Lake and Peter's pond, sites can be found on all of the other lakes
Gravenhurst, Ontario
View Wolf/Victoria Lake - QEII Wildlands
Twisty Lake to Bluegrass Lake
Access to Put-In Information: Bushwacking through the bush to twisty lake on twisty river. Or skip that and take black river rd and get in from the bridge you skip one portage. Technical Guide: Get in from the bridge you skip one portage. but its up stream not down. so lots of polling. haha finnally after a full day of portages and bushwacking and very little canoening you arrive in South jean. South jean to bluegrass theres a atv trail but its not clean. Probably need to bushwack onto the trail. unless you find it. We couldnt. Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: Maps Required Topo Maps (1:50,000): Topo Maps (1:250,000): Other Maps: Suggested Resource Material: kevlar lighest canoe you got Special Comments: go the opposite way so when youre going down to twisty its down stream.
Bluegrass Lake, Ontario
View Twisty Lake to Bluegrass Lake
York River - Egan Chutes to Boulter Road
Access to Put-In Information: We put in at Highway 28 where it meets L’Amable Creek on Google maps. There’s an unmarked road on the north-west side of the bridge to get into the river. (Just east of the road into the parking area that accesses Egan Chutes Park trail). Trip Journal/Log/Report/Diary: From the put-in you paddle for maybe 10 minutes before you reach the first portage. There’s an old, faded sign on the left indicating the approaching chute - the take out is just past the sign on the left. There isn’t a flat spot or much land to climb out onto, you kind of scramble out of the water on the well-worn hiking trail. The portage is about 400 m of rocky and root-filled trail that ends with a very steep downward hill where my kayak did a great impression of a bobsled. Once you’re back in the water, there’s a really nice view of the chute. Paddle for about 10-15 more minutes and you’ll reach the second portage. Again, this one has an old sign on the left to indicate the approaching chute. The take out is rough - you have to try to balance on a small section of mud, then climb up a 2 foot cliff edge and then figure out how to get your boat out. This portage didn’t look like anyone had travelled it in a long time. The path is entirely overgrown with poison ivy and long grasses, and the mosquitos are fierce. This was a single track path that went from the poison ivy into a wooded area with downed trees, up and down a really difficult to navigate trail. Again, about 400 m. Back in the boat, we paddled for another 15 minutes or so and started to hear the third chute. We hadn’t had time to recover from the previous portage and weren’t ready. There is no signage at this chute, we scrambled out of the water on the left-hand side, again without anywhere to step out of your boat. Getting out of the water was again a challenge, you immediately went up a steep incline over a downed tree, then carried on up a hill, along a cliff edge, and finally down to a nice beach area at the bottom of the chute - still about 400 m. After defeating the first two portages, this one felt like a small relief - it was a wider path that had been travelled more often and a more open wooded area with far less bugs. Getting through all three portages took us about 4 hours. We were in our boats for maybe 45 minutes. Without exaggeration, it was the most difficult thing either of us have ever endured and we do not at all recommend it. When we made it through the final portage, there was a group of friends on side-by-sides who were across the river. If you could find out how to get in where they were, that would be a win. There isn’t a marked road and I haven’t been able to find the entrance to a trail that they would have come from - if you find it, I’d love to know! From the bottom of the third chute, we paddled about 45 minutes to the “Tall Pines” campsite. The river is narrow and winding with a couple of sections of downed trees - we were able to scoot our kayaks over them. When you reach the campsite, there’s a sandy area to the right where you can take out your boat and pull it up the hill out of sight. The site itself is a short walk up a gradual hill to the clifftop. Gorgeous views and a very well maintained site with flat spots for tents, a rock fire pit, some ropes for hanging bear bags and even an outhouse! On the river again, it opened up quite a bit as the day went on. There’s nowhere to stop for a rest, the shores were all marshy or overgrown, so be prepared to snack from your boat. There were a couple of marshes leading off the main river where we saw herons flying around. The landscape changes throughout the day and we saw lots of wildlife, including a deer swimming across the river. The second site “Norway Bay” that was labelled on our map ended up being a total bust. It was an enclosed grassy area on a bay with no air flow - the bugs were really bad. There was trail leading into the site and it had two old ice huts that were full of garbage and evidence of past fires. In the campfire area were three giant sections of a tree that someone attempted to burn, and scattered over the ground were shotgun shells. Overall “Deliverance” vibes and we decided to move on. ---- We noted that there was a much nicer site before this one that was not on the map, on the left-hand side of the river near Mallard Creek. If you wanted to make this a more relaxing two night trip (if you can start after the chutes), this looked like a much nicer camping spot. The next site option on our map “The Ripples” wasn’t clearly distinguishable - we passed what we thought may have been it, but with rain coming in, decided to keep going and end our trip that day. Overall this day we leisurely paddled for about 5-6 hours. We got picked up at the base of Trails End Road off of Boulter Road. There’s a boat launch here on the left for an easy exit before you hit the rapids that are just up river. Maps Required Topo Maps (1:50,000): Topo Maps (1:250,000): Other Maps: We found these maps to be the most useful: http://www.tripsandtrails.ca/overnighter-maps.html We also downloaded the Canada Topo Maps app, downloaded the maps we’d need and added pins to be able to see the approximate campsite areas through GPS without needing data on the river: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/topo-maps-canada/id392857820
L’Amable Creek, Ontario
View York River - Egan Chutes to Boulter Road