kawartha highlands canoe routes

We embarked on a trip to Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (also known as Kawartha Highlands signature Site) in August 2011. Home (0) Home. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with canoe camping in Kawartha Highlands prov. Due to its size, the wind and waves can be an issue due. On the civic-holiday long weekend of August 2018, I convinced my daughter, Erin, to come on a 4 day/3 night trip through Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. A brief introduction to Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. This is significanly higher than car camping with full services. The scattered clouds broke up the hot sun giving us a very comfortable day and we were quite optimistic for the possibility of a great night sky. Located in south-central Ontario, it is only 200 km away from Toronto, a perfect destination for a weekend canoe trip. CANOE TRIPS REPORTS. Route description: Canoe Lake (Algonquin PP), Gill Lake, Tonakela Lake, Drummer Lake, Little Drummer Lake, Tonakela Lake, Thunder Lake, Lupus Lake, West Harry Lake and Big East River, Whitecat Lake, Big Cedar Chutes, Finlayson Lake, McBrien Pond, McBrien Rapids, Distress Lake, Distress Dam Rapids, McArthur Chute, Bend Rapids, Williamsport Bridge, enter and leave Arrowhead PP, Lake Vernon, … We could not actually see them but we could see the light bouncing off the clouds, looking like sheet lightning. To maintain the wilderness atmosphere, the use of radios is prohibited. How to Fish! Fanning it with our food barrel lid, we managed to revive the fire and place the wet wood around the flames to dry. Our trip was just a short leisurely introduction to the park as we only had a 3 day weekend available.  We booked the first night on North Rathbun and the second on Rathbun Lake.  The whole trip only consisted of 14km of paddling and four portages (Two done twice). Discover. I've gone back with my kids because it's still convenient but also a suprisingly nice place to canoe. I am most interested in hearing what may come out of this thread. Before setting up camp, we took advantage of the warm sun and enjoyed a refreshing swim in the cool waters. All night long, the trees dripped heavily as if it was still raining. It was soon over us and passed without too much aggression.  The park is fairly new in provincial park standards and, since 2011, it now requires specific site reservations for interior camping. But we first had to do one more portage and still paddle through the busy Anstruther Lake.Â. Most campsites have at least three tent pads. While we were there, we spent some time looking at the map of the entire park, exploring some of the other opportunities that may be available. But getting through this lake is a necessary price to pay to get to the more secluded lakes as Anstruther does not have interior campsites. Board index » Canadian Route Forums & Resources » Ontario » Ontario Discussion & Resources, View unanswered posts | View active topics, .A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests. By using this site, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as described in this, A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory, http://www.algonquinhighlands.ca/pdf/hh ... lFinal.pdf. There was a cottage on an island right in front of the site, but thankfully, it was placed on the other side, so we could hear them but we rarely seen them. If you have any questions, comments or just want to say hi, please do so. The clouds moved very slowly and we waited patiently for the stars to start to reveal themselves. Needless to say, we were very disappointed with this surprise attack. ha ,, Rangers patroling ,,, I think Bancroft district as 2 ,,, you actualy think the MNR is going to clean the sites ,, it's people who use it regularly that clean it , not the MNR. Has anyone been to this park? Add in the reservation fee and you may also have to pay for parking depending upon where you launch from. En français Hide . Thanks for coming along with me on my paddle. A great trip to introduce family and friends to canoeing as it's not strenuous or too remote, yet still is nearby and natural. Beautiful, accurate, and easy to use camping maps for Killarney, French River, Kawartha Highlands & Massasauga. Kawartha Highlands is only an hour away from our house, yet when we plan a long trip we don’t consider it an option. After setting up camp and gathering some firewood, we settled in for a relaxing evening. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, one of the largest in Ontario, offers almost 400 square kilometers of wilderness and majestic beauty of Canadian Shield. Our Indigenous Culture. About Northern Ontario. Anstruther Lake is a big lake with the shorelines littered with cottages and the body of water full of fast motorboats. There are plenty of paddling options and we will be soon planning our next adventure in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. This was our first time paddling in the interior of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. There are camp sites (#600-605) along the river that you can book on the Ontario parks site Under Kawartha highlands. The next morning, the rain started before sunrise and continued in the the early daylight hours. It was large and placed beautifully high, overlooking the lake, on a bit of a protruding outcrop.  It had areas in full sun and plenty of shade from the Oak and Pine trees scattered about. it's a lot of $$ for a thunderbox and a portage sign. Serpentine Lake loop completed in early summer 2010 I'm looking for info on the following: Have generally been an APP traveler but have been interested in what the Kawartha park has to offer. Crab Lake is much bigger than it first appears. Kawartha Highlands has over 100 backcountry campsites spread over six recommended loops. Peterborough & Kawartha camping is a family friendly experience as calm waters and short portages make for a lower intensity level. LOL. Unfortunately unless there is some strict enforcement by patrols, I fear that many people will just gamble that they won't get caught. It had a huge shoreline offering perfect swimming areas and a wonderful view with the big southern sky above us. This area of beautiful lakes and groomed portage trails is easily accessible to canoeists of all levels of experience. Within less than half a minute the noise was much louder and suddenly  upon us; it was a storm coming in with a vengeance along with high winds pouring rain. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and box privy. Plan Your Fall Trip. And while we usually visit Algonquin every year, this summer we decided to take a second canoe trip and visit Kawartha Highlands. Looks great in 720P. I was lucky enough to be able to experience this portage with my friends, Kim from Walkaboot Travel, Ryan from Out With Ryan, Chris from TravelingMitch and … The Serpentine Loop in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. LAT 44.79 LONG -78.17.  Our hard work of gathering and preparing the firewood for a nice night under the stars looked like it was all in vain. https://www.voyageurtripper.com/incredible-backcountry-camping-ontario I have paddled in Kawartha Highlands a number of times. The dragonflies and butterflies were everywhere. We were very impressed with our maiden visit to the Kawarthas interior. We have particularly enjoyed visiting these areas in the off seasons when it is significantly less busy than the prime season. Bring the whole crew! Map of official canoe routes and campsites in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park park. We packed up early and proceeded back to the access point. We paddled on to North Rathbun which included another uphill portage of similar length (164 metres). There is a nice toilet at the take-out, and a detailed map showing the route. Bottle Lake Access point – $135 Anstruther Lake Access point – $105 Wolf Lake Access point – … Once you get through the lake and find the 162 metre portage to Rathbun Lake, the park gets considerably quieter. We set up camp and gathered firewood for the night. Â. We plan to go for 3 days 2 nights. Copyright © 2007-2021 CCR Inc. All rights reserved. We had to scramble and get the camera equipment in their protected pelican boxes and all our camping gear under the tarp before it was too late. Plan A Road Trip. This is a nice easy route that is suited for novice canoeists. Back-country permits are required. Crab Lake and Blueberry Mountain. Canoe access points for Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Wolf Creek, near Killarney Provincial Park. Here are my impressions: Just got back today from my fourth trip in Kawartha Highlands. Home . Now we were in an area that was much quieter and peaceful. However, to our surprise (we should have studied the map closer), Rathbun also has cottages and, therefore, motorboats. Kawartha Highlands provides well defined canoe routes with marked portages and campsites. There are over 100 campsites available along those routes. Complete a canoe route through the lakes of the park or try a camping adventure during the peaceful winter season. The morning was calm with the mist rising from the bays. Each campsite comes equipped with a picnic table, fire ring and thunder box. I've never seen a motor boat beyond the second portage, although I've seen tinbangers cached at the end of the second portage so someone must hump a motor in every now and then. It starts to get pretty steep. Save More! We did have a visit from a Broad-winged Hawk that landed on the large Pine tree on our site.  We heard a pair of Sandhill Cranes and soon sighted them as they flew just over the treetops right above us. The remainder of the night was very peaceful with only the crickets “cricketeering” and the katydids chirping. Order More? Then came the fireworks. Day 1: From Anstruther Lake to Copper Lake One nice thing about Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is that every site comes equipped with a picnic table and a thunder box. The music was loud and the voices carried over the still waters. Unlike more remote provincial parks, the portages and campsites in Kawartha Highlands are marked with signage. Better get in there before they charge you an arm and a leg permits fees,,, I was in there Monday to North Ratbun for a day trip ,, all the sites are numbered and permit posts were installed ,. Depending on which loop you choose, many of the canoe routes and portages at Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park are short and fairly easy. Our paddle of the Kawartha Lakes Serpentine Loop started out rough. I'm planning a trip with 3 friends, and we want to take 1 canoe either to Bottle lake or Cold lake. If it weren’t for the early morning motorboats, it would have been a lovely awakening. I really enjoyed my afternoon at Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park and I am definitely going to come back to do some camping… I just have to find an open site and a free weekend. Through the day, we saw lots more loons, toads, frogs, turtles and two separate sightings of the Five-Line Skink. I doubt that the fines will be much more than the fees so I'm sure there are many that will take the risk. It was heavily overcast all day and evening, so our hopes to shoot tonight’s night skies or catch the tail end of the meteor shower was doubtful. 2. Kawartha Highlands Serpentine Lake Loop Canoe Route . Put out: This … When the rain subsided, we were quickly out, making coffee and enjoying the solitude. As each piece looked dry enough, it was feed to the fire. Ultimately, high-use canoeing areas in southern Ontario need protection. Campsites can only be reached by canoe and most require portaging to access them; there are no car campsites in … A lifelong paddler-turned-mapmaking entrepreneur, Jeff McMurtrie parlayed over 600 days exploring and mapping Ontario’s canoe routes into a collection of park maps that have become the gold standard for Algonquin canoe trippers. The cottagers on the other side of the lake were out of sight, but definitely not beyond hearing. We've done the Long Lake Loop, the Serpentine Loop, and over the last couple of days, went from Long Lake down to Shark and back. Region: Atikokan. Thankfully, not as many; not as large. An arm and a leg for permits? We were quite comfortable in our tent, waiting for it to cease as we were in no rush to break camp this morning. 4. Thunder and lightning was creeping in on us from the west, getting louder with each occurance. Quetico Provincial Park. The Serpentine Route is a 2-3 day loop that explores some of the most beautiful lakes in Ontario. The park has six canoe routes that range from easy to difficult. Easy Peasy! It was early evening as we were getting the fire going when we heard an unfamiliar distant sound coming from behind our site.  It was very still and quiet and it sounded like we could actually hear the small waterfall that was around the bend. 10 bucks a night wouldn't be too bad, but it is $10 per person! Overnight site booking is required. I went the first time because it's very close to my cottage and therefore convenient and because I was taking my two daughters (who were only 6 and 9 years of age the first time) so I didn't need a real wilderness experience. Ultimately, high-use canoeing areas in southern Ontario need protection.  Anstruther Falls to the right of the portage was very picturesque.  Rathbun Lake itself is very scenic with its rocky outcrops and shallow bays. Plan Your Winter Trip. All photographic images and articles on this web site are copyrighted © by Tony deGroot, and or Kathy deGroot and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in any medium without specific, written permission. We managed to make our way around this loop while only seeing other people on Anstruther Lake, which is the one with the most cottages. The many clear lakes of Kawartha Highlands provide great opportunities for swimming. Cart (0) Free Canada-Wide Shipping IF YOU ORDER 2+ CAMPING MAPS. When the storm passed, we were glad to see some surviving ambers in our fire pit. Described as a “ lovely and challenging route through the moderately remote northeast corner”, the Serpentine Loop in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is approximately 21 kilometres in length. Paddling Routes in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park ... For our family and the visitors who come with us, summertime means exploring this zone by canoe through its myriad paddling routes, and we’re so fortunate to have the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park in our backyard. It has six canoe routes and just over a hundred backcountry campsites. Not the usual interior camping experience. (Plus, they're free!) We love this area and have camped here (free) for over 20 years, but I'm not sure if I'll be back with these new fees. Use without permission is prohibited. We didn’t see a sole while on our site that day. The second skink was younger as it had a very beautiful distinct blue tail. Embarked on a trip to Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (also known as Kawartha Highlands signature Site) in August 2011. Campsites can only be reached by canoe and most require portaging to access them. Access point delivery rates below indicate the delivery charge, not the rental canoe charge and require rentals of 1 day or longer. Only a few canoes paddled by during afternoon on their way to the end of the lake or further on to Serpentine. Jeff’s Map Algonquin & the Haliburton Highlands. It will cost $40+ / night for a group of 4 adults for wilderness camping. Maybe because we have been going there for weekend trips for such a long time we don’t see it as a “big trip park”. Kawartha Highlands provincial Park - Weekend on Rathbun & North Rathbun Lakes. Rathbun Lake is quite a few metres above Anstruther Lake, making the portage a steep uphill climb. Find out where to get the best digital and hard-copy maps for canoe routes in Ontario. If we can, we will leave a car at the take-out. The site specific reserving changes the way we camp as our next site could be occupied well into the day. Feel free to contact me at the E-mail address below. There are a number of lakes, rivers, and creeks within the park as well as mapped out Kawartha Highlands canoe routes, complete with portages. Dave, I have travelled many lakes in both the Haliburtons and Kawarthas and I have no problems paying the $10 a night to have maintained sites that I can book in advance. ... (optionally a nice friend of yours could drop you and the canoe(s) off at the top). This will ruin things for those who do pay only to find their sites occupied by non-paying campers. 1x $20 • 2x $18 • … park in April? The route that Noah and Andrew were guiding us through is called the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park Serpentine Loop. It was quite late, but we did manage to try to get a few night sky pictures before retiring to bed. It … And they were loud. We launched at the Anstruther Lake access on Friday morning. On the way up to the site, upon spotting the fellow you see in the picture below, I thought I would … Most sites have three tent pads, a designated fire ring, a picnic table and a privy toilet. The park is fairly new in provincial park standards and, since 2011, it now requires specific site reservations for interior camping. However, the sound was getting louder and we soon concluded that it could not be the waterfall after all. The campsite was classic. A permit system if properly managed will weed out alot of these, granted it will take some presence by rangers and time to transition. Loons were around as well as Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-eyed Vireos, nuthatches, jays and crows. Our next site was back on Rathbun Lake so we returned to the portage and heading back that way. I've had experience with canoeing a bit, and I have all the basic gear I need. Does anyone have any tips? Camping is only allowed in these sites. One is postively glamping in this park. We booked the first campsite on the lake and enjoyed the rest of the day and evening in solitude.  Our site faced northwest and was not in view of any other site. I hope you enjoyed it. Our site was at the north end of the lake facing south. Old Voyageur's, Georgian Bay, Canoe Channel, Pickerel River, It is currently March 17th, 2021, 3:26 pm. We sat under the tarp and watched the rain put out our fire. This was our first time paddling in the interior of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Plan Your Summer Trip. The Kawartha Highlands Serpentine Loop is a route that starts from Anstruther Lake and takes us to Rathbun Lake, North Rathbun Lake, Serpentine Lake, Copper Lake … Have reviewed maps but the number of accessible roads and associated general presence of vehicles and people have me shying away from this park. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park has over 100 backcountry campsites spread over six recommended loops. In 2011, it became an operational park with over 100 backcountry campsites… Kawartha Highlands was never a high use till just the last few years ,, till word got out about the area thru the MNR and people writing guide books about the route The route's been there for over 30 years ,, it was the best kept secret here in Peterborough county Trip Overview The Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is one of the newest parks in the Ontario Provincial Parks roster. I would have to agree with Dave. This map provides detailed information on access points, canoe routes, portage lengths, campsite locations, topography and other useful and interesting information to help you plan your trip to the Kawartha Highlands!

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