Trippin' Down Ontario's Rivers
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The Mississauga Natives called this area Ka-wa-tha, 'bright water and happy lands'. This couldn't be more true. The Kawarthas are littered with secluded lakes and rivers enveloped in a rocky wilderness.
You might want to pull out your road maps to help locate some of the small towns and highways referenced here. |
| Kawartha Highlands Park |
Drive north along Hwy 507, turn right down Beaver Lake Rd. for 3 km to Catchacoma Lake access. Paddle north into Catchacoma Lake, take the east shore until Bottle Creek (second inlet). Continue down Bottle Creek to Bottle Lake portaging the 180 metres into Sucker Lake. Two designated campsites can be found on Bottle Lake and four on Sucker Lake (one on the island). Return via the same route.
Fishing: Smallmouth Bass in Bottle Lake and lake trout in Sucker Lake. Click here to order the topographical maps for the Kawartha Highlands Park canoe route.
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Secluded lakes, island campsites, breathtaking waterfalls, and excellent fishing - welcome to the Serpentine Lake Loop. This weekend trip begins at the boat launching site on Anstruther Lake. Turn down Anstruther Lake Rd. just south of Apsley on Hwy 28. Paddle north into Anstruther Lake, portage into Rathbun Lake. Now traveling clockwise, portaging between each lake, make your way through North Rathbun Lake to Serpentine Lake to Copper Lake to Anstruther Creek and back into Rathbun Lake to Anstruther Lake and home.
Click here to order the topographical maps for the Serpentine Lake Loop.
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Serpentine Lake Loop |
| Long Lake Loop |
Located in the heart of the Kawarthas, this trip offers canoeists some insight into the true beauty of the region. Head north along Hwy 28 from Woodview and take the turn down Long Lake Road. Paddle your way down the length of Long Lake to Loucks Lake and then make your way counterclockwise through Cox Lake, Triangle Lake, Cherry Lake, Turtle Lake, Stoplog Lake, and Compass Lake back to Loucks Lake and Anstruther Lake home.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Long Lake Loop.
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This weekend trip is basically an alternate route to the chain of west lakes mentioned above. After paddling into Loucks Lake from Long Lake make your way south into Buzzard Lake, Vixen Lake, Shark Lake, Buzzard Creek and finally finishing up at the east shore of Coon Lake. Coon Lake is accessed from Coon Lake Road off Hwy 28 just north of Burleigh Falls.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Shark Lake.
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Shark Lake |
| Eels Creek |
Begin your trip where the creek flows under Hwy 28 just north of Burleigh Falls past Woodview and finishes up just before Stony Lake at the bridge on Northey's Bay Road. This trip is highlighted by High Falls and the 4.5 km hike from High Falls to the Petroglyphs Provincial Park. The 900 petroglyphs are symbols sketched on the soft rock by the Algonkian shamans expressing their various visions and religious outlooks .
Click here to order the topographical maps for Eels Creek.
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The Mississagua River weekend trip was one of my first canoe trips when I was just 10 years old. Obviously, I was riding in the middle with a couple of seasoned veterans, my father and my uncle. This whitewater trip begins at the Mississagua River Dam just south of Mississagua Lake and finishes up at the Hwy 36 bridge just before flowing into Buckhorn Lake. The number of portages depends on your level of whitewater skills.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Mississagua River.
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Mississagua River |
NOTES :
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 back to the dog house
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DOG EARS
Online Maps & Books Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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