maple Trippin' Down Ontario's Rivers maple
- Muskoka -
- Georgian Bay -

Muskoka

South-Central Ontario, Muskoka is a rugged area of wilderness in and around the town of Muskoka Falls at the Hwy 11 and Hwy 118 junction. Strewn with beautiful lakes and rolling waterways broken by scenic waterfalls.

You might want to pull out your road maps to help locate some of the small towns and highways referenced here.

Black River The Black River runs from just south of Dorset down to Lake Simcoe. This trip selects the 30 km stretch from Victoria Falls to the Highway 169 bridge. Head toward Washago along Hwy 169, turn right on Muskoka Street. Just outside of Washago turn right down Cooper's Falls Road, through the little town of Cooper's Falls, continue east for 2.5 km and then turn right down a dirt road called Black River Road (strangely enough). Continue down this road for 14 km to Victoria Falls. This section of the Black River is highlighted by Ragged Rapids, a definite 650 metre portage with a high ridge alongside overlooking the river.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Black River.
Canoe Route kilometres miles portages
Black River 30 20 6

Unfortunately, there are only two stretches of Crown Land along the south branch of the Muskoka River. The remaining shoreline is privately owned. This makes the full 42 km, 2 day trip, from Baysville to Bracebridge near impossible. This route suggests an 8 km paddle downstream from Baysville and then back upstream like a true wilderness explorer, camping at the designated Crown Land campsites.
Click here to order the topographical maps for the South Branch Muskoka River.
Canoe Route kilometres miles portages
South Branch Muskoka River 16 11 6
South Branch Muskoka River

Georgian Bay

Georgian Bay, the "sixth Great Lake". All of these weekend trips are located in and around Georgian Bay Island and the surrounding shoreline.

Beausoleil Island Take Hwy 69 towards Parry Sound, turn west on Muskoka Road 5 to Honey Harbour. Beausoleil Island is the 28 km long island located directly across from Honey Harbour. Three options are available. One is to paddle west through Big Dog Channel, between Little Beausoleil Island and Roberts Island, making camp on Tonch Point. Another would be to make your way northwest up the main channel, and then left through Little Dog Channel, camping at Blueberry, Sandpiper, or Chimney campsites. Finally, you may decide to paddle up the main channel, between Beausoleil and Deer Islands, making camp on either Cherry, Godettes, or Honeymoon Bay.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Beausoleil Island.
Canoe Route kilometres miles portages
Beausoleil Island 10 7 0

Take Georgian Bay Road just north of Six Mile Lake Provincial Park along Hwy 69. There is a short portage that will take you into McDonald Lake where you will begin your weekend trip. Paddle north until you see the beaver dam on the left, paddle directly across the bay to the 250 metre portage which will take you into McCrae Lake. There are 4 available campsites on McCrae Lake, one of which is on the island's north shore. From here you may make an optional trip up the west channel out into Georgian Bay. Follow the shoreline north until the mouth of the Musquash River and continue upstream to Three Rock Chute. Here is the birthplace of lumber manufacturing in the Muskokas - Muskoka Mills.
Fishing: Smallmouth bass, and pike.
Click here to order the topographical maps for McCrae Lake.
Canoe Route kilometres miles portages
McCrae Lake 29 19 4
McCrae Lake
Clear Lake Loop From Hwy 69, north of Oastler Lake Provincial Park, take James Bay junction road, then west on Bluelake Road, and finally right down Three-Legged Lake Road. The trip begins at Three-Legged Lake. Paddle straight across the lake to the right of the island, portage into Spider Lake and head southwest taking the left bay down to the 638 metre portage into Clear Lake. There are 4 possible campsites on Clear Lake, 2 on the big island, one on the first little island and one on the southern shore. From here you can either paddle back the same route, or head for the southwest bay to Sucker Creek down the 425 metre portage to Georgian Bay, or west down the 240 metre portage and out into Georgian Bay. If you choose to head into Georgian Bay, a good choice, stay right of Cow Island and paddle up into the northern most bay to the 840 metre portage which will take you back into Spider Lake heading home.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Clear Lake Loop.
Canoe Route kilometres miles portages
Clear Lake Loop 31 21 8

Like the above trip, this route also begins at Three-Legged Lake. Once again portage into Spider Lake and then head southwest into Spider Bay and out into Georgian Bay. Camp at either Echo Bay or Goose Neck Bay if the winds are strong. Return via the same route.
Click here to order the topographical maps for Spider Lake.
Canoe Route kilometres miles portages
Spider Lake 36 24 4
Spider Lake

NOTES :
  • For more detailed information concerning the above canoe routes please refer to :
    Kevin Callan's Cottage Country Canoe Routes. Many thanks for the hard work and beautiful photography by Kevin Callin without whom this list of weekend outdoor excursions would have remained the secrets of the locals.

  • For more suggestions on flatwater trips in Canada click here : Canoeing Canada.

  • If you require an Index Map of the area covering both the 1:50 000 and 1:250 000 scales, email us at: staff@dogears.com. Please note that our stock is often low.

  • Please feel free to comment on these suggestions or make some of your own - no spam email address.

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