N Ontario Route

[Black_Fly]

I’m starting to feel the clock on remote solo trips. Bloodvein off the bucket list. Gonna focus on Ontario. Anyone got recommendations for central or West Ontario? I’d like to think I’ll be in shape to do a real remote trip, but it ain’t looking like that’s reasonable. Done a lot of Quetico some WCPP. The upper Barren or some other flyin (HUGE insurance settlement from getting smoked on my bicycle??), but a shuttle route or loop is more likely. Haven’t done Algonkin. Missinaibi? Goal is remote but old man accessible). Number of portages low, with modest lengths and difficulty.

 

[Gamma1214]

@memaquay is probably your best place to start IMO. He's put me onto 2 so far and both were excellent.

I really liked the Steel River and the portages weren't too bad. A couple of steep banks to climb getting onto the trails around logjams and a little up & down between Diablo & Steel lakes but even with the missing beaver pond making the port into Cairngorm long ( it's about a mile), it wasn't bad. The key might be the starting point. If the access to Eaglecrest isn't viable you'd have to paddle the length of Santoy to go around the Diablo portage. (from your description, you'll want to avoid that)

Personally, I think I preferred the Marshall Lake loop but the two ports at the end are a b*tch & there's no way (that I know) to avoid the last one (pretty sure mem said you could get into Meta Lake by paddling an extra week(ish) down the Kap River).

You could put in at the bridge by Sedgman PP and paddle for a few days doing an out & back. You could even portage from Stewart to Stone Lake as that port wasn't bad at all (just swampy). The bridge to Stone & back would be some pretty country, one portage (but you'd do it twice), you could easily spend a week or more doing it and I can't think many people would be there.

As for Algonquin, I'm not sure how often Drew (@Algonquin lakes) checks in here but he's got an awesome website and has covered quite a lot of the park in the past 8 years. Lots of info, campsite ratings, etc. Bonus: he's a really nice guy too.

(edit: I see that he was last on here in Sept of '24 so you might want to pm him or contact him thru his website.)

Good luck & hope you can get back to it.

 

[jdeerfoot]

For Wabakimi trip advice submit an email to: friendsofwabakimi@gmail.com Mention you are seeking advice/suggestions for the area or type of trip you are interested in. Volunteer trip advisors with much experience in the area should get back to you.

 

[memaquay]

Easy float trips are hard to find up here, multiple ports are pretty much the norm. If you have fat stacks of cash though, being able to fly in and out makes life a lot easier. A fairly easy trip would be to fly into Percy Lake and then paddle the Little Current River, getting picked up at the junction of the Little Current and the Kenogami, or carrying on further down the Kenogami. I haven't done that section, but from reading reports of people who have there are only a few ports that people claim to be in pretty good shape.

 

[Black_Fly]

Anyone been to Bearskin Lake and the Severn River? How’s the access, landscape, rapids?