CANOE TRIP 1/26 McCRAE LAKE, VICTORIA DAY, SAT. MAY 16- MON. MAY 18
Details
One of our favourite locations for our first trip of 2026, McCrae Lake is in in the south, and will have warmer weather than the more northern lakes.
This is an easy trip, good for novice paddlers, to test your new kit, or get back into shape.
McCrae Lake is a large lake divided into several bays, on crown land, close to Toronto. The water quality is excellent, and there is good fishing. The backcountry campsites are large, quiet, have a steel grill and thunder box, and are free.
More information on McCrae Lake:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/mccrae-lake-conservation-reserve-management-statement
The water may be warm enough to swim, and the bugs will not be out yet.
Fun activities include hiking on wilderness trails, paddling up and down rapids, swimming with rattle snakes, diving off of cliffs into the lake, and dragging out the bodies of people who tried to do all of those things.
Watch for the Five-Lined Skink.
Or, you can relax in a hammock.
McCrae Lake is very popular. We may have to wait for room in the parking lot, and empty campsites.
If anyone in our group can go into McCrae Lake on Thursday or Friday to secure a campsite, it would be appreciated.
Arrive early Sat. AM. to get a parking spot or after 3:00 PM when day hikers go home.
We are not required to go home on Monday night. You can continue to camp for as long as you wish.
Carpooling is recommended to reduce the number of parking spaces required.
Most areas of the lake have cell service sufficient for text messages and data.
One portage, 150 metres, well used trail, over a high granite ridge.
Paddle distance: 5 km.
Canoe rentals should be available if you reserve one in advance:
Swift Canoe Georgian Bay
https://swiftoutside.com/georgian-bay/
Wawautosa Marina https://www.wawautosa.ca/
Driving Distance:
From Hwy 7 and Hwy 400, Vaughan Metropolitan Center:
142 km., 1 hour 30 mins.
ACTUAL LOCATION:
McCrae Lake Parking Lot Muskoka District Municipality, ON
44.92206400775243, -79.7772977860336
Please fill in the Spread Sheet below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V1iupkEzye3zj5O8Sagri1FZyVLGOeM1EDy4ZkgcABo/edit?usp=sharing