Canoeing, Barron Canyon, Algonquin
Details
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There comes a time in the affairs of men when the last ice age comes knocking. Once upon a time hundreds of feet of glacial ice melted by climate change resulted in 1,000 Niagara Falls draining northward, reduced today to a mere trickle in the form of a canyon. Pay homage this Canada Day to the forces that forged our great country. Three cheers and fireworks for Barron Canyon, the jewel of eastern Algonquin Park.
Itinerary:
(based on 'Top 50 Canoe Routes of Ontario' by Kevin Callin, p. 71)
Friday, June 28, after work (5:30 pm) leave from a Tim Hortons near you for Algonquin Access point # 22, Achray. Its a long drive so the The Arlington Hotel, an international youth hostel in Maynooth, could be as far as the group gets Friday.
Saturday, proceed via Pembroke (1 1/2 hour from Maynooth) to Sand Lake Gate, Algonquin Park, and purchase permits. Then on to Achray Campground, Grand Lake, to pick up rental canoes. Paddle to St. Andrews Lake, and setup base camp for two nights.
Sunday, June 30, the highlight of the meetup, a day trip to Barron Canyon. Take the portage to High Falls Lake and from the northern tip of that lake stay with the river. Through a series of portages arrive at Brigham Lake the beginning of the canyon. On the way through the canyon stop at Barron Canyon Trail and hike to the iconic lookout, 1.5 km.
Continue down the Barron River until turning back. On the return use the portage from Brigham Lake to Opalescent Lake as a means of returning to base camp on St. Andrews Lake.
Monday, paddle back to vehicles at Achray Campground, Grand Lake, for the return drive. Anticipate a late arrival back in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Difficulty:
There are some demanding portages requiring reasonable physical fitness but other than that first time canoeists and backcountry campers welcome.
Canoe Rentals:
Algonquin Bound Outfitters (http://www.algonquinbound.com/Rentals.html) 1-800-704-4537. For an additional $20 per canoe, rentals can be delivered/returned to Access # 22. Considering one car can only haul one canoe (i.e. only two persons per car otherwise), the savings in gas alone on a long drive from KW makes this an affordable option.
Cost:
$25 (Friday night hostel room, Arlington Hotel) + $25 (Sat, Sun, camping, $11.75 per night ) + $50 (shared gas, its a long way) + $42 ( 1/2 of three day rental of Kevlar canoe at $28/day) = $142 (estimated before tax).
$100 without a canoe rental
Links:
- Shared document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdFBXZFc2V1I4UURSZi14elhNNHo2NkE&usp=sharing) for tracking canoe and car sharing. *
Google's images for Barron Canyon (https://www.google.ca/search?q=barron+canyon&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pB1OUbqgGfOFyQH0mYCwDg&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQsAQ&biw=1229&bih=617)
Online map of canoe routes (http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/virtual/canoe_routes_map/index.php) (start at east side of map, look for #22)
The Arlington Hotel (http://thearlington.ca/) in Maynooth, Ontario, 613-338-2080. It is a classic with a storied past.
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