Experience Fall colours of Killarney!

OSA Lake is one of the most popular lakes in Killarney and a must-see with its clear blue waters and beautiful scenery. This mid-week trip will allow us to enjoy the park as it is the last chance to camp on OSA lake before the park closes for the canoe season.

Monday Oct 5 - Depart GTA/KW Area around 7am. Check in at George Lake after lunchtime. Pickup Permits. Load and launch canoes. Paddle to a backcountry site on George Lake, camp overnight.

Tuesday Oct 6 - After breakfast in camp, pack up, and depart for OSA. Portage 80m into Freeland. Paddle to next portage of 380m into Killarney Lake. Enjoy lunch on Killarney Lake. Paddle to west end of Killarney Lake and choose one of two portage options (455m direct or lift over then a 130m) into OSA lake. Choose a site on OSA and set up camp where we’ll stay for 2 nights.

Wednesday Oct 7 - After breakfast in camp, load day packs with lunches and a water filter and set out on a day trip of the group’s choice.

Option 1: Head west to Muriel lake, portage 110m and 185m into Artist Lake. From here we can hike "the Pig" and enjoy the beautiful scenery while checking out the steepest portage in the park. The hiking trail meets up with the portage so we can do a side route to Topaz Lake then hike up to Threenarrows Lake. Return along the same route back to our campsite on OSA Lake.

Option 2: Explore Killarney Lake. Paddle to the Kakakise Lake Portage, stash canoes in the bush, and hike the Crack. Enjoy lunch and breathtaking views at the top of the Crack. Head back down, paddle around Killarney Lake before returning to camp on OSA lake.

Thursday Oct 8 - Pack up camp, load canoes and launch by 10am. Portage and paddle back along the same route to reach our cars at the George Lake access point. Drive home.

A few things to note: This is a mid-week trip! We are departing on Monday returning on Thursday. These are the only dates OSA lake was available so we booked it but it is worth taking the vacation time if you want to see Killarney this fall. We can expect to see fall colours as the leaves often change earlier in Killarney than they do here in the city. Fall trips offer a range of weather possibilities including rain, but the fall season in Killarney is well known for bright sunny days with higher temperatures mid day, sometimes it’s even warm enough to swim. Cooler temperatures are most likely to happen at night, so a warm sleeping bag is recommended. Hiking boots are also a must if you plan to join us on either of the day trip options. This is a Beginner/Intermediate level backcountry trip. Some paddling experience is a must-have.

If interested a meal plan can be provided for you. Contact Julianna for more info and pricing. I can accommodate any allergies or dietary needs if you let me know about them in advance. Depending on the menu it would be something like this:

Monday Dinner - Meat and potatoes on the grill
Tuesday Breakfast - Eggs and bacon
Tuesday lunch - sandwiches/wraps and salad
Tuesday dinner - Pasta or stir-fry
Wednesday Breakfast - Oatmeal or pancakes
Wednesday Lunch - sandwiches/wraps and salad
Wednesday Dinner - Chili or soup/stew
Thursday Breakfast - oatmeal or pancakes
Snacks and beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc) will also be included

You would need to bring your own dishes, cup, utensils, etc. A backcountry stove, fuel, and pot set will be provided for the group as well as a 10L water filter.

Canoes and Paddling Partners:

Glenn will be bringing his Canoe from Oakville.

Julianna has a 3 seat canoe available for anyone who wishes to pick it up in Cambridge.

Canoes can also be rented from Killarney Outfitters. Contact them directly if you wish to rent. Pricing varies depending on which option you would like to go with.

http://www.killarneyoutfitters.com/

­Carpools:
Glenn is departing from Oakville at 7am. Picking up Julianna and space for 1 more passenger.