| Author |
Message |
eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 10:54 am: | 
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Hello everyone, I was hoping to find some further info on the "canton lakes" area of temagami. Lakes with campsites\condition\. We have read that people hear logging trucks etc in that area.
Hope to hear back.
Erik |
curly
Member
Post Number: 396
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 7:59 pm: |
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When is your trip? There is occasionally logging in that area, but it does not occur during the summer months. |
eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Sunday, April 7, 2013 - 9:00 am: |
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August long weekend. We have another couple that want to come to temagami, but have little experience. Thought this trip may be a good "easy" trip off the beaten path.
Any idea of what to expect fishing wise? |
curly
Member
Post Number: 397
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 7, 2013 - 6:51 pm: |
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You won't hear logging there on the August long weekend. Canton Lakes is off the beaten path, but I would not recommend it for someone with little experience. The portages can be trying. August long weekend is the single most popular weekend for canoeing. It is a challenge to come up with a suitable route for beginners (anywhere, probably) that will not be very busy that weekend. You actually pose a good problem for the group here.
Where should a group of inexperienced paddlers go in Temagami on the Civic Long weekend?
I'll give it some thought.... |
eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 3
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Sunday, April 7, 2013 - 8:13 pm: |
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It is a good problem to try and figure out Curly.
I should clarify that I have lots of experience canoe tripping. Myself and my Girlfriend have been to temagami the previous 3 years, with our average trip being 10 days. We have from the saturday untill the thursday this summer. Our friends really want to see temagami. while i would prefer to take them further into the interior, it is not an option. My greatest concern with taking them is their capability in the canoe. I'm not confident that they can handle the big winds that usually kick up in the region.
The loop, sandy inlet to thunderhead to bob to diamond back to sandy is approx 40km. Maybe 8km per day with a layover day in case we need it.
We are just hoping that we will be the only ones traveling through there during that time.
Do you know what the fishing and swimming is like in these lakes? What are the established campsites like? |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 1231
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 10:32 am: |
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Eric... not sure where you are from, but you could consider the Chiniguchi area and specifically the Marjorie Lake loop.
Go here for illustrated maps:
http://www.ottertooth.com/Temagami/Sites/chiniguch i.htm
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eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 4
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 11:57 am: |
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We had considered that loop Ed.We were concerned about are all the reports of parking etc being a problem specifically that weekend. We are from peterborough, or friends from arnprior area. We thought it would be very scenic route. Is it really that busy? I've never seen temagami back country be anything like easy access algonquin. (don't go to algonquin much) too busy! |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 1232
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 4:15 pm: |
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Use the shuttle service from the Sportsman's Lodge to go to the landing at Matagamasi and arrange for them to pick you up on your way out.
If you have an SUV you could drive up the logging road and put in at Silvester or even go on to Wolf Lake and put in there.
It might be busy that weekend also, but not as busy as Lake Temagami etc. |
eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 4:54 pm: |
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We spent saturday from noon untill sunday at 7am (we paddle early) on wakimika beach and didn't see another soul. Maybe the fire ban had something to do with that? I'd prefer free parking and not pay for a shuttle. Seems you guys really don't think the canton lakes are a good trip. how come? |
grncnu
Member
Post Number: 272
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 7:43 pm: |
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the canton lakes is a perfectly good route although i would say the most interesting option would be to go from bob to obabika, then back via obabika inlet to sandy inlet-- however this would expose you to a lot more wind threat.
on a chain of small lakes like thunderhead to bob, if even one other canoe is going the same direction it can get real crowded, real fast. also, because so many routes come together there, diamond is one of the places in temagami most apt to get really crowded, (but I would also put wolf lake in the same category these days).
if you do the canton route you describe, consider doing it in the opposite direction (diamond to bob to sharp rock).
if crowding worries you, you could try cassels l- rabbit l.- matabitchan r.- fourbass l.- maxam l.- rabbit-cassels which is accessible from public parking in temagami. rabbit can be windy too though... |
curly
Member
Post Number: 398
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 8:27 pm: |
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Sorry, I misinterpreted your "lack of experience."
I love the Canton Lakes. But I don't think its a beginner trip. And because it touches on some very popular spots (Sharp Rock, Diamond, Shishkong), Civic Weekend is maybe not the best time to go there.
I like grncu's idea of east of the highway. I'll throw out another option: Cassells-Blueberry (hike the old growth there)-Obashkong-Lorrain-Rabbit-Cassells. Free parking at the Cassells Lake access point. Don't park in town, drive about 5 km east of town on Fox Run to the access point.
Another option: Rib-Cliff-Fat-Friday. This would involve a short shuttle of about 10 km. Drop one car at the south end access to Rib Lake and the other car at the south end access to Friday lake off of the Roosevelt Road. Make sure you hike the loop at the top of the Cliff Lake Ridge. See nastawgantrails.ca for more. Option without a shuttle would be Rib-Cliff-Fat-Friday-Prud'homme-Roosevelt-Rib.
I should add that the options I've described above are probably suitable for you, someone with experience tripping, but not necessarily experience with Temagami. I would not recommend these routes to complete beginners.
(Message edited by Curly on April 8, 2013) |
eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 6
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 - 8:52 pm: |
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In 98 I played leap frog with a group from keewayden along the pipestone and winisk rivers. I was not expecting to see anyone, ended up seeing keewayden and another group. Last year we did sandy-diamond-wakamika-obabika-obabikainlet-kokoko bay- kokoko lake back to sandy. for us the pace of the canton trip is SLOW... Is it only the portaging that makes you feel it is not a beginner trip? The only things i really want to know about those lakes are the swimablity of them and what to expect for fishing.
Thanks for the route ideas, maybe i'll have to look over my FOT giant map some more. |
mycocanoer
Member
Post Number: 15
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 - 6:16 pm: |
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As grncnu mentioned The Matabitchuan River Loop is a great long weekend loop. Excellent scenery, Excellent fishing, beautiful campsites, easy access. And portages are quite easy for Temagami standards. However, I would drive down the Rabbit Lake access Road to the gravel pit just before the 26 km marker. There you can easily put-in in Glasford lake and make the loop in three days with beginner paddlers. You avoid most of Rabbit lake in case of big winds and the rest of the lakes/rivers are small and easy to portage. The River is gorgeous and easily lined/run or portaged around. The portages are short aside from one 1km that is along a logging road(easily done). What makes this trip a nice one is that it is not a busy thoroughfare that you will find on the traditional Temagami routes. It seems paddlers don't like the east side of Hwy 11. Considering that there are so many great canoeing opportunities there. |
curly
Member
Post Number: 399
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 10:44 am: |
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Longer portages and smaller lakes usually means "not beginner" in my opinion. The portages also don't see as much use, so can be more difficult to follow, not so good for complete beginners. Sounds like you've got lots of paddling experience, plus some Temagami experience, so you're up for the Cantons. Now that I have a better idea of your level of experience, I'd definitely recommend them.
There's a nice campsite on the NW shore of Virginia, as well as at the west end of Stiles (not marked on the FOT map, not sure how we missed that...). They're definitely swimmable, but I don't recall any superb swim spots, just average. I can't help you IRT fishing.
You can also do day trips or side loops on Ramrod Lake (north of Virginia) or the South Cantons (Red Dragonfly, Wendaban, etc.), or check out the Misabi Lakes (between Bob and Wakimika). Misabi Lake is one of the prettiest lakes in Temagami, but takes some effort to get there.
Take your clippers and do some trail clearing whichever route you choose! |
shutter_speed
Member
Post Number: 30
Registered: 10-2010
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 12:30 pm: |
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Bob Lake reportedly has good pike fishing. There's a lovely campsite, and you have a good chance of seeing moose ( I saw 4 during a similar trip).
The three lakes near Sharp Rock reportedly have pickerel. I've seen otter in there feeding on either pickerel or large perch. You can also go in through Ramrod (via a large beaver pond that is very scenic).
The side trip To Red Dragonfly that Curly mentioned is also neat.
You aren't likely to run into many groups once your out of Sharp Rock until you're back on Diamond. |
eriktheviking
Member
Post Number: 7
Registered: 04-2013
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 7:37 pm: |
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Thanks to everyone. We now have a better idea of what we can expect along that route.
Now we just have to decide on which trip to do. |
nadjiwan
Member
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2012
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 7:43 pm: |
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mycocanoer, can you describe in a little more detail the route you mention above, from start to finish, in terms of lake/river succession ,and in which direction? Are you going up or down stream on the Matibitchuan? Looking at the FOT map, I can't really see a clear loop that gets you back to your start at Glasford. |
mycocanoer
Member
Post Number: 16
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 10:33 pm: |
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Sure nadjiwan. The route I am talking about is marked on Hap's Temagami Canoe Routes map.
Glasford Lake -220m portage into (easy trail)
Unnamed Creek - 230m portage into (easy trail)
Maxam Lake - Paddle into
Burwash Lake - Paddle into
Ross Lake - 45m portage into (along road)
Rabbit Lake - 145m portage around dam into (easy Trail)
Matabituan River - 145m portage around a beautiful gorge (across the road over rocky knoll). Travel downriver.
Matabituan River - The rest of the rapids can be in mid to high water, but there are portages around them that are quite short or they can be lined or tracked.
Fourbass Lake - 510m portage into (easy trail)
Cooper lake - 1050m portage into (along logging road)
Unnamed Marsh - 25m portage into (easy)
Glasford Lake.
I have done this route numerous times and find it a very well rounded 3 day trip. I am in the process of planning a trip to cut a portage from Maxam Lake to Salvation Lake, but as it stands there is none. I tried to traverse this crossing four years ago and got stopped in my tracks. This would allow for a loop trip through the "ation" lakes (Sal, desper, and expect) through Simpson and Mackenzie and back to more travelled routes again. This would be advantage to those paddlers that enjoy fishing, as these lakes are fantastic fishing lakes for pike and walleye, but are only accessed as a return trip. |
nadjiwan
Member
Post Number: 4
Registered: 08-2012
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2013 - 5:20 pm: |
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That FOT map has begun to spoil me so much that I forget there are other sources out there...I actually have Hap's book too...my duh! And now that I've seen it there, I can easily see the route on the FOT map too. Thanks for laying it out, just the same. As for your planned "clearing" trip, the FOT map does show a nastawgan from the south end of Maxam to the road that accesses Salvation (off Rabbit L Rd). The trail looks like it would be a little over 2 km long, to that road. Did you see any hint of the nastawgan on your first attempt four years ago?
And on the route you describe above, any choice campsites you would recommend...or caution against? |
grncnu
Member
Post Number: 273
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2013 - 11:21 pm: |
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myco, as you say if that "ation" route was opened up it really would create some interesting possibilities!
nadjiwan, we liked the 1st campsite on the NW side of the matabitchuan, and the island site at the S end of fourbass which is excellent for swimming.
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mycocanoer
Member
Post Number: 17
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 6:12 am: |
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I knew that there was, at one point, a route through there, but when I tried several years ago, I could not find the portage start. I spent 4 hours combing the shore to find it with no avail. I just think that it has been overgrown and not used as I am accustomed on my type of trips. My research has shown that the trail exits the west end of Maxam on the north side and dumps into the small finger-like pond, southwest of Maxam. Paddle the end and then catch that logging road you eluded to bring you to Salvation Lake. 2 short portages of around 500m rather than one long 2000m portage.
As for the campsites....
Three campsites I have used many times in the past are
On Rabbit Lake..... West side shore of the bay leading into the Rabbit Lake Dam (mouth of the Matabitchuan River
On Matabitchuan River..... (1) Below the dam on the East side of the river before you get to the gorge with the cabin overlooking it. (excellent site, I usually spend my first night here) (2) Halfway down the river on the South east side is an old rustic site. Remnants of logging are all around.
On Fourbass Lake..... (1) On the little island as you come into the lake (Best site on the trip, usually spend my second night here). (2) and (3) as you are heading toward the Matabitchuan river Dam before the lake widens are 2 sites, one on either side of the lake. both are good sites.
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nadjiwan
Member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 08-2012
| | Posted on Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 10:16 am: |
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So noted....thanks! |
trailbill
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2013
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 9:53 am: |
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This is for Mycocanoer.
Two years ago I checked out the route from Wickstead to Salvation for the Friends of Temagami map. I walked the road toward Maxim. I also paddled the creek south of Maxim but a portage from here would be boggy and difficult to find from Maxim.
Last summer I cut a short but very bushy trail from the road to the finger lake north of Salvation. I spent most of a day walking south of Maxim to the finger lake. The best trail that would be easy to find and maintain would be the south west corner of Maxim, following the ground to the west of the marsh, following the high ground on the west of the creek to the finger pond. This would still make the portaging from Maxim to Salvation as about 2 km., less than the 3.5 km nastagan.
The other portage that needs doing here is Salvation to Desperation. Now following the road it is 2 km long. Following the nastagan or an old logging road it would be a km.
I'm planning doing these this summer. Please contact me at wndrer@sympatico.ca. I'll be in Temagami in July or August. Can we work together?
If these portages were done there would be a circle route from Temagami Village through Lake Temagami,Temagami River, Marten Lake, Wickstead Lake, Maxim Lake, Rabbit Lake,to Temagami, with approx 7000 metres of portaging the whole route. |
mycocanoer
Member
Post Number: 22
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 2:49 pm: |
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Hi Trailbill,
I will be in the area June 15 thru through the 21st for my own solo trip and haven't figured out where I plan to go. I would love to cut that trail, but I know how daunting it may be to do it by myself. I have two big trips planned in July and August, but they are with others who are looking for a traditional canoe trip and likely are not inclined to cut any trails themselves. If you can make it up in June, I would plan on making Salvation and Maxam my destination. With help I think it could be put to good use and give other canoers a new circle route.
I am also considering the Ottertail creek trip to see if we can make a circle route there back up the Matabichuan River.
I am actually paddling the Matabituan River circle route this weekend with my Girlfriend, but we are doing it in two and a half days, so I won't really have any time to stop on Maxam to explore a bit further. |
trailbill
Member
Post Number: 2
Registered: 05-2013
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 6:46 pm: |
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For Mycocanoer,
Unfortunately I have commitments in the Brampton area until at least the 19th of June. On the 20th I hope to be heading up north with a long list of projects. I am up there until the Friday before Labour Day. I'm retired.
95% of the time I canoe and do trail work on my own, with 2 huskies. It would be interesting to work with someone else.
We could also use each other's information and do part of the work in our own time.
Which Ottertail route are you checking out? |
Temagami canoe routes & backcountry travel