| Author |
Message |
edalgorf
Member
Post Number: 24
Registered: 03-2018
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 11:03 am: | 
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Hi
Planning at trip for end of July this summer to the Northwest region of Temagami starting at Paul Lake access point and have a few questions for those who have traveled this area before:
1. From the Paul Lake access point, is it possible to paddle upstream to the 1500m portage into Hamlow? Or is the 3.6Km ATV trail the only option into Hamlow?
2. We are deciding between a trip from:
a) Paul Lake to Montreal River (Via Solace --> scarecrow --> Smoothwater) or
b) Paul Lake to Twinkle (via Solace --> Bluesucker --> Yorston River)
- both trips will include a hike up Ishpatina Ridge
Does anyone have experience doing both of these routes that can vouch for one or the other?
Thank you,
Evan |
eddy_turn
Member
Post Number: 213
Registered: 03-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 4:07 pm: |
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It's a tough choice to make! By Paul lake access do you mean Gervais road landing? It is on the Sturgeon river, about 2-3 hours upstream from the lake (an alternative is fly-in directly to Paul lake).
a) after you travel the Sturgeon river downstream to Solace park the fastest way to return north to Ishpatina will be through Regan lake route from Solace lake; it's unmaintained and have limited camping; other than that the route is straightforward. But you'll miss park route between Solace and Bluesucker lakes.
b) To get to Ishpatina from this route you'll have to take a lengthy detour, e.g. traveling the Sturgeon upstream, going to Scarecrow and then either retracing your steps back or going to Solace park through Regan lake. Then from Bluesucker to Twinkle it's crown land maintained occasionally by FOT. It was in good shape last summer.
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edalgorf
Member
Post Number: 25
Registered: 03-2018
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 6:06 pm: |
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Thanks Eddy Turn,
Yes, by Paul Lake I mean Gervais Road landing.
For our trip ending at Twinkle lake I was looking to paddle upstream (if possible) to the 1500m portage to Hamlow then go to Scarecrow to climb Ishpatina ridge then head south to Salace via Regan then to Twinkle via the Bluesucker and Yorston river.
The other option I was looking at was to paddle down the Sturgeon to Ghoul lake then head East to Solace then North to Scarecrow then Northeast to Montreal River/Beauty lake access point.
Trying to decide which is the better route in terms of beauty, campsites and remoteness.
Evan |
eddy_turn
Member
Post Number: 214
Registered: 03-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 7:53 pm: |
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Both routes are scenic, but I personally would take the first option for its remoteness. My impression is, a stretch between Beauty lake Rd. landing and the Sturgeon sees much more traffic than Regan lake area and crown lands south of Bluesucker. Montreal river and Smoothwater lake are open to motor boat use. Of course, average crown land campsites are less developed than those in the parks, some of them lack thunderboxes, though FOT installs them wherever they could.
Twinkle lake access point is not where it used to be: one has to pass overgrown ATV trail going to the lake, taking instead left turn at the gravel pit and parking few hundred meters down the road where it crosses 200m portage towards Ames creek. |
edalgorf
Member
Post Number: 26
Registered: 03-2018
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2023 - 1:46 pm: |
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Do you know if its possible to travel upstream from the Gervais Road landing to the 1500m portage into Hamlow? |
eddy_turn
Member
Post Number: 215
Registered: 03-2011
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2023 - 4:36 pm: |
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I don't. In my experience if there's no portage around rapids on the Sturgeon then, in summer levels, they could be negotiated either direction without whitewater expertise. |
red_pine
Member
Post Number: 48
Registered: 08-2014
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2023 - 7:07 am: |
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Yes, you can paddle upstream to the Hamlow portage.
Couple of years ago I did a shuttle for some folks, and they took the upstream route. However, I hiked the road that day, then bushwhacked the fully grown-over old logging road that goes north to Stull Creek. We both got to the intersection at the same time.
I then walked the length of the portage. Noted to my self that the long hike on the road would be easier than the Hamlow potage when travelling north. Coming south I would take the portage.
Of course it also depends on how heavy you pack. We nearly always do just 1½ trips across portages. Leap frogging along the road is easiest for us.
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bushwhacker
Member
Post Number: 15
Registered: 03-2019
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2023 - 8:55 pm: |
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I have done all of your intended routes and yes, you will be able to paddle upstream to the 1500m portage without any issue. Only time it may ever be a problem is high flow in the Spring but you won't have such a situation in July. Take option B or C but B is the best route for beauty. Here you will see the river pass through Talking Falls and a few other very nice waterfalls. Those routes are more scenic and remote than A, especially if you will see Ishpatina at the outset anyway. I don't know how the access road is to Twinkle Lake but I think it has improved in recent years as they regretably began the work a few years ago on a new road in the area. |
edalgorf
Member
Post Number: 27
Registered: 03-2018
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 - 1:26 pm: |
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Thanks Bushwacker, I think you have pursued to take option B (Gervaise Landing to Twinkle via Solace).
Since you've done this route previously, are there any "can't miss A+ campsites/spots" that we should prioritize?
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klassen
Member
Post Number: 13
Registered: 04-2021
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 - 11:41 am: |
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I canoed that entire route 2 years ago from the other direction. All the portage trails between the Sturgeon and Bluesucker were just cleared by park staff.
I remember enjoying these campsites along the way:
- The northern island campsite on Solace
- The peninsula campsite on Pilgrim Lake (I remember that the portage from Maggie to Pilgrim is difficult, so its a good resting spot)
- Talking Falls, of course. It is on the portage trail, but is quite nice.
- I don't remember seeing anything particularly nice sites on Bluesucker |
grncnu
Member
Post Number: 467
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2023 - 1:21 am: |
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My experience of that area isn’t that recent but I’ve done it several times and I doubt much has changed.... the original route from Bluesucker to the Sturgeon goes through Selkirk, which is also the location of a superb campsite.
The site on Benner (1st lake west of Bluesucker) is also excellent.
Finally, read the thread about 20 lines down on this page about Stull Creek. |
edalgorf
Member
Post Number: 28
Registered: 03-2018
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2023 - 10:58 am: |
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Thanks for this great insight grncnu,
The sites you mentioned are all labeled as "open triangles" indicating a smaller site. I know its been a while but do you know if these sites would accommodate two 4-man tents? |
grncnu
Member
Post Number: 468
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2023 - 5:30 pm: |
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Hmmm, good question....
The short answer is that I’ not sure... we always travel with a single 2 person tent and so don’t look for this. I wouldn’t say either site is what you would call huge. |
eddy_turn
Member
Post Number: 216
Registered: 03-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2023 - 10:18 pm: |
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Ditto to what grncnu said: not sure, but it will be tight at best. If you don't like the Benner site then Bluesucker is an obvious backup, being just a short carry away. There are two sites on it across from the Benner portage that should fit your purposes size-wise. |
Temagami canoe routes & backcountry travel