Bon Echo Trip Report July 22-23, 2021
Three club members met at the Silver Lake picnic area before proceeding to Bon Echo Provincial Park on Thursday, July 22nd for an exploratory trip. We unloaded our canoes at the North Beach launch and headed towards the Narrows and Mazinaw Rock on Upper Mazinaw Lake about noon. Mazinaw rock rises about 100 m above the lake. Thousands of years ago, Indigenous people considered this place to be powerful and sacred. We were able to identify many of their pictographs. This rock has about 260 pictographs. We also saw interesting lichen patterns. Mazinaw Lake is quite deep and large. Paddling it requires low winds. The winds rose mid-afternoon so as a result we did not paddle as far along the lake. Sometimes we would paddle airborne on the waves! After exploring Upper Mazinaw Lake we passed through the Narrows to Lower Mazinaw Lake. It was more sheltered from the north wind. We found the Cliff Top Trailhead and the Main Beach areas very crowded so we skipped those. We headed to a campsite near North Beach to set up our tents and eat supper. We spent a little while sitting on the quiet beach and we enjoyed a small fire with some golden marshmallows before heading to bed.
Read more: Bon Echo Provincial Park Trip Report July 22-23, 2021
Lac Ste Marie Day Trip
Tourisme Outaouais site describes Lac Sainte-Marie as "the jewel of the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, nestled among majestic mountains..." The rocky hills bordering the lake and the Gatineau River are not really "mountains", but their cliffs and lush forests are breathtakingly beautiful. In 1928, following the development of the Paugan hydroelectric dam, the old village was flooded and relocated. The flood transformed the lake into a much larger one, very popular with cottagers and boaters.
Barron Canyon: A Beautiful Introduction to Algonquin Park!
Our group of seven (3 canoes and one kayak) met at the Squirrel Rapids parking lot for the start of this day trip on July 5 2021. It was a short paddle until the first and only portage around Cache Rapids which was well groomed and about 400 meters. We continued up this very calm river as the midday sun allowed us to have spectacular views of the 100-meter-high canyon; it was nothing short of breathtaking. Whether it’s the first time you’ve done this trip or the one hundredth, the engraved rustic architecture of this rock is amazing. We stopped for lunch at the powerful Brigham Chute where we could hear the rushing water in the background as we chatted with each other. On the paddle back we stopped over for a quick swim at one of the vacant campsites and one of the members was lucky to catch a nice fish! At the tail end of the trip, we encountered some light rain and we pulled our hoods over our heads and watched the tiny raindrops fall in the calm water as we reached the end point- this moment was magical and great timing!
Family Day Trip on Rideau River - July 11, 2021
A perfect day for paddling!
After loading up on gear at the boathouse for our adventure, we made our way to the Kars Community Centre, a thirty minute drive south of Ottawa. A short paddle brought us to the Rideau River and we headed south. After a snack break in a marsh just outside of Kars, we continued paddling until we arrived at the W.A. Tayler Conservation Area, less than a one hour paddle from Kars.
The W.A. Tayler Conservation Area was a great spot to stop and have a picnic lunch. It has lots of picnic tables, trees for shade, outhouses and a small dock. After lunch some of us waded in the water, a few tried their luck at fishing, and the rest enjoyed the beautiful summer day.
With moderate boat traffic, all five families (ten adults and nine kids) in seven canoes did awesome!
2021 Discounts for RACCC Members
A benefit of being a member of the RACCC is that some retailers and course providers give discounts to club members.
Also, the RA has a number of community partners that represent a wide range of sectors offering benefits to RA members. Click here for more information.
Note that a new listing for Nanook Expeditions has been added on August 6.
Tay Canal to Beveridges Locks
Sunday, June 20 2021 was a perfect day to be on the water and we had an expert leading us on Tay Canal from Perth to Upper Beveridges Locks. Mark S. welcomed a group of old-timers and new members, a nice mix of solo, tandem and kayak paddlers.
The Tay Canal is the portion of the Tay River providing a connection between the town of Perth and the Rideau Canal at Beveridge Bay on Lower Rideau Lake. The canal is 9.8 km in length and is run today by Parks Canada as part of their Rideau Canal operations. It has an interesting history of entrepreneurial ambitions of Perth 19th century residents, who wanted a navigable connection from Perth to the Rideau and somewhat succeeded after two attempts. For a time, the canal from the Beveridges Locks to Perth was known as "Haggart's Ditch" - Wikipedia has a good entry on the topic.
Rideau River - Burritt's to Nicholson (Return)
On Saturday, June 12th, a small group of four Club members. It was a first trip with the Club for Brian F. and Rob B., while Jane M. and Paul H. (trip leader) were experienced members. The weather was nearly perfect, with a small tailwind in the morning coming out of the east. Rob - our consulting meteorologist on the trip - claimed that he had ordered the weather. Few large boats were seen travelling on the water and were greatly outnumbered by canoes and kayaks out to enjoy the day.
We paddled to Lower Nicholson Locks along with a short scenic detour past the Andrewsville Bridge. After a picnic lunch in the shade on the nice lawn of the lock station, we took a hike up to the dam beyond Upper Nicholson Locks and a walk over to see the osprey nest and the scenic views from the bridge. The paddle back was pleasant, with mild breezes helping to help cool us down.
The trip was made complete after our paddle by a side trip to nearby Merrickville for gelato at Stella Luna. This was a wonderful way to re-open the paddling season.
Paul H.
Pakenham to Blakeney Rapids June 12 2021
Eight of us gathered happily on a warm sunny June morning at Pakenham beach by the wide, slow Mississippi River above the Pakenham Bridge and rapids. Grateful for one of the first club trips after Ontario’s Stage 1 opening after the end of the stay at home lockdown.
Lots of parking there and basic washrooms which are kept clean. It is a popular spot. The water at the beach was shallow with flat rocks, but good for the kayaks to launch. It was slightly deeper at the gravel patch a few metres further down. Distance from the put-in to Blakeney Falls is around 8.5K for 17K in all.
2020 Canoe Club Trip Reports
A description of how club trips were run in a safe manner during the pandemic is given below followed by links to the trip reports.
If you would like more details about these trips, click here.
We all know 2020 did not go according to plan. Usual plans were all on hold. When some Ontario Provincial Parks opened June 1st we were eager to leave our homes where we had “isolated” for months. Day trips seemed like the safest way to begin. Initially we used the terms “Together Apart” trips. They matched the public health messaging of the time. Due to the pandemic, we would not share vehicles or food. We would not touch the belongings of others and would stay 2 metres apart at all times. Everyone arrived self-contained – they had their own gear. We all carried hand-sanitizer. No club equipment was used because the club was still closed. Participant numbers on each trip were kept small. Anyone with any Covid-19 symptoms or exposures was not to come.
For our first trip on June 1st even the Algonquin Provincial Park staff had no idea how to work during the pandemic, so we self-registered, as if they weren’t present. As time passed park and lock officials figured out how to work during the pandemic. The RACCC officially opened in late June and we could post official club trips again. Instead of doing just one trip to get us outside, we went between one and three times each week! Our blank calendars allowed us to choose the days with good weather.
In addition to these trips, the club ran over 30 whitewater day trips last year on rivers where bicycle shuttles were possible. This included the Lower Madawaska, the Middle Madawaska (near MKC), the Petite Nation, and the Ottawa. Unfortunately, none of us posted trip reports, but if you are interested you can learn about these trips and our 2021 plans at the RACCC Zoom Whitewater Trip seminar on March 31st 7 pm. Details are on the homepage or in the calendar or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Boat Thefts
The Ottawa Citizen reports that the theft of outdoor sporting equipment – including boats – is up. A disturbing aspect of this story is that they cut a metal bar holding the kayak.
FIVE-DAY TRIP TO THE HEADWATERS OF THE DUMOINE RIVER
June 30 - July 4, 1982
(By Paul L, trip leader)
"Quick mud makes for slow going", Confucius and/or Ihor N.
While the club is on hold until June 2, here is a trip report from 1982 courtesy of Mark S. who has finished scanning 30 years of club newsletters. This was, to say the least, a challenging trip.
It is generally assumed that the mighty and frothy Dumoine River, which has taken a heavy toll on the Y fleet, is to be travelled down, and at some considerable risk. However, Gerry C, Jean R, Ihor N and Paul L decided to travel UPRIVER.
After a careful examination of aerial photos of the area, it was decided to make it a five-day trip, as the distance to be covered, was estimated at 65 miles. Thus, on Tuesday evening, we drove to Lac La Vieille. Getting up at 6, we made our way to Lac Roland, the start of the 100-mile dirt road to Lac Antiquois, which is located between Lac Dumoine and the upper reaches of the Dumoine River. Looking at a map of the area, one notices that the Dumoine Lake and the river, form some sort of a donut made up of the following expanses of water: Dumoine Lake (shaped like a tuning fork) linked on the right side with Lac Antiquois; the narrowing Dumoine River (a mere brook at this Point); Sheni Lake, Machin Lake, Padoue Lake (at the top of the donut); then, in the left-hand section, Litvine Lake, Roger Lake, Crutch Lake and Crutch Brook, and finally, Lac-aux-Ecorces: a total distance of 65 miles.
Read more: FIVE-DAY TRIP TO THE HEADWATERS OF THE DUMOINE RIVER
Canoe Club Archives
Mark is in the process of digitizing the club archives. While we have most of the documentation since 1980, the club does not have much from before then. If you have copies of club documents (trips reports, handbooks, newsletters, etc.), please contact him to share them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The intent is to make these documents available to club members but how and when to do so has not yet been decided.
Stuff You Can Do: Canoeing during COVID
Click here for a CTV article which includes an interview with the Canoe Club's Mark S. This article is a transcription of a segment which appeared on the May 1 CTV News at 6. The 2 minute segment with Mark appears at the 24 minute mark. You will have to watch a few advertisements before you are allowed to get to that point.