Lake Noganosh

Grab your paddle... nature is waiting!

    Noganosh Lake Provincial Park serves as a perfect interior trip to warm up those paddling muscles, put new gear to the real test, and scratch that interior camping itch. For Chris and I, it was more like, discover that we need to check things like batteries before we leave for our bigger August trip - ie the batteries in our headlamps – and learn that those cups advertised as “indestructible cups” we got from a store - which shall remain nameless - are in fact destructible.

    My fiancé, Chris, and I began our trip at Ess Narrow Landing; however, there is an alternate route called Fleming's Landing. I've never used Fleming's Landing, but I've read on forums that it saves you 3km of paddling. At Ess Narrow Landing, you can drive your car up to the water, unload and load the boat and gear and then park the car in a lot a few meters away. One of the more convenient landings that we have ever experienced.

    When we arrived on Thursday, we were pounded with rain, rain, and more rain. Nonetheless, Chris and I loaded up the boat, spread the tarp over our bags and then paddled a few meters to take shelter under the bridge. Eventually the rain let up – for the moment – and we paddled South on Dollars Lake until we came to a fork in the waterway and headed East on Kawigamog Lake. We laughed as we saw “Elbow” painted on a rock to our left. It is a marker to help boaters find their way back to Ess Narrow Landing, but in previous trips I've managed to miss this turn more then once on the journey back to the car.

    The total distance from the landing to the first portage is 8.6km. Lucky for us this portion of our trip was only rain and no wind. The first portage is in a little bay that is right across from East end of Long Island. In my picture, the little house boat can be seen where a curious dog will greet you. Even if you are not a dog lover, the dog will leave you alone for the most part. The short portage is very easy and well maintained thanks to the ATV that motorboat enthusiasts use on this path; however, watch out for the poison ivy! It is speckled on the sides of the path and at the put in.

    Paddle down Smokey Creek for about 1km. The second portage is to the left and, depending on water levels, there are two places to land. Unfortunately for us, it was very mucky from the persistent rain at both spots. On a positive note, we didn't notice any leaches in the muck nor attached to our legs. I find this portage neat in that the water level difference between the two sections of Smokey Creek pretty big. Although, on this visit the dam looked very different and must have collapsed at some point and then built itself back up. There used to be a little dock and ladder that led to a motor boat which rested on a little dock on the next section of Smokey Creek. All of that is gone and a motor boat was parked on shore at the portage.

    While putting our packs back into the canoe I waltzed past what I hope was only a gardener snake. Once Chris pointed the snake out and I jumped backwards, counting my blessings for not accidentally stepping on it!

    The winding path through water lilies makes for great pictures and there is always a Blue Heron or two. We even caught sight of a Canadian Goose hiding in the weeds, which let us get really close to her. There was a male painted turtle sitting on a log in the drizzle, probably hoping for a sunshine as much as we were.

    The third portage, which is about 350 meters, is the longest of the three, but it is as easy as portage one. From here the creek turns into Smokey Lake. As the waters started to get less marshy, Chris caught a glimpse of a moose quickly ducking into the thick vegetation. We sat in the canoe, slowly paddling backwards in hopes of catching another glimpse, but the moose remained hidden.

    We continued on, past the fly in fishing camp, Smoky Lake Outpost Lodge and towards Noganosh Lake. Just before Noganosh, there is a trio of rocks in the middle of the water. Every time we pass these rocks a seagull flies into the air, swooping and trying to poop on us. Thankfully, he was not as aggressive as he had been in past visits and just circled us, squawking loudly for the next few hundred meters.

CAMPSITE INFO:

Dollars Lake has two campsites, one on either side. 

Kawigamog Lake has three near "The Elbow," on the north side. There are two sites near the Eastern part of Cincinnati Island. I do not recommend the site that is across from the start of Long Island, on the South side of the main land. 

Smokey Lake has two sites just past the Outpost Lodge. One is on the island and the second West of the island, on the main land.

The campsites at the start of lake Noganosh fill up fast on the weekends that I've visited the park and I recommend arriving in the middle of the week. There are more sites if you paddle onto the most south end of the park, but we did not find these sites as noticeable from the canoe and recommend the map from Kevin Callan's book, "Weekend Wilderness Adventures in Southern Ontario" published 2004.

 Many of the campsites are pretty easy to find due to the make shift benches and tables. In addition, small grills can be found near the fire pits.

    The animals will visit you at night. I have been visited by moose twice. One visit was when Chris and I were trying to sleep and the second was when we were sitting by a campfire. On this trip, on our last day, we woke up to the remains of someone's late night fish dinner. In addition, there is the odd mouse at these sites. For the most part, I find the Noganosh campsites well kept in comparison to other non-operating parks, where I've found disgusting amounts of garbage and toilet paper. At one island site, on Noganosh Lake, we were lucky enough to find a toilet box; that's luxury right there, eh!

    Despite the constant drizzle and cool nights, Noganosh was still a great experience. It is an easy paddle, I always see wild life, and there are no fees for parking or camping...as of yet.

 (June 2011)

 Directions to Access Point:

Follow Hwy 69 and turn East onto Hwy 522. Drive 27 km and then turn North. A little sign "Ess Narrow Landing" will mark the way. Drive a little ways until you see the landing on your left. The parking lot is just up a hill and on the left as well.

Cost: Non-operating park, meaning no fees to camp and no fees to park your vehicle.

Length:

Give yourself at least 3 to 4 days to enjoy. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to paddle in and get through the 3 portages.

Trip Summary:

June 23 - 26 2011 trip

Put in: Ess Narrow Landing.

Paddled South on Dollars Lake and then East on Kawigamog for a total of 8.6km to first short portage (200m)

Paddled Smokey Creek for 1km

Second Short portage.

Continued Smokey Creek for .69km.

Third Portage is about 300 meters and there was a fallen tree that we had to climb over.

Paddled Smoky Lake for about 3.29km and then the waterway transitions into Noganosh Lake.  

Animal Sightings:

Loons, Blue Heron, Turtles, Beaver, Moose, Snakes.

 

A little park within Algonquin

This is taken from my old website that I had created a few years ago. Unfortunately the ads have gotten so bad and I refuse to pay to reduce the ads and thus am transferring the webpage to my blog.

May 24 weekend 2012 at Kiosk Campground

What is worse than blackflies? Being trapped in a fiberglass cast in blackfly season! I had surgery on my ankle to reduce my arthritic pain about three weeks ago and am basically making the best of my summer. So, this Algonquin Adventure is tame compared to my usual trips. I was reduced to entertaining myself with a lot of Jim Bean.

Black Flies:

For those who have not trekked during this season here are some random points that you may want to know.

- Don't bother with OFF and depend on covering up. IE bug hats, long clothing with cuffs, pant legs tucked into socks etc. My common-law spouse insisted OFF worked, but I'd say it has more of a psychological impact and those little bugs shake it off and continue flying and biting. 

- Seriously, get the silly looking netting and wear it!

- Be prepared to hide in your tent from day break to 10 am and 6pm to sunset.

- When they bite it hurts and it leaves a red dot on your skin. For some people, they are as itchy as mosquito bites. 

- The blackfly season depends on where you are, how far up north, and the area, but typically they tend to start in mid May and last until late June.

Kiosk Campground

It is a little park located in the North end of Algonquin Park and yet privatized. I did not know that these parks within Algonquin existed. There are only 24 sites and more for the motor home / RV travellers. Motorboats (up to 20 horsepower) are allowed on Kioshkokwi Lake, but many people were in canoes and kayaks as well. 

Even though the website states that the site seclusion is good, I would say that "good" is a term used loosely. It is more like, meh. Your neighbour is close and you see them and they see you. On the other hand, I usually venture to interior sites so my idea of site seclusion will be different from those who prefer regular campgrounds.

The beach area is nothing spectacular. A little sand and lots of rock and muck. It isn't too bad, but I have to admit that due to my cast I could only sit in the water with my leg elevated.

(May 2012)

Access Point
From Highway 17, 17.6 km west of Mattawa, Ontario, follow Highway 630 (paved) south for 30.4 km to the Kiosk Campground on the north shore of Kioshkokwi Lake.

Link to map and park details

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/camping/kiosk-campground.php

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Sections of the Bruce Trail

Over a four day period, Chris and I tackled three different sections of the 800 km long Bruce Trail. We visited the Blue Mountain section, Lion's Head, and the Bruce Peninsula. I cannot say that one single place was better than the other because each section was unique and captivating in its own way. 

     The sidebar consists of parking and campsite details and costs. 

     The following consists of some memorable moments and highlights from each section we camped at. So....

Grab your hiking boots... nature is waiting!

Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area

map info:  Map 22 - Devil's Glen

     I sit on the Nottawasaga Bluffs Lookout point, sipping water while watching the last rays of the sun slip below the horizon. I imagine how cold and creepy the many crevices and canyons that we had explored that afternoon would be now. Now being about 10pm. During the day, we explored the Best Caves, Freedom Rock, and the many crevices along the Keyhole Side Trail. The breeze blowing through the canyons provided a welcomed relief from the heat and humidity. Chris called it his natural air conditioner. 

     The trail itself is easy to hike and the many places to explore make this section of the Bruce Trail a perfect day trip. The first section of the Bruce Trail is well marked provincial signs about agricultural practices, Bruce Trail rules, maps, and most memorably an enormous sign depicting the wildlife that can be found in the area. Jokingly, I had Chris take a picture of me pointing at the deer and fox as if I were really seeing them. I figured the chances of us actually seeing these animals was slim based on the number of day hikers we had come across during our venturing of the main and side trails. 

     To explore the area is about a 4km walk, but there is so much to see that a day can easily be spent here.  There is even the luxury of an outhouse hidden by long grass and bushes and found near the campsite provided by the N.V.C.A The Keyhole Side trail to the west offers lots of rock to climb into and around while the west side provides beautiful grown fields that once served as agricultural land. 

     Now, it is 11pm and we are listening to the excited yipping and howling of foxes. Down below, domesticated dogs howl back.  I was too tired to listen to them past midnight and slept right through until dawn. Foxes howling does not compare to the frightening night sounds of moose crashing through forest and entering and exiting water. Unfortunately, Chris was not as relaxed about how close the howling was to our tent and hardly slept a wink.

     Our only regret is missing out on a chamber that exists somewhere further down the escarpment. I had read about it when we had returned home and will definitely return to Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area in the fall.

Pretty River Access Trail

map info: Map 23 - Pretty River  

     We woke up at 6:30am, ate a quick breakfast, packed up and hiked out of Nottawasaga and back to the car. For parking near the Pretty River Access Trail, I recommend refering to the Bruce Trail website for parking because there are multiple little parking lots.  Following our GPS and lacking an Ontario Road Map because my local CAA was out (and I was too cheap to buy one from a gas station) we got lost a lot. We ended up parking somewhere on Grey Road 31. We hiked along the road and then saw the Bruce Trail sign laying down in the ditch that marked a little parking spot and the start of the trail. The Pretty River Access Trail, like Nottawasaga, is another well used section of the Bruce Trail and clearly marked. 

     We could see evidence of mountain bikers on the path. I assume they use one of the many trails that we saw crossing over the Bruce Trail to reach the sections we were climbing up. There are a few little bodies of water to see and please watch out for the many toads and the odd snake hanging out by the trail. On a side note, if you have not read through the Bruce Trail reference book, it is important to know that in the Collingwood section there are poisons snakes and an antivenin depot. Refer to the most recent booklet or the website for more information about this.

   Chris and I made it to a fork in the trail that led to the rest of the main trail and the John Haigh side trail, which is marked with an enormous sign and blue blazed markers. We took the side trail and suddenly stopped, startled by the sign marking the highest point of the Bruce Trail.  I shouted, "Success! 540metres high." The sign also contained a map to the Osler Bluff Lookout point, but I was too eager to get to Lion's Head and jump into the water to clean the sweat off of me. So we hiked back to the car and moved onto our next location.

Lion's Head

map info:  Map 36 - Lion's Head

     What you will see:

- Giant's Cauldron

- Lion's Head Pothole

- Stand on the 45th parallel, which means you are standing at the halfway point between the North Pole and the Equator

- Rock climbers

- an old logging trail

- and last but not least, if you hike to McKay's Habour lots of Poison Ivy!

     We entered the trail from Moore St. and enjoyed the short stretch of path that was blanketed with wood chips -- our feet were starting to blister at this point of our trip-- Of course this quickly changed from an easy hike to difficult and rocky. It did not help that I was carrying an extra 30lbs on my back and Chris was carrying closer to 36lbs.  There were times when we abandoned our packs to check out the look out points. In addition to the beautiful, and popular hike, the overnight camping spot was perfect. It was quiet, peaceful, and private. We ditched our stuff at a site tucked into the forest and washed our legs in fear of having Poison Ivy on our skin. We then rested on the rocks and dried off while watching a couple of seagulls fishing in the bay.  

     I am assuming the campsites are used often because the wildlife was very brave. A little red fox approached the site while we were having dinner and not bothered by the racket we were making. For instance, like my excited shouting, "a fox! a fox! The camera, where is the camera!" The fox ignored me and took another few steps closer to us while sniffing the air until he must have decided our Mountain House food was too bland for his palate and he leisurely moved through the trees and in the direction of the next campsite. I am sad to admit that I did not get my picture of the fox.

     I hung our food bag, with Chris behind me, asking if I had hung it high enough. I shrugged, responding that I didn't see evidence of bears and was more worried about the fox or a smaller critter burrowing into the bag.  Instead, I woke up at about 1am to a ripping and a loud pop, followed by crunching, crunching, and more crunching. Chris was snoring loudly and I felt bad waking him up, but I was afraid to check outside by myself in case it was something larger then a fox destroying our food bag. What I was not counting on was the chubby and persistent raccoon that paid a visit to our food bag.  The little stinker climbed up the short tree I chose and dropped down onto the food bag and tore it open. I am glad he enjoyed my granola bars and oatmeal. It took us until about 2am to repair the food bag and find a taller tree so the bag could be hung further down from the branch and away from the trunk. All the while, we could see two little glowing eyes pacing the edge of our campsite, eager for us to return to our tent. In the distance, the racoon's reinforcements were squawking away. Another night where Chris did not sleep much and neither did I. 

Bruce Peninsula

Map Info: Map 39 - Emmett Lake

     We were sad to leave Lion's Head because there was so much more to see and explore, but the clouds were dark and threatening and we did not want to chance getting caught trying to climb wet rocks with our heavy back packs.  

     By the time we arrived at Cyprus Lake Campground to pick up our camping permit for Storm Haven, the park was crazy busy and cars were being asked to park at further lots and hike into the Grotto. In other words, book sites early and arrive early if you want to visit the Bruce Peninsula in August.

     This was our most difficult of the four hikes we did. However, it was a relief to see very little Poison Ivy along the trail. Chris named all of our sharp upward climbs the Stair Master. In addition to our tired legs, and slightly blistered feet, it began to rain which made the rock and tree roots extra slippery.  

     By the time we reached our campsite, the sun came out, bringing out the bright blue colour of the water and the whites and yellows of the rock. After we set up, despite how sore we were at this point, we were drawn to the beautiful rock and water and climbed our way as far as we could go to the next rocky beach.  

       In addition the the beauty of Storm Haven, the metal posts to hoist the food bag up was my favourite feature and I wish every provincial park had these devices. No racoon was going to climb up that thing and drop down onto a food bag! I was not concerned about bears because I only saw a tree that had claw markings on it and no bear scat.  

     Another favourite aspect of this section was the white noise of waves crashing onto rocks all night long. We slept deep and solid for eight hours and woke up the next day rested and relaxed.

     In conclusion, all of these places are not very remote, but give the feeling of isolation and there are always people around, but yet each campsite is private and sublime. For a beginner, these sections would be perfect before a more interior trek into wilderness. I still call myself a canoer/portager, but these sections have opened my eyes to camping the rewards of hiking.

(August 2011)

    

 Trip Summary

August 5, 2011

Access Point: Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area. Turn off of  Simcoe Road 124 onto Sideroad 15&16. Drive past Concession 11 and 10 and a small and well marked parking spot will be seen on the South side. This is the entrance to the Nottawasaga Bluffs.

Camping:

We bought two day passes and put them on the dash board and then called the conservation area to let them know that our car was going to be in the parking lot overnight.

Hike approx. 1 km down the side trail, past the Betty Carter Side Trail and at a fork in the path, turn West. Just past a large Bruce Trail sign is the designated camping and beyond that are trails leading to the Keyhole Side Trail. 

Cost: To park overnight, we purchased the day pass ($2.00 per person per day) 

The site is free, but respect that it is an overnight spot. In addition, there would be too many day hikers passing your campsite to bother staying more than a night. 

August 6, 2011

Drove to Pretty Rivery Valley Provincial Park.

Access to the Pretty River Side Trail: There is parking on Osler Bluff Rd, just West of Hwy 33.  But there are multiple parking spots so refer to the Bruce Trail website.

We hiked to the highest point of the Bruce Trail and then made our way back to the car and drove to Lion's Head

Cost: The parking was free and no permit was required.

Lion's Head: McKay's Harbour:

Access Point: Parking is on Moore St. and the trail begins on the same side of parking. 

We hiked approx. 4km on the main section of the Bruce Trail and camped at McKay's Harbour. 

Cost: Parking is free, but plan to arrive early (before 10am) because there are many day hikers and parking fills up quickly. 

There is one camping spot marked on the Bruce Trail Map #36, but we found two campsites. These sites are free, but respect that they are only overnight campsites.

August 7, 2011

Storm Haven.

Access Point: Drive down Emmett Lake Rd, which is just off of Hwy 6. This entrance will lead you to the start of Halfway Dump Trail. If you are camping, you will have to drive to Cyprus Lake Campground to pick up the camping permit and pay for parking.

Hiked a little over 3km to Storm Haven.

Cost: We had to book the campsite a month in advance and each night is $9.80 per person and per night. $11.50 to park the car.  

Animal Sightings:

Red Fox

Raccoon

For more information visit:

• Bruce Trail Website: http://brucetrail.org/

• And you can find the latest copy of the book in public libraries.
• Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada

Aventure Angela video is currently in the works.