Closest Access Point: Canoe Lake (Access Point #5)
Distance To Access Point: 11.5 KM (2.5-3 hours)
Difficulty of Travel From Access Point: Easy
Maintenance Level: Regular
Date of Visit: July, 2021
I’ll start by saying that the site locations on Jeff’s Map and the Park Map for this bay are a bit off. There also seem to be some extra sites on the Jeff’s Map version that I couldn’t find. In consultation with Barry over at Algonquin Adventures we’ve tried to match the number sites to what we see on the Park’s official map. That said, there are four useable sites in this bay, and this is certainly one of them! This is also the only site of the four where there’s a strong possibility that the trees will come alive and eat you, so do with that what you will.
Terrain: This is a very enclosed site. It’s a rocky site, surrounded by old cedars. Large roots snake across the ground, looking for break in the rock to plunge back into the earth. It slants slightly uphill. It’s not enough of a grade to be too challenging, but it’s noticeable. The ground is grassy in spots and very damp in others (none of the damp areas are what you’d consider to be part of the living area of the site, but my guess is that it would make the site pretty buggy during bug season).
Canoe Landing: Someone (or something) has dug out a perfect little canoe landing area. It’s a deep rectangle cut into the shoreline that turns into a mud flat underneath the canoe. You can wedge your boat in here quite nicely and load/unload onto firmer ground nearby. The approach to this site was clear of underwater obstructions from what I can remember.
Fire Pit: The fire pit is towards the front of the site. It’s a well constructed pit, large and with decent walls. It doesn’t have much more than a partially obstructed view of the lake thanks to the cedars lining the shoreline.
Swimability: The shoreline is pretty rocky, but those rocks are relatively smooth and well sloped. They make for a good spot to slip in. They would also make for a really nice spot to just sit and watch the water.
Tent Sites: This isn’t a great site for tents. There are a couple of clear spaces along a gradual rise that goes back from the site. Those are where you’re meant to put your tent, but none of them looked all that great. The ground was pretty wet and there was a mild angle pretty much everywhere you looked. Still, there’d be room for a couple of tents at least if you weren’t too worried about being comfortable.
Thunderbox: I couldn’t find it. I looked. I followed a couple of paths back from the site but neither of them led anywhere.
Accessories: None, really. Unless you count the weirdly unsettling feeling you get as soon as you set foot on the site or the cedar trees and their hungry roots. Seriously, this site gave me a mild case of the creeps.
Views: None, really, unless you’re sitting right by the water.
Notes: I wouldn’t stay on this site. It’s small, enclosed and gave me a weird vibe. No thank you.
Related Trip Report: Tom Thomson Lake
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