Back Country Canoe Trips, Part 8 – 2008

This year we are doing a longer trip, putting in at Opeongo Lake and heading to Crow Lake.  Opeongo is the largest lake in Algonquin Park with a total area of 58 km² (22.4 sq mi), average depth 14.6 m (48 ft) and maximum depth 49.4 m (162 ft). Opeongo has three arms, north, west and south.  We are heading to the North arm.

Opeongo Lake has a store, canoe/kayak/gear rentals and also water taxis.  If you aren’t familiar with water taxis, you can hire someone with an actual boat, WITH A MOTOR,  to take you and your canoe/kayak to another part of the lake.  Much faster, saves a lot of time and because the water on some of these big lakes can be very rough, it is safer.  I am pretty sure I have mentioned more than 53 times, I hate paddling on big lakes.  We are experienced canoeists but I still don’t like to paddle certain lakes and this is one of them.   This particular lake has had many drowning deaths on it.  As recently as 2014, four canoeists capsized.  Two made it to shore and two drowned.  Extremely sad for the families.  Just be safe when canoeing or doing any kind of boating and wear your lifejackets.

We paid a water taxi to take us to a drop off in the North Arm.  We were left off on a beach area and then portaged into Proulx Lake.  A nice paddle down the Crow River and then into Crow Lake where we were going to camp.

This was another great trip.  We had to be back at the beach area on Opeongo Lake by a certain day/time to be picked up by the water taxi.  We did not see a lot of wildlilfe in this area but we do now know why they call it Crow Lake.  Holy cow they were noisy.

We did the hike to one of the last remaining Virgin White Pine Stands, the trees were huge.  So tall, unbelievable.

So another great summer trip done and gone.  Next year its back to Carcajou Bay.