Algonquin Treks & Images: Day 11

Heart of the Park - Kiosk to Opeongo - Algonquin Park Canoe Trip Report

Robinson Lake

"Best campsite in the Park (?)"

Day 11 – AUGUST 20 - High Falls/Nipissing River to Robinson

short paddle

1930m into Remona

435m into Whiskey Jack

75m into Robinson

Day 12 – AUGUST 21 - Rest Day on Robinson

click on any photo for full view

Robinson Lake Sunset

View from the island campsite on Robinson Lake

Campsite Rating:

Water Access: very difficult, lots of rocks and waves, steep climb to campsite
Tent Sites: one small flat area, other tent sites possible but without shelter
Fire Pit - really nice, built up for the wind, logs to sit on
Firewood: Island is full of dead standing and dead fall
Kybo - Couldn't ask for better
Swimming - hard to find a good place to get into the lake
Scenery - Exceptional - high up campsite

Making our way to the Island Campsite on Robinson

We left High Falls on August 20, my son's birthday. (Happy Birthday Rick!) It was a short paddle to the 1930 portage into Remona. Of course the terrain had to be a calf killer, both at the start of the portage and throughout. You'd go down an almost vertical decline, think ah, I am past the worst, but no... up up up you go. The whole carry is basically up and over a ridge, and at the end the trail takes you down to Remona. It took us 1 hr. and 45 minutes, double carry. We both commented on how much stronger we were feeling.

This portage was so pretty I actually put down my gear and dug out the camera. The light filtering through the Maples was magical. (I am one of those weird people who actually like portages even if they kill me.)

On the trail between Nipissing River and Remona Lake

There is a wonderful lunch/rest spot at the put-in to Remona. Since we were only going as far as Robinson we took our time and my travelling buddies had a nap.

We didn't see a lot of wildlife. But this turtle couldn't hide from Norman

Loaded and ready to go. The Portage is just on the other shore.

The 435 portage into Whisky Jack was interesting. The ground cover under trees was like a deep dusty mulch. The incline to start the portage was so abrupt it was hard to get my footing and legs under me with the weight of the barrels. The trail went straight up and then straight down and then straight up and then abruptly down to Whiskey Jack.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see much of Whiskey Jack as the portage into Robinson was just across the bay. Over we paddled into the narrows through beautiful lilies and floating drift wood. At the start of the 75 meter portage we bumped into two guys heading into Whiskey Jack. They had come all the way from Hogan that day! That is a really really long way. How impressive! And one fellow was carrying a massive Pelican Case full of exceptional camera gear including a Herculean tripod.

They said they had tried to reserve the Robinson Lake campsite but it was taken (by us) and that they had heard it was the very best site in the Park. I too had read that the site was 5 star and my anticipation and expectations grew exponentially.

We quickly completed the 75 meter lift over, loaded up and started paddling to our next home away from home.

Okay... so sometimes I am too worn out to really appreciate the good. We got to the Island and the first challenge was finding somewhere to get out of the boat. Waves were pushing us up against large boulders and the rocky rise of the Island and the water was deep. The next issue was carrying all our gear up to the campsite which seemed very far and elevated at the time. And then I had problems getting water for our dinner and dishes. Even the dogs had difficulty finding a place to drink from the lake The water was at least a couple of feet below the rock ledge and we had to lean perilously far over to dip our bucket.

I think this was my hump day. Not an awful day -- I was just feeling really worn out.

But our photos show another point of view. It was a spectacular place to spend an extra day. The scenery is beautiful, the Island has many "sitting spots," we had great sunsets, a good flat place to pitch the tent, lots of little birds to keep us company.

On our day off we experienced the only heatwave of the trip and although getting into the water for a swim was difficult, the water itself was glorious -- emerald green, deep, cool and oh so soft.

There was spectacular show of sheet lightning the first night. The next morning a huge thunderstorm crashed all around us. We could see the black wall of rain pouring down on neighbouring lakes while we sat in the sunshine. We didn't get one drop of rain on our island.

The rest in photos!