Day 2 - Maple Creek

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

Maple Creek
Barrels Leaches and Beaver Dams

Day 2 – AUGUST 11 - Maple Creek

Portages are mostly uphill

915, 190, 130, 630

Camp at the bottom of the falls on Maple Creek (there were no falls!)

click on any photo for full view

Campsite Rating:

• Water Access: Leave canoe at water - short walk up hill to site
• Tent Sites: Room for 3 tents - old tent platforms visible
• Fire Pit - acceptable
• Firewood:  Tons
• Kybo - Best
• Swimming - Not recommended!
• Scenery - The campsite is under the canopy of big trees. No river view.

First real day of the trip. We paddled the short distance to the portage (no signage by the way) and unloaded onto a grassy landing. Norman picked up the canoe and his day pack and headed off. My plan was to carry both barrels. I soon realized this was not going to happen until we ate some weight. Together they were 100 pounds. I used to be able to carry that much. Not any more.

I was only able to carry both barrels the distance on shorter portages until we ate some weight

The portage terrain is moderately difficult, but not as bad as I was expecting. (If you have a choice you might want travel Maple Creek south to north,  thus portaging mainly downhill and paddling with the current. Also, sliding down a beaver dam is easier than lifting up and over.)

The 915 to start the day was actually pretty flat and easy going. The 190 and 130 forgettable. The 630 was steep and rocky in places. However, it was the low water, rocks just below the surface, 6 beaver dams and the weight of our barrels and packs at the beginning of a 19 day trip made the day exhausting. We had two dogs with us and every time we had to unload for a lift-over our dogs would have a lovely swim and then get back in the boat, soaking the nylon pack, adding even more weight. At the end of the day I was seriously wondering if we had what it takes to succeed.

Beaver Dam - Maple Creek

Maple Creek - low water - This part of our route was closed to canoeists after we got home.

Maple Creek is very pretty! We saw 5 Great Blue Herons, a Bittern, a Red Start and lots of water snakes and frogs.

Maple Creek at the end of the 630 portage - a much needed cool-down

We had decided to break up the creek travel by staying at the 2nd campsite heading south, just before the 805. The first campsite along the creek is awful. One of the worst I've ever seen - buggy, overgrown, no real fire pit, couldn't find the kybo. I was worried the next one would be the same, but it wasn't. We were surrounded by towering Hemlock and Pines, a bonafide tent pad cut into the land, and a nice fire pit.

The site is just off the portage trail so not private, but a nice place to stay for one night. I did get leached here and the river water is boggy. Kind of unpleasant when you desperately want a swim after a long hot sweaty day.