Algonquin Treks & Images: Day 5

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

Skuce Lake

Yeah -- Lighter food barrels!

Day 5 - AUGUST 14 - Erables to Skuce

Small lake travel

Erables to Maple Creek 660m, medium intensity, a bit hilly

90m, 695 into Skuce, not hard

Day 6 – AUGUST 15 - Rest Day on Skuce

click on any photo for full view

Skuce Lake Put-in

Campsite Rating:

Water Access: sandy bottom and shore
Tent Sites: Room for 2 tents - built in tent-pads
Fire Pit - Good - really old notched stumps decomposing
Firewood: Tons
Kybo - Brand new but on one heck of a slant!
Swimming - Shallow and sandy, but beautiful clear water
Scenery - Small pretty lake

We had beautiful light and sunsets the entire trip - View across lake from Campsite

It was kind of sad to leave Erables but we were excited to be on our way. Finding the entrance to Maple Creek was a bit of a challenge in low water. We had to get out of the canoe a couple of times to navigate through rocks and silt before we were able to paddle again. The alders created a gorgeous tunnel through which to travel. It was really pretty and very quiet. However, there were a lot of large ragged rocks just below the surface between the 660 and the 90 meter ports, as well as 2 beaver dams to lift over. We were against the current and up over beaver dams the entire trip.

The portages were hilly, some steep ups and down, but not as hard as expected. The put ins and take outs were rocky and difficult. Also, probably the worst mosquitoes we encountered on the trip along these portages.

Maple Creek after leaving Erables

Arriving at Skuce Lake

Campsite on Skuce

We paddled to the first campsite on the East shore, always wanting a view of the sunset. I wasn't that thrilled as the water was low it didn't look like a good place to swim. Despite how tired we were we paddled to the site at the end of the lake. It was really rough with deep water and huge boulders to navigate to access the site, grass growing in the fire pit and no flat place for a tent. Back to the other site that now felt like Buckingham Palace.