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DIFFICULTY:
-Half-day trip easy. Full-day trip moderate. |
START
/ FINISH:
-3 km west of the village of Stonecliff on Hwy
17 |
|
DISTANCE:
-Easy half-day trip: 4 km to first portage
and back.
-Moderate one-day trip: To the end of the marsh and back: 12 km.
-3 Portages:
-200m (steep)
-200m
(very steep and rocky)
-600m
(flat and easy going)
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WEATHER/WATER
CONDITIONS:
-
Deep River. Full-day trip best after spring thaw and rain. |
PORTAGE
MARKINGS:
-Poor. |
NEARBY
ATTRACTIONS:
-Driftwood
Provincial Park (Walking Guide).
-Brent Crater (Walking Guide) |
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Grants Creek
 Information
This canoe route winds through small lakes,
a large marsh (a provincially significant wetland) and includes rapids,
a waterfall and plentiful wildlife, on the northern tip of Renfrew County.
The headwater of Grants Creek begins from Chateau Lake located on the
border of Algonquin Provincial Park and the creek travels 18 km to Grants
Creek Bay on the Ottawa River. The creek is designated as a proposed Ontario
Provincial Park due to its ecological importance. The easy half-day trip
takes you 4 km return to a pleasant picnic and swimming spot. The full-day
trip is 12 km return, with 3 portages, through a winding creek, small
lakes and a large marsh. Paddle by an active Great Blue heronry and watch
for ducks and Double-Crested Cormorants. Please be considerate of this
fragile natural environment. View the heronry from afar; do not approach
or disturb the nesting birds.
How
to get there
Travel 3 km west of
the village of Stonecliff on Hwy 17. Going straight down hill, look out
for a green "Grants Creek" road sign before the road bridge.
Go another 100m over the road bridge, take the dirt road on the left-hand-side
. Go straight (not left over a wooden bridge) to a parking place where
the canoes are put in.
Directions
- Canoe up the creek until you reach a set
of rapids.
- Those wanting an easy half-day trip can
walk without their canoes over the steep 200m portage (left of the rapids)
to Logslide Lake. This lake is a good for a picnic, a swim and to view
a small set of rapids. Those on the full-day trip portage to Logslide
Lake.
- Cross Logslide lake and view the crashing
waterfall. Take a 200m portage left of the waterfall. This is a steep
and rocky portage to Spencer Lake. Be sure to take appropriate footwear.
- Canoe across Spencer Lake and take a 600m,
level, easy going portage to Grants Creek Marsh.
- Canoe through the Marsh. Look out for
the Great Blue heronry that is situated on the western side, about halfway,
along the marsh. There are Pitcher plants that feed on insects on the
islands in the middle of the marsh. View the heronry from afar; do not
approach or disturb the nesting birds.
- At the end of the 3 km long marshy area
is another of several portages that take you further along the creek,
especially in high water. However, it is recommended for the day trip
to turn around at the end of the marsh and come back the way you came
to your vehicle.
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