HOW TO FIND ROUTE TESTIMONIAL HOW TO THE ROUTE FIND US “Canada’s boreal forest is an awe-inspiring The Namewanikan canoe route can be accessed at place to be. Stretching from coast to coast a number of locations along the route. The two across the north, it is like a vast green halo most popular are the Wildgoose Lake Beach and the or belt of virtually pristine forests, lakes and Nakina Kinghorn Road. rivers. And right in the middle of it all are the riverssurrounding . I fondly Wildgoose Beach Entrance: Travel 20 kilometers Lake remember my 2004 Namewaminikan River Nipigon West of Geraldton to the Wildgoose Beach Road. voyage and I think that it ranks right up Geraldton Longlac Turn North and follow the road for 2 kilometers to there for great boreal scenery and easy pool the beach turnoff on your left. There is ample and drop whitewater. As I travelled the river Beardmore parking and the beautiful beach offers an I marvelled at the jet black opportunity to have a quick swim prior to embarking on your trip. spruces sculpting the GREENSTONE skyline, feasted on Kinghorn Road: Travel 55 kilometers West of hatfuls of blueberries, Geraldton to the Kinghorn Road. Turn North and trembled at the roar of follow the road for 14 kilometers to the river. You a falls and admired the can access the river at the bridge. multi-green thick moss stretching down to water You could also start at the Highway 801 bridge or off edge. Not only is it stunning Highway 801 at Paint Lake. scenery but our Canadian boreal lands are unique and important filters for the entire Your shuttle vehicle can be stored at Poplar Lodge Int’l Thunder Bay planet. And what better way to journey Falls Park in Beardmore. Sault through this wild and rugged land and see Ste. Marie the amazing beauty of this last true TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS wilderness than from a canoe.” Toronto Becky Mason, 2004

REQUIRED Located along the TransCanada Highway 11, lies the Greenstone Region: the eastern gateway to It is highly recommended canoeist supplement Northwestern where clean waters, lush forests this brochure with the National Topographic Becky Mason is an artist, environmentalist and canoeing and clear starry skies abound. A region noted in Series Maps as outlined below: instructor based in Chelsea, Quebec. She acquired her history from the early days of the European fur traders paddling skills and her passion for canoes from her father, to the future of forestry and fire management, Bill Mason. Her artwork has been displayed in a wide array Greenstone’s 5600 residents continue to dwell in a 1:50000 of exhibitions and galleries in Ontario and Quebec. Becky natural oasis where the simple pleasures of has contributed to several canoeing books, produced an life – family, community, and wide open green Wildgoose Lake 42E/11 award-winning video entitled Classic Solo Canoeing, and spaces- remain the heart of this North region. Beardmore 42E/12 travels frequently presenting slide shows and sharing her Northwind 42E/14 love of the wild. Her artwork, Classic Solo Canoeing design by funded by: courses, speaking schedule and video can be found on her Geraldton Community Forest Inc. Treptow Creek 42E/14 cover by K. Rossler-Photographics website: www.redcanoes.ca photos courtesy of M. Lafrance Shakespeare Island 52H/9E printed by TS Graphics

DISCLAIMER OTHER GREENSTONE NOTICE ADVENTURES

We have endeavoured to ensure that the information in this brochure is accurate, but discoverGREENSTONE readers should be aware that the information Golfing... contained here is derived from a variety of sources such as old route descriptions, trip logs, books, magazines, journals, personal experience, maps and verbal descriptions. Ice Climbing... NNaammeewwaammiinniikkaann Conditions change from season to season and from year to year. As a wilderness paddler, you must be able to determine whether the actual RRiivveerr conditions on the water match those described herein, and have the ability to assess whether Snowmobiling... your equipment and skill level are appropriate to CCaannooee RRoouuttee paddle the route safely.

This information is for reference use only, and as such you use it entirely at your risk. We accept no Skiing... responsibility for any death, loss, injury or damage incurred while using this information.

This brochure and the materials contained in it are provided on an as-is Fishing... basis. We make no representation or warranties, either expressed or implied, of any kind with respect to the contents. We will not be liable for any damages of For more information: any kind arising from the use of this brochure, including discovergreenstone.ca but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, 1-866-664-6623 punitive and consequential damages. or visit the Longlac Tourist Information Centre and the discoverGeraldton Interpretive Centre Namewaminikan Canoe Route Wildgoose 8 Days - Partridge 6 Days - Kinghorn 5 Days

Portage #1 Portage #3 Continued Portage #5 Continued Portage #8 Continued Portage #11 Continued Campsite #4 Around: Long series of rapids between Launching: Small beach at bottom of falls road down to river below bridge. Landing: River left, natural gully off grav- rapids Several sheltered spots along the portage Turkey Lake and Partridge Lake. Length: 50 meters Spectacular shelf stretching approximately el road Launching: End of road at reservoir beside the small falls. Landing: River left just before final bend Other: Extremely scenic 100 meters of river. Launching: Natural gully off gravel road Length: 1.2 kilometers by the railway tracks leading down to river. Other: Follow old bush road from river Campsite #5 Launching: Rocky, room for several Portage #4 Portage #6 Length: 600 meters out to main gravel road. Walk down grav- Beautiful camping site under a huge pine canoes Around: Large falls Around: Lengthy set of rapids el road to first right hand split, approx 1 tree. Located at the North corner of Length: 1.6 kilometers Landing: Grassy bank river left just Landing: Extreme river left corner just Portage #9 kilometer and follow spit down to water. beach in East bay of Expansion Lake. Other: A nasty port that follows an old before falls. before rapids Around: Twin Falls, a large falls with two bush road in many places with lots of new Launching: Steep rocky launch on narrow Launching: Cedar bank, follow down from stages Portage #12 Campsite #6 growth. Some wet areas as well. left canyon after falls road Landing: River right, grassy bank Around: High falls hydro dam Hunting camp at the end of Paint Lake. Launching: Wide gravel, rocky space Landing: Gravel boat launch, river left Nice sheltered spot. Portage #2 below falls before hydro dam. P5 C8 Around: Kinghorn Falls; Northwest end of Barnum Green Length: 500 meters Launching: River left side of hydro dam Campsite #7 Partridge Lake Rapids line P7 Expansion KINGHORN where creek runs in beside cliff face. Nice open campsite in middle of portage river right P8 Landing: River right, just before falls, P6 Lk ROAD Length: 200 meters around the falls. P4 Other: Follow road that leads downhill C7 WILDGOOSE LAKE NAMEWAMINIKAN RIVER C5

C9 P9 C6 P3 C4 Paint Lk Partridge Lk C2 Turkey Lk P10 C1 Start C3 Start 2 P2 P1 1 P11

LAKE NIPIGON

HWY 801 WILDGOOSE BEACH ROAD P12 The term “river left” always refers to the downstream left hand side of the HWY 11 C10 river, just as “river right” always refers to the downstream right hand side of HWY 11 the river. These terms remain the same even when traveling upstream. Campsite #8 NOT TO SCALE Large open area just before bridge and Portage #4 Continued Portage #6 Continued Portage #9 Continued Portage #12 Continued road along Portage #5. Length: 40 meters Length: 500 meters Other: Very scenic spot with nice camp- from boat launch. The dam only utilizes Other: Port continues directly across large Other: Follow port to gravel road, follow site overlooking second stage of falls one side of the falls. Once you get on the Campsite #9 clearing overlooking falls road for 400 meters, cut back down to river, you will be able to see and imagine Ridge overlooking twin falls. Extremely river Portage #10 how spectacular this falls once was. scenic, but only room for two tents. A Portage #5 Around: Chute through small gorge trail leads back from the main portage trail Portage #2 Continued Around: Easy C1 rapids that ends in a Portage #7 Landing: River right, muddy bank below Campsite #1 at the bottom of the ridge to the camp- large open space. large dangerous shelf that spans the Around: Chute through a small gorge large cedar close to chute A large raised gravel site on river right at site, located just above the second falls. Launching: Steep narrow rocky launch entire width of the river. Landing: Steep grassy bank, river left Launching: Follow rock shelves to pool the mouth of Wildgoose Creek. directly below falls. Landing: Grassy bank, river right, just Launching: Rocky cedar stand at bottom below chute Campsite #10 Length: 10 meters before swift water starts of chute Length: 220 meters Campsite #2 Two spots are available here. If the water Other: The launch is particularly difficult Launching: Rocky shelf river right down- Length: 50 meters Other: Chute is runnable, but proceed A sheltered Jack Pine stand at the end of is not high, there is a sand spit at the with the wet slippery rocks. stream of bridge Other: Chute is easy C1 with caution, its only 10 feet wide the Northwest bay of Partridge Lake. mouth of Lake Nipigon on river left. Length: 350 meters There is also a very steep trail from the Portage #3 Other: Trail follows old treeplanting corri- Portage #8 Portage #11 Campsite #3 sand pit that leads to a large grassy look- Around: Rapids and small falls dor to a large camping area just before Around: Martin Rapids, lengthy set of Around: Lengthy set of C2 + rapids A sheltered site on an old bush road on off. If one can manage this trail, the view Landing: River left just before small falls the road. Trail continues on other side of C1’s Landing: River left, rocky shelf before the south side of Coral Lake. of a sunset on Lake Nipigon is stunning.