I started a thread like this on another board, but sibnce there are a lot of members here with Canadian paddling experience I am also posting here.
Maybe you folks know some spots of which I am unaware...
Here are a few options for drive up access to Wabakimi.
These entry points are on Crown Land with a short paddle to actually get within park boundaries.
But the point for this thread is that one can drive to the access point.
Please supplement this with your own info.
More paddlers' info will make this a more reliable list.
WEST SIDE - Smye Lake
I have entered at Smye Lake the last 2 years.
The entry point is one you can drive into on the 702 Rd.
Look for the rock cairn, next to the 4-wheel drive track on right hand side of road after Km43. Take the second 4 wheel track, not the first one you come to.
The entry point is at 50.378954, -90.370296.
There is a nice parking area about 500 meters from the put in.
Once in the park there are many routes available.
WEST SIDE- Sassenach Lake
Take 702 Rd to KM marker 59 (50.470337, -90.261266)
Turn right onto heavily overgrown track. Vehicle damage is possible so bring saw/axe.
1.7 km in on that road is the put in point: 50.470851, -90.236903
The 1.7 km road is 4WD only and is very rough.
Per ONT MNR:
Access Point 4 (Sassenach Lk): on 702 ROAD KM MARKER 59 (Turn exactly at Marker)
WPT 040 UTM:0694362 5594499
- Could potentially access with care 4WD truck or walk last 50m over boulder field.
- Launch is 1.7km from 702 road
- Launch WPT 041 UTM: 0696068 5594632
************************************************
A guy named Ken explored a possible entry near 50.378954, -90.370296.
He drove up a logging road north of Smye Lake. On maps the road is sometimes called Wabakimi Rd. where it splits from the 702 rd.
Then he turned right off the Wabakimi Rd at 50.623090, -90.102325.
I guess you just park at the end of the road.
That entry would get you into a small lake just west of Tew.
Video of the trail is here: Ken's Tew Lake area entry video
**************************************************
There is also a possible entry near the south end of Heathcote Lake.
It looks like one could drive from salt sheds (50.222773, -90.697185) past the old airstrip on the 702 Rd. and then about 7.5 miles east to the small lake just east of Wellington Lake and just southwest of Heathcote and paddle in from there.
It appears that you can paddle about 2 miles across that lake and there is about 2 miles of stream and then you are in Heathcote.
At 50.183037, -90.504240 it looks like there may be a parking area and entry point.
SOUTH SIDE
Another entry point I have heard about is to come up from the south via BrightSands PP.
Turn north at Km 388.0 on ON 17 right at Firesteel River, the Graham Rd.
Take the Grahman road all the way to Harmon Lake.
There is an entry point at Harmon Lake boat launch at 49.973826, -90.116937.
This route gets you into the Allenwater River.
I know there is a parking area for this entry. More detail below.
SOUTHEAST SIDE
I know that Wabakimi Project folks have opened another entry on the southeast.
I am not sure where you park the car for that one, but it seems to be very close Rte 527.
Wab Proj folks, please fill in here.
EDIT: The intersection of 527 and the dead southward road on east side of 527 is at
50.135133, -89.118882. The access point is on Vale Creek and Nameiben a little south of the identified intersection. The takeout is at an old bridge site over Nameiben River just east of 527 (old bridge no longer there, but the grade and rock cribs are obvious).
Deerfoot comments: We were there in June and marked the river crossing as: 50.13155, 89-124355. The access road off the southwestward bend in 527 is very distinct on Google Earth heading due south at a bend in 527.
Thanks.
Some of these spots may require FN permission or a shuttle, especially the southeast entry point(s).
Maybe you folks know some spots of which I am unaware...
Here are a few options for drive up access to Wabakimi.
These entry points are on Crown Land with a short paddle to actually get within park boundaries.
But the point for this thread is that one can drive to the access point.
Please supplement this with your own info.
More paddlers' info will make this a more reliable list.
WEST SIDE - Smye Lake
I have entered at Smye Lake the last 2 years.
The entry point is one you can drive into on the 702 Rd.
Look for the rock cairn, next to the 4-wheel drive track on right hand side of road after Km43. Take the second 4 wheel track, not the first one you come to.
The entry point is at 50.378954, -90.370296.
There is a nice parking area about 500 meters from the put in.
Once in the park there are many routes available.
WEST SIDE- Sassenach Lake
Take 702 Rd to KM marker 59 (50.470337, -90.261266)
Turn right onto heavily overgrown track. Vehicle damage is possible so bring saw/axe.
1.7 km in on that road is the put in point: 50.470851, -90.236903
The 1.7 km road is 4WD only and is very rough.
Per ONT MNR:
Access Point 4 (Sassenach Lk): on 702 ROAD KM MARKER 59 (Turn exactly at Marker)
WPT 040 UTM:0694362 5594499
- Could potentially access with care 4WD truck or walk last 50m over boulder field.
- Launch is 1.7km from 702 road
- Launch WPT 041 UTM: 0696068 5594632
************************************************
A guy named Ken explored a possible entry near 50.378954, -90.370296.
He drove up a logging road north of Smye Lake. On maps the road is sometimes called Wabakimi Rd. where it splits from the 702 rd.
Then he turned right off the Wabakimi Rd at 50.623090, -90.102325.
I guess you just park at the end of the road.
That entry would get you into a small lake just west of Tew.
Video of the trail is here: Ken's Tew Lake area entry video
**************************************************
There is also a possible entry near the south end of Heathcote Lake.
It looks like one could drive from salt sheds (50.222773, -90.697185) past the old airstrip on the 702 Rd. and then about 7.5 miles east to the small lake just east of Wellington Lake and just southwest of Heathcote and paddle in from there.
It appears that you can paddle about 2 miles across that lake and there is about 2 miles of stream and then you are in Heathcote.
At 50.183037, -90.504240 it looks like there may be a parking area and entry point.
SOUTH SIDE
Another entry point I have heard about is to come up from the south via BrightSands PP.
Turn north at Km 388.0 on ON 17 right at Firesteel River, the Graham Rd.
Take the Grahman road all the way to Harmon Lake.
There is an entry point at Harmon Lake boat launch at 49.973826, -90.116937.
This route gets you into the Allenwater River.
I know there is a parking area for this entry. More detail below.
SOUTHEAST SIDE
I know that Wabakimi Project folks have opened another entry on the southeast.
I am not sure where you park the car for that one, but it seems to be very close Rte 527.
Wab Proj folks, please fill in here.
EDIT: The intersection of 527 and the dead southward road on east side of 527 is at
50.135133, -89.118882. The access point is on Vale Creek and Nameiben a little south of the identified intersection. The takeout is at an old bridge site over Nameiben River just east of 527 (old bridge no longer there, but the grade and rock cribs are obvious).
Deerfoot comments: We were there in June and marked the river crossing as: 50.13155, 89-124355. The access road off the southwestward bend in 527 is very distinct on Google Earth heading due south at a bend in 527.
Thanks.
Some of these spots may require FN permission or a shuttle, especially the southeast entry point(s).
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