Bonnechere River Trip 2022

Details: Created: Sunday, 19 June 2022 23:50

Ode to a Moose

(Or our adventure on the Bonnechere River)

Some of us started our adventure Monday, June 13th, setting up camp on a lovely, riverside campsite in the beautiful Bonnechere Provincial Park. It was sunny and warm. There was significant current this time of year. We paddled upstream towards Jack’s Chute to build up our appetites for supper and a campfire. Afterwards we were serenaded by a family church group that sang their hearts out from a nearby site, in a friendly competition with the resident bullfrogs.

On Tuesday, June 14th, a small band of moose-loving RACCCers, set … paddle on a 22 km quest to tame the Bonnechere River, and maybe, just maybe, mingle with a Moose. Although that did not happen, like it did for our fearless leader (Karen H) on a previous go at the river, all had a most enjoyable trip otherwise that made up for that.

We launched from Lough Garvey, paddling the shorelines of Beaverdam Lake, White Mountain Bay, sections of the Little Bonnechere River, Curriers Lake, Couchain Lake and into Stringers Lake. No liftover required! We explored all potential future campsites and shared our knowledge of the area as we went. We had a leisurely lunch on a large campsite on Couchain Lake. One of us tested out the fishing but we didn’t catch supper! We saw beavers & their lodges, turtles sunbathing on logs and a squirrel swimming across a lake. We used some bug spray but the bugs were not bad.

We took advantage of the current and increasing wind to sail back to Lough Garvey. We explored through Thomas Narrows and into Enos Bay. Paddling towards Stevenson Lake looks suitable for our next adventure here. We highly recommend Bonnechere River Provincial Park (non-operating) for its beauty and relative close proximity to Ottawa. There are no fees or permits except if you paddle into Algonquin Park. A good Chrismar Adventure Map of Bonnechere River Provincial Park is available from World of Maps, Wellington St. Ottawa.

Happy paddling!

Submitted by Adam G

Bonnnechere June 14 22 Edit Edit