Indian River, above Clayton Lake

Tuesday (April 28^th) was looking like the only nice sunny day of this late April week, so it was time for another paddle outing on the Indian River.  This time, I headed to the Command Bridge on Galbraith Road. This put-in at the bridge allows you to go upriver (2 km) or downriver into Clayton Lake.

Upriver from Command Bridge (4km track)

Downriver  (4km track)

After launching on the SE corner of the bridge, I ducked under the bridge (barely) and headed upriver. The river from the Command Bridge to almost the Tatlock Road bridge is the best section of the Indian River to paddle. There were low areas, so it may not be so navigable in the summer months when the water level can be much lower. The river makes twists and turns through a variety of wetlands and forested areas.  At this time of year, there were lots of Canada Geese and ducks to entertain me – while paddling upriver.  I would say, there were more numerous in the first kilometer (closer to Command Bridge) – probably due to the more extensive wetlands. In this wetland section, there are also lots of duck boxes installed on the edge of the wetlands.  But, I didn’t see any ducks making use of these boxes.  Also in the first kilometer wetland area, I saw a few muskrat abodes – but no muskrats in sight.

Duck box

Muskrat house

Canada Geese

Before I got to the end, I had to power my kayak through a few dams but never had to get out. That’s a good thing; it’s not easy to hop over beaver dams in a kayak – much easier in a canoe.  Low rocks and rapids block the way about 0.5km from the Tatlock Road bridge. To go further upriver, these rapids would have to be portage (100m), but the next section of the river is not really navigable.  Someday, I would be interested to check out the section of the Indian River between Conc. Rd. 10 Darling and Darling Road by canoe (at least 5.5km).

Beautiful day (no coronavirus here!)

Upriver - the end of the road!

The returned paddle downriver was leisurely and very enjoyable, although I lost most of the sunshine and my fingers got a bit wet and cold.  After going under the Command Bridge, I kept paddling downriver towards Clayton Lake.  It’s about 1km to the mouth of the Indian River into Clayton Lake.  I started looking for a nice place to go ashore for a break and to add some warmer gloves and a wind breaker. Before I found a suitable landing spot, I did spot three large white swans and managed to get a few pics from a distance. At home, iNaturalist did confirm the species to be Trumpeter swans. Cool!

Trumpeter Swans (Clayton Lake)

After my rest stop on a point (north side of river), I went exploring some of the marsh area on the south side where the Indian River meets Clayton Lake. It was a very narrow and shallow channel through the marsh and eventually I got blocked by fallen trees – so time for a U turn. Then, it was a bit more paddling in Clayton Lake before heading back to the Command Bridge starting point.

In Clayton Lake, I could see the Trumpeter swans in the distance and also I was hearing the call of one or more loons.   The sound of loons on Ontario lakes always feels remote and magical!

Indian River, Ramsay Concession 7B

In Dunrobin, my first paddle was usually on Constance Creek around the middle of April. Now that we have moved to Almonte, I needed to find another small creek and wetland to explore in early spring. I prefer a small, well-protected shallow body of water to paddle with the ice-cold water in April. The Mississippi River is not ideal.  The other water nearby is the Indian River, but it’s not known as a paddling river except for a section above Clayton Lake. After inspecting Google Earth and with confirmation from Cliff Bennett, it seems possible to paddle a section of the Indian River in the spring by launching at the Ramsay Concession 7B bridge.

Indian River track for April 25th (5 km)

This spring, with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been hard to justify going out on the water in case I had some mishap or accident. But, on April 25th, I decided that it would be safe enough for a short paddle. The pandemic in Ontario peaked a week ago. A few days ago, Mayor Lowry declared all boat launches in Mississippi Mills to be open to the public for recreational use.

Going up the Indian River

First rocks from Conc. 7 down-river (1 km)

The best put-in for going up or down the river is just north of the Conc. 7 bridge. Today, I went down-river first for a leisurely 1 km paddle until encountering a small set of rocks/rapids. In a canoe, you could probably get out and by-pass this small set of rocks. If you did, there’s another set of rapids about 200m further down-river to maneuver around, and then you may be able to make it to the bridge at Concession 8 (1 km). It would be nice to try someday!  On this 1 km downriver section, I saw a pair of Wood Ducks, a Blue Heron, and lots of Canada Geese.

After turning back up-river, I had to work a bit harder to overcome the currents (1 – 2 km/hr).   There was adequate clearance to go under the Conc. 7 bridge.  It was a slow paddle up-river until I got blocked again by a set of low water rapids at about 1.5 km from the Conc. 7 bridge.   There’s a private bridge at about 1 km up-river from Conc. 7, but it had sufficient clearance to paddle under with my kayak.

Private bridge between Conc. 7 and 6

There weren’t as many bird sightings going up-river except for red-wing blackbirds. I did come across a couple of duck hunting blinds and two wire-cages on poles in the river. I’m not sure what or who the cages are for, but I’m guessing they are for bird/duck nest protection.

At 1.5 km up-river, the set of low water rapids would be hard to bypass without portaging around (100m or so). Up-river from these rapids, there could be another 300m or so of navigable waters.

First rocks/rapids from Conc. up-river  (1.5 km)

I did make one shore stop on the way back for a break and snack, and then it was a leisurely paddle down-river back to Ramsay Conc. 7. All-in-all, a pretty good first paddling outing for the 2020 season!

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First paddle - March 22nd, 2021

Wood Ducks, Mar 2021

Bohemian Waxwings, Mar 2021

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R.Tait McKenzie paddles his birch bark canoe

on the mill pond formed by the Indian River.

Circa 1937

Indian River  (Wikipedia)

The river begins at an unnamed lake in geographic Lavant Township in the municipality of Lanark Highlands.[2] It flows east into geographic Darling Township, under Lanark County Road 511 near the settlement of White, turns southeast, passes the settlement of Halls Mills on the border of geographic Lanark Township, and reaches Clayton Lake, where it takes in the outflow from Taylor Lake. The river passes into geographic Ramsay Township in the municipality of Mississippi Mills on the lake and leaves over the Clayton Lake Dam at the settlement of Clayton. It heads northeast, takes in the right tributary Union Hall Creek, and passes through the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, a former grist mill and a former home of medical doctor, sculptor and Ramsay Township native R. Tait McKenzie.[3] The mill is home to a museum to Mackenzie and another famous native of Ramsay Township, inventor of basketball James Naismith.[4] The river then reaches its mouth at the Mississippi River, 1.4 kilometres (0.9 mi) upstream of the settlement of Blakeney; the Mississippi flows via the Ottawa River to the Saint Lawrence River.