Joe's Lake and the Upper Clyde River, Lanark Highlands

 

Joe's Lake, Lanark Highlands

For 2021, my last paddle was on November 9 on the Mississippi River above CR511. And a few days earlier (November 5), I was out in Lanark Highlands for a paddle on Joe’s Lake and the Clyde River. Last year, I had paddled and explored some of the headwaters of the Clyde River (e.g. Widow Lake). I wanted to finish paddling that section of the Clyde River on this trip, including Joe’s Lake.

Red track (Nov 2021); blue track (2020 paddle)

Google Earth view

Today, I decided to start my trip in Joe’s Lake and paddle upriver. The public launch for Joe’s Lake is across the road from the baseball diamond. Once on the lake, I started paddling the lake clockwise, following the shore. It was a bit cool but a beautiful sunny day, as seen in the pics. 

Joe's Lake (nov 5, 2021)

Joe's Lake's flowing east

Next year, I would like to try and paddle sections of the Clyde River below Joe’s Lake (probably by canoe is best). So, I had a good look at the bridge and rapids at the east end of the lake. As I paddled along the shore, I observed a small group of mixed ducks on the lake (Ring-necked and Bufflehead Ducks). A bit later, when I was slightly upriver from Joe’s Lake, I observed a Bald Eagle in the area. Once I got to the dam, I made a U-turn and paddled back to the launch point (baseball diamond). 

Ring-necked and Bufflehead

Bald Eagle

After a short break, I drove and re-launched the Widgeon above the dam and continued my paddle upriver. Although I didn’t spot much in terms of wildlife, I like this marshy stretch of the Clyde River. About halfway to the K&P trail, you go under the Clyde Forks’ bridge – a very unique-looking bridge. After the bridge, it’s about 800m to the north-south “T” junction of the Clyde River. Widow Lake is to the north. To the south, you have a few more kilometers of navigable waters and marshes.

Clyde Forks bridge

The upper Clyde River and Widow Lake are areas where I should try paddling in early spring some year (e.g. April or early May).

It's almost time to put the kayak away for the winter!

Mississippi River below Pakenham

 

A long time ago, I paddled the Mississippi from Pakenham to highway 17. I mostly remember farmer’s fields and shoreline erosion. But that was 30 years ago with the kids (i.e. before I was into iNaturalist, etc.), so this fall, it was time to give it a fresh look. 

Mississippi River (7,5km track)

There’s good access (and parking) to the Mississippi River below Pakenham at the Five Span Bridge Park. I launched and crossed the river below the rapids since the east shore looked more attractive. After a kilometre or so, I made a bio stopped on the west shore. Then, I stayed on the west shore and paddled another 2.5km. I didn’t see any turtles or too many birds, but it was late October. I didn’t go as far as Highway 17 due to the fading afternoon and worried about the wind picking up. Next time, it would be good to go as far as the mouth of Cartwright Creek (another 1.5km downstream).

Coady Creek 

On the return paddle, I did a check-up on Coady Creek. I only managed to paddle 300m up the creek before being blocked by fallen trees. I heard many birds in the forest, so it would be fun to try going further up Coady Creek in the spring (by canoe). It was an uneventful paddle back to the Five Span Bridge Park and home from Coady Creek.

Five Span Bridge, Pakenham

Great Blue Heron

Guelder-Rose

Up the Mississippi, from the Ottawa River

 

The mouth of the Mississippi River (at Morris Island)

My paddle today would be a long one from Arnprior (Ottawa River) to Galetta (Mississippi River). Arnprior is the closest and easiest launch point for getting into the Mississippi entering the Ottawa River. There used to be accessed at the end of Mohr Road in Galetta, but that’s now all private. You could launch at the Morris Island Conservation area and paddle the 4.5km to the Mississippi – but that would involve paddling under the rail bridge and encountering some dangerous waters. This route would be OK in the summer.  Another possible access is via Snye Creek/River from Loggers Way road. It’s about 2.5km and involves some short portage over barriers and dams (not a good option, although I have done it in the past). The best option would be from the boat transfer dock on Dewolfe Street, but private.

Arnprior to Galetta (16km track)

In Arnprior, the best place to launch a canoe or kayak if you are heading downriver (east) is at the public park on McLean Avenue.  From McLean Park, it’s about 4.5km to the mouth of the Mississippi River. On this beautiful calm day (June 2), I headed straight for the mouth of the Mississippi River. I didn’t spend much time exploring the bays of the Ottawa River (i.e. Goodwins & Marshall). As you start up the Mississippi, the east shore is part of Morris Island, and there are houses and cottages along the shore. Luckily, there’s no bridge over the Snye River, so that’s where the development stops (for now). For 1km after the Snye River (i.e. up to the transmission line & Galetta), the river is quite lovely with wetlands on both shores. If the water level is high enough, it’s worth exploring the two secondary channels and ponds of the Snye River.

Snye River pond

Zebra Mussel shoal (shells)

Zebra Mussel shells

After exploring the Snye River inlets, my last destination was the rapids below Galetta. Once I got there, I spotted a small shoal and landed the kayak for lunch.  It turns out that this small shoal wasn’t sand or gravel; it was made up entirely of Zebra Mussel shells!  After lunch and many turtle photos, it was time to paddle back to Arnprior.  On the way back, I did make a stop at the isolated Goodwins Bay’s beach for a break and more nature observations.

Goodwins Bay beach

I had quite a few great nature sightings on this trip, including a Longnose Gar below the Galetta rapids. For other nature observations, check my iNaturalist account. Click HERE.

Longnose Gar	Variegated Pond-Lily
Map Turtles	Map Turtler
White-tailed Deer	Water forget-me-not

Note: This area would make a good MVFN paddling trip if there were a way to shorten the paddling to 12km or so.

Dalhousie Lake, Lanark Highlands Township

 

Gulls Rock, Dalhousie Lake

Dalhousie is another one of those large Lanark County lakes that I have been slow to explore due to its size and the level of development. But it’s part of the Mississippi River. So in my quest to paddle the whole Mississippi, it was time for a trip to the big lake.

Dalhousie Lake (9.5km track)

Aerial view (Google Earth)

The west end of Dalhousie Lake of Lavant Mills Road has the best canoe/kayak launch area in Lanark County – a beautiful sandy beach! Dalhousie Lake is 5km long and would be at least 14km to circumnavigate the shoreline.  The lake is pretty dull from a landscape point of view.  It doesn’t have any deep bays, channels, or marshes. Also, the lake has no islands except one prominent rock outcrop. There’s development around the lake except for a stretch on the NW corner. 

West end public beach

Beautiful day!

The NW shore was the direction I was headed as I left the beach. It was a beautiful paddle on this undeveloped shore (2km) until I reached the deepest bay of Dalhousie Lake (Browns Bay). Browns Bay is full of homes and cottages, including the rocky peninsula. In the bay, I came across a man-made floating nesting platform occupied by a pair of Loons.  

Common Loons

Man-made Loon nesting platform

I did make a stop on the peninsula’s point for a short break and then continued paddling the north shore. After 1.5km from the peninsula, I came to Gulls Rock. That’s an interesting rock formation sticking out of the lake – one of a kind on Dalhousie Lake. I was able to park the Widgeon kayak in some shallow water and scramble on some rock ledge for lunch and a great view of the lake. A gull was flying above me in circles, and after a while, I discovered a nest on the rocks with only one egg. 

Gull's nest (Herring or Ring-billed Gull)

Widgeon kayak on the Rocks!

Besides the Loons and the gull, I made ten other nature observations and posted them to iNaturalist.  Click HERE.

After lunch, I paddled across the lake to the south shore (Buzzard Bay) and started for home. It was a quiet paddle without too much to see. There’s a small creek and marsh towards the SW corner of the lake, and a Great Blue Heron lingered there. After passing the inlet to the lake from Stump Lake (JHigh Falls), I landed back at the large public beach.

Inlet from High Falls (Stump Lake)

On this calm and quiet day, I did enjoy the west end of Dalhousie Lake. Next year, I’ll try to paddle the east end of the lake to complete this section of the Mississippi River.

Common Merganser family (proud Mom)

GB Heron eating a little fish

Mississippi River above Pakenham

 

This spring (May 25), I finally paddled the last stretch of the lower Mississippi River. Pakenham beach is the only public access to this long section of the river. The paddle from Pakenham to the Blakeney rapids and back is about 17km. So, at a leisurely pace, that’s about a 4-hour paddle plus time for breaks & lunch. The Pakenham beach is at the end of Margaret Street and is a great canoe/kayak launching spot with lots of parking. 

Paddling track (17 km)

The paddle upriver from Pakenham is boring until you pass the trailer camper park (about 2km). Soon after the trailer park, you come to the mouth of Glen Creek (west side). I failed to find an entry on May 25; maybe I’d have better luck earlier in the spring. On Google Earth, a creek also appears to enter the Mississippi on the east side across from Glenn Creek?

Mississippi River view (May 25, 2021)

Indian Creek culvert (or echo chamber)

Just 0.5km upriver from Glen Creek is the larger Indian Creek (west side). Indian Creek comes into the Mississippi River through a massive culvert under Highway 29.  It’s fun to paddle under highway 29 and play around with the culvert’s echo effects! Indian Creek wasn’t navigable past the culvert.  Again, maybe it would be better earlier in the spring. Near the mouth of Indian Creek, I observed (and photographed) my first  Musk Turtle. The Eastern Musk Turtle is probably the least common in Mississippi Mills.

Eastern Musk Turtle

Great Blue Heron

About halfway between Indian Creek and the Blakeney rapids, I made one brief stop on a small rocky island close to the west shore of the Mississippi River. I didn’t stay long – my visit disturbed a pair of Spotted Sandpipers in the area. The last 2km to Blakeney rapids is more isolated and feels somewhat remote. After checking out the various channels (rapids), I landed at the white-water kayak put-out for my lunch break. The 8km paddle back to Pakenham was good with one or two brief stops.

Spotted Sandpiper

Eastern Kingbird

When you want a long paddle or have a full day exploring the river, this route is a pretty good choice close to home (Almonte).

For all my iNaturalist postings for this paddle, click HERE.