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| Bowers Lake island |
I had been to this area before to explore Park Lake and some of Woods Lake. But, on this early spring trip (April 11), I was looking to paddle into Bowers Lake and explore Woods Lake more fully.
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| My April 11, 2021 track (10km) |
The launch point for all three lakes (Park, Woods, and Bowers) is at the bridge on Ranger Camp Road (via Umphersons Mill and S. Lavant Roads). After launching, I headed for Bowers Lake by paddling through the culvert under Ranger Camp Road. You paddle an upstream channel from the culvert for about 1km before reaching Bowers Lake. Even though it wasn't a solid sunny day, the Painted Turtles were already out and getting some early spring rays!
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| Painted Turtles in the Bowers Lake channel |
I had a great paddle following the shore all around Bowers Lake. The lake isn't developed very much since it is partly crown-land. One small island is at the north end of the lake (Cliff's lunch spot). I didn't stop there, but I went ashore at the campsite just to the island's north. The campsite would also make a great lunch (and swim) stop.
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| Bowers Lake campsite (north end) |
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| Common Loon |
After returning to Ranger Camp Road, I continued my paddle towards Woods Lake. As I approached the lake, my first nature sighting was a Common Loon (a sure sign of spring in Ontario). Again, I took my time and paddled along the shore, exploring little bays, channels, and wetlands. The highlight of the trip was the discovery of a small fen/bog in the SW bay of the lake. The fen has a few Black Spruces – rare in Lanark County.
Other nature sightings from this trip can be seen on my iNaturalist account. Click Here.
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| Black Spruce (Woods Lake) |
16Oct2022, PHC canoe paddle. Nice fall colours. I explored the large dead-tree bay on the west side of lower Park Lake. Then, it was over to Woods Lake to check out the small fen. This time, I managed to go ashore and explore a bit. Many Purple Pitcher Plants and Labrador Tea in the fen and probably other plants that I didn't notice due to the lack of flowers. This fen would be worth visiting during the orchid season (June, July).
ReplyDeleteiNaturalist observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2022-10-16&place_id=any&user_id=denisag2&verifiable=any
2025-10-26, Woods and Park Lakes, PHC canoe
ReplyDeleteWhen getting back from PEI in late October, you have to take advantage of nice paddling days before freeze-up arrives! Oct 26 wasn't very sunny or especially calm, but good enough to explore small lakes, like Park and Woods Lakes. The main reason to visit Woods Lake is the small (floating) fen in the SW corner. The fen is still there, and all the bog-like plants (Black Spruce, Tamarack, Pitcher Plants, Labrador Tea, etc). After the fen, I went back to Park Lake and did a counterclockwise tour of bays and wetlands. Since it was the fall and also serious dry weather over the summer, the water level was quite low -- especially in the area between Park &Woods Lakes, and the western deadfall bays of Park Lake.
It was nice to be back in Ontario - paddling in fresh lake waters (i.e. not salty or tidal).