This short 10 km trip avoids the lengthy portages and long lake sections of the 5 day trip, but captures the majesty of the 100 m high Barron Canyon gorge. This is a leisurely trip, suitable for even the most inexperienced canoe tripper. It is a nature photographer's paradise.
Day One: We will meet at the Algonquin Portage Limited Store located on Highway 38 just East of the Park boundary. Equipment rentals and vehicle shuttle can be arranged here. We will then drive to the Sand Lake entry gate and register for our interior trip. A short drive will bring us to the Barron Canyon Trail, with the option to walk the trail now or save it for the end of the trip (cameras a must). We will park our vehicles at the Brigham Lake Parking Lot at km 33 and offload down the hill to the river. Our first night camp may be at this riverside location, or just down stream. The rest of the day will be used to practice canoeing skills and likely a short canoe tour upriver to take in some of the wonderful scenery.
Day Two: Canyon Day! After a hearty breakfast we will load the canoes and head off down river. A short paddle down Brigham Lake brings us to a couple of short, easy portages bypassing Brigham Chute and Falls. We will take our time passing through the three km section of the gorge, allowing plenty of time for photos, rock scrambling, and swimming. Our second night camp will be below the gorge.
Day Three: We warm up with a few km of flat water and stretch our legs on the 420 m portage around the former log chute at Cache Rapids. Just over a km past this portage is the takeout. We have some options here. If we didn't do the Barron Canyon Trail on Day One then we will take out and do it now. If we have, then we can off load the equipment and then take the 140 m portage around Squirrel Rapids and take a return trip canoe tour down the river and see more of the outstanding Canadian Shield country that the Barron River cuts a path through.
We will run a four day trip this year, starting on Tuesday, 8 September and finishing on Friday afternoon, 11 September 2009. Contact us for detailed information.