The Achray to Squirrel Rapids canoe trip is one of the best routes in Algonquin Park. Be warned that campsite reservations are recommended well in advance of your intended start date as this route is popular. This area of the park is jam packed with amazing natural features that everybody can enjoy. The trip is better if done slowly (4 days) but can also be done quickly (2 days) if time doesn't permit. The trip starts out with entering the park at the Sand Lake Gate after a drive on a gravel logging road. After registering at the gate, a few kilometers later you will come to the Squirrel Rapids take-out parking lot. Park your second vehicle here or hire a shuttle. Drive another 25km or so down to the Achray parking lot and launch on the shores of Grand lake.
Day 1: Grand/Stratton After a drive and shuttle set up, you will most likely not have much time to paddle into your site. Your choice is to camp on the large Grand lake or paddle over to a short 50m portage into Stratton. The choice is yours, and it may depend on your group size, and age. I have done this trip twice with kids 18 month to 4 years and for the sake of naps, we opted for Grand Lake.
Day 2: Grand to Stratton Lake (2-3 hours) Stratton lake offers some incredibly spacious campsites with rocky outcroppings and sandy beach sections. The lake itself is long and narrow, and is jam-packed with sites. Not all sites are picture perfect but if you get there early you will be granted some amazing camping. Swimming at Stratton Lake is not ideal as the lake is fairly shallow and muddy. Instead, a short paddle into a back bay and a 5minute hike will lead you to one of the gems of Algonquin Park: High Falls. High Falls is a natural waterslide perfect for sliding and swimming. It is a great spot to spend an afternoon or go for a quick evening dip. In addition to the slide itself, there is a circular whirlpool area that people can sit it and soak.
Day 1: Grand/Stratton After a drive and shuttle set up, you will most likely not have much time to paddle into your site. Your choice is to camp on the large Grand lake or paddle over to a short 50m portage into Stratton. The choice is yours, and it may depend on your group size, and age. I have done this trip twice with kids 18 month to 4 years and for the sake of naps, we opted for Grand Lake.
Day 2: Grand to Stratton Lake (2-3 hours) Stratton lake offers some incredibly spacious campsites with rocky outcroppings and sandy beach sections. The lake itself is long and narrow, and is jam-packed with sites. Not all sites are picture perfect but if you get there early you will be granted some amazing camping. Swimming at Stratton Lake is not ideal as the lake is fairly shallow and muddy. Instead, a short paddle into a back bay and a 5minute hike will lead you to one of the gems of Algonquin Park: High Falls. High Falls is a natural waterslide perfect for sliding and swimming. It is a great spot to spend an afternoon or go for a quick evening dip. In addition to the slide itself, there is a circular whirlpool area that people can sit it and soak.
Day 3: Stratton to Opalescent Lake (4 hours) Heading out of Stratton, you hop over a small but rocky 75m portage to St Andrews Lake. Although I've never stayed at this lake, there are many beautiful sites with beaches making this lake attractive. Next up is 550m portage over to High Falls lake. This portage is fairly flat and straight forward until the steep hill descent at the end. High Falls lake is a shallow swampy lake with a few sites that are not recommended for camping with kids. Instead continue on to the next portage trail (make sure to take the trail to the right) 300m to a small swampy lake with many lily pads. Finally a 640m grunt portage that leads you into Opalescent lake. This lake is probably one of the most famous lakes in Algonquin Park for two campsites that boast couches and chairs around the fire pit made of rock. These two sites (one on the north shore and one on the south) are at the east end of the lake. If you score the one on the north in August, you will also be treated to hundreds of wild blueberries! Opalescent lake is a great lake for swimming and is clear and clean. As of 2013, there was a large windstorm that hit the park in this area blowing over many trees. The wind damage can be seen on this lake as trees have been uprooted.
Day 4: Opalescent to Squirrel Rapids (6 hours) Heading out of Opalescent take a rocky boulder hopping 750m portage over to Brigham Lake (close to an alternate access point) to a short, flat, 100m hop portage with a short paddle to 440m portage. This portage is downhill, and invites you to stop and look at a substantial waterfall halfway through. In 2013 many trees were blown over covering the portage trail but have been cut so that the trail is accessible. Be careful on the descent down to the water at the end of this portage as the trail narrows and drops off quickly on the right. Docking your boat at the end of this portage may require you to tie your boat up depending on the water levels as there is a current that will take your boat away if you're not careful.
The next paddling section of the trip is awe-inspiring. The Barron Canyon walls are simply outstanding scenery and will amaze any paddler. With light current you can float down the canyon without paddling and take many photos along the way. Look up to your left and you may see a hiker at a lookout point, and check out the cliffs both from the base and from across the river. Simply breathtaking.
Exiting the canyon, you will see many campsites on both shores and travel through a wildlife filled marsh before arriving at the final portage of the trip. We have stopped for lunch twice at the beginning of this 420m portage and had excellent luck fishing at this spot. The last portage is straight forward and a short 15 minute paddle and you are at the Squirrel Rapids take-out. The take-out has a picnic table, gravel beach area and outhouse that is great for kids to hang-out/nap while waiting for the shuttle.
Alternative Routes for 1 or 2 night trips: If time was an issue and you were only travelling as adults there are two options that you could do in this area. First, you could paddle into Stratton Day 1 and visit High Falls, and on Day 2 exit near Brigham Lake or camp on the Barron River, exiting at Squirrel Rapids. A second option might be to put in at Brigham Lake, paddle through the canyon and camp, and take out at Squirrel Rapids. Finally if you couldn't set up a shuttle, you could put in at Squirrel Rapids, paddle up into the canyon, and backtrack out or paddle and camp at Stratton Lake and backtrack out.
A great trip for families!
The next paddling section of the trip is awe-inspiring. The Barron Canyon walls are simply outstanding scenery and will amaze any paddler. With light current you can float down the canyon without paddling and take many photos along the way. Look up to your left and you may see a hiker at a lookout point, and check out the cliffs both from the base and from across the river. Simply breathtaking.
Exiting the canyon, you will see many campsites on both shores and travel through a wildlife filled marsh before arriving at the final portage of the trip. We have stopped for lunch twice at the beginning of this 420m portage and had excellent luck fishing at this spot. The last portage is straight forward and a short 15 minute paddle and you are at the Squirrel Rapids take-out. The take-out has a picnic table, gravel beach area and outhouse that is great for kids to hang-out/nap while waiting for the shuttle.
Alternative Routes for 1 or 2 night trips: If time was an issue and you were only travelling as adults there are two options that you could do in this area. First, you could paddle into Stratton Day 1 and visit High Falls, and on Day 2 exit near Brigham Lake or camp on the Barron River, exiting at Squirrel Rapids. A second option might be to put in at Brigham Lake, paddle through the canyon and camp, and take out at Squirrel Rapids. Finally if you couldn't set up a shuttle, you could put in at Squirrel Rapids, paddle up into the canyon, and backtrack out or paddle and camp at Stratton Lake and backtrack out.
A great trip for families!
RSS Feed
