I s the tim rivier a viable option in last week of august or first week of september to start a cross algonquin trip or will there just not be enough water?? If not what would be a better bet without adding toop many more miles to the trip

after reading previous posts we wanted to cross algonquin via Tim R., LaMuir, Hogan, Big Crow, Lavielle, Dickson, White Partridge, Barron, Greenleaf, Carcajou, Grand and out downstream of the Barron Canyon.

How far is it possible to get in the tim on the first day we will be starting a 7am and going till sundown to allow us some leeway time later in the trip.

thanks
Josh

We have gone as far as Longbow on two occasions, both mid-Sept and the water level was never a problem. Beaver dams are another story. You may encounter a few lift overs in your travels. As any year, it could depend on good old beavers and rain fall.

Booked the cross algonquin trip today starting out with 2 hefty days.
nights are booked as follows

Lower Pine R - Tim River
La Muir
Big Crow
Lavieille
Lavieille
White Partridge
Barron Lake
Grand
High Falls

hows the drinking water for filtering along the lower tim river? anyone else have any advice or cool sights/campsites to stop at along the way
josh

Someone else can maybe confirm this, but I was told before that the Tim is a very muddy river. So it’s good to bring some coffee filters to filter the mud out, and then pump the water.

There will be moose along the Tim, often feeding on aquatic vegetation, unless they've moved upland to begin the fall rut early... seeing them might depend on whether anybody spooked them earlier that day. Algonquin moose sometimes don't spook, but the river is narrow so they could be close coming round a bend. No problem with water levels during late August the year we paddled down, the main feature was the endless meandering back and forth.

You might have time to see the old growth white pines at the east outlet of Big Crow... OTOH, after that portage from Hogan, you might be more interested in R&R on the comfortable sandy sites along the NE shore.... nice views of the lake and hills there. That portage also has some old growth of the deciduous variety along it, near the road, IIRC, so it might be worthwhile to set the canoe down and listen to the birds singing for a moment... there may also be moose feeding in the wetlands at both lakes near the portage, and along the BC shores.

There are some nice beaches at the north end of Lavieille, and the island campsite nearby is roomy, comfortable and breezy on a hot day. The west-facing campsite on Crow Bay is nice and has a good sunset view of the wetlands at the far end, where there may be more moose. Some of the islands and shorelines along Lavieille and Dickson have old growth stands of various types, (red pine, hemlock, sugar maple, yellow birch, a few white pines) and cruising the shoreline can be interesting.

The cliffs at the NW end of Greenleaf are spectacular and worth a look. The portage from Greenleaf to Grand is a killer (I believe it has the highest vertical in the park) and it might be a lot more interesting besides to canoe down the Carcajou and Spectacle lakes... the water levels should be high enough this year. Along the way, there are northern coniferous forest and wetland communities, the cabin and farm on Wenda, and Stone Chute and Carcajou Falls (High Falls), where volumes of glacial meltwater created smoothrock cascades.

Enjoy!

Along the tim you might run into this fellow:


and if you go through Burntroot Lake, you could detour to the bottom of its southwest bay and check out the old alligator



For more info, look into http://www.yip.org/~erhard/algonquin-revisited.htm

thanks for the tips guys,....does the agenda sound to agressive? looks like theres some pretty long days but its doable right?
Josh

The beginning stretches of the Tim may well be nasty that time of year, it's been relatively dry thus far, a friend once traveled that area in August and the trip from AP 2 through past Rosebary (before he turned south and off your route) was almost impassable - having to drag the canoes through thick knee/hip high mud barely progressing forward.

We had joined the Tim from the portage out of Queer, and the first day, it was a slow paddle in the tight twists of a creek that won't allow you to move at speed. As long as the beavers have enough water to keep their sections of creek filled, you'll be fine on that specific stretch and all you need is the extra time. So, pack light and start your days early....

You will know your on the Tim River when your paddling along and then suddenly see the back of your own canoe

Not suitable for canoes over 16'

I like that description - LMAO!

Its OK for bigger canoes but you better have Freestyle technique to heel that barge and shorten its waterline and increase its maneuverability!

I soloed the Tim upstream in late August early September one dry year ( I dont know how it compares to now so wont try that!) to the portage to Queer. It was a really nice paddle that took a day...There was just a little current.

Its not muddy...at least when I was there....its tannin stained like any other river in pine country (Tannin does not equal polluted, and filters dont take the brown out)

Dont know about the Tim up by Rosebary..just the stuff the map says..But I wanted to tell you it gets better the farther down you get.

Matt,



Is it dry on the west side of the park? Here on the east side (SE actually) the water levels aren't low - the Madawaska looks like it's got plenty of water... I hear it's the same story with the French river.

The west side of the park usually gets more rainfall that the east side, maybe the T-storms have been heavier in some places than others. Petawawa got a huge downpour several days ago while we got almost nothing.

The time between Little trout portage and the 460m before you get to shipagew is very weedy and slow. Also very shut in. The water is not muddy. FYI I takes a whole day from Little trout to Shipagew or possibly Big trout. My map does not show lower pine R so I am not sure where you are starting but it seems like you could make the campsite after the 460 if you are on the water real early. At that point the river is open and wider. The campsite is well used but a decent stop over. It is about 2 hours from there to shipagew so La muir also seems possibe for your second night.

Ken

thanks ken that exactly what i wanted to know.