Nunikani Route | ||
| Route description submitted By: | ||
General Info | Difficulty Ratings | |
| Distance: 19 km Duration : 2 days Loop Trip : yes | River Travel : not applicable Lake Travel : novice Portaging : Moderate Remoteness : novice | |
Portage Info | Maps Required | |
| No. of Portages : 7 Total Length: 3442 m Average Length: 492 m Longest Portage : 990 m | Other Maps Frost Centre Adventure Map by Chrismar Mapping Services | |
Handicapped Accessibility | GPX Data for this Route | |
 Suitability : unknown | no gpx data found | |
Route Description | ||
| Hwy 35 N near Dorset - just past Hall`s Lake turn onto Road 13, then onto Big Hawk Road
Parking available near marina North then northeast through Big Hawk Lake P 225 m to Clear Lake North through Clear Lake P 200 m to Red Pine Lake North then to west end of Red Pine Lake P 440 m to Nunikani Lake P 194 m L around Nunikani Dam South through Big Hawk Lake to finish at marina | ||
General Comments | ||
Trip Log / Diary | ||
Photo Gallery | ||
User Submitted Information | ||
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Submitted by: Neal Rowan | ||
The route that goes through clear lake is severely overused, mostly by groups that take 15 or more campers there for money. A great deal of these campers do not even complete the route but simply camp on Clear lake for a few days and then head back to the Big Hawk lake marina. My suggestion is that people looking for a quite and peaceful camping experiance should not go on thir trip due to severe overuse. | ||
Submitted by: John McAuley | ||
Yes Clear lake is overused, but we took a side trip through Snowshoe lake, Midway lake, Chico pond and Blackcat lake and then back to Clear lake & on to Red Pine & Ninikani. It was well worth it. We saw only 1 couple in two days on the side trip ( but then we didn't see anyone for 3 days in the middle of the week on Nunikani). The campsite on the point between the portages on Blackcat was great. Red Pine lake also had some very used campsites. This can be a great trip if you stay off the well beaten paths.Expect to see people on the weekends. | ||
Submitted by: Ron Dunning | ||
I did this trip a couple of years back with my 3 children, and another dad and his 3 kids. We entered through the Kennisis lake access near the dam, down to Red Pine, down the river to Nunikani where we spent the first night. This is a beautiful lake to stay on if you can. The next day we continued down through Big Hawk/Little Hawk then up to Clear Lake where we stopped for the night. Clear is nice but there are some cottages on the lake. The next day we continued back up through Red Pine to the dam at Kennis. This is an easy paddle, The kids were between 6 and 12 years old at the time. Portages are easy through the major lakes. A side trip to Black Cat lake can be made in from Clear and is well worth seeing ( there are 2 camp sites ) the portage was not being kept up when we did it and had a few deadfall across it. P.S. We did this trip mid-week. Enjoy!!! Ron | ||
Submitted by: Matthew Lerpiniere | ||
I have done this route several times and it is still a favorite for a nice easy weekend get away. This area is becoming heavily over used is my only complaint, I find a lot of people go in to this area for free camping and partying where there are no rangers. I like doing this route early in the season right after ice out, or late in the season. Less traffic at this time of year. Nunikani lake is great to stay on. | ||
Submitted by: Brian Lachine | ||
I think I am going to start doing my central ontario short trips somewhere else. It is hrd to call this area a canoe route anymore. I have paddled here mywhole life and have seen it abused and over used. I understand it is convenient (especially for those quick trips) but the place needs time to heal. I recommend doing more research if you are looking fro a nice paddle - try the Burnt River, Saugeen River - botyh places are free and easy to get to. I would like to hear some feed back so please do not hesitate to email. The Haliburton waterways has a quistionaire to fill out on the area - I recommend doing it. | ||
Submitted by: Chris | ||
This area as well as all of the area traditionally known as 'the Frost Center' is now managed under a permit system by the township of Algonquin Highlands. Fees are the same as that of provincial parks. Many people are impressed with the improvements in the area. Some overused sites have been closed and tree planting etc is being done with the permit funds to help rehabilitate. Portages and campsites are now maintained resulting in very little garbage. There are also by laws in place to help deter the wrong doers. The department managing it now is called the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails. things are definately looking up and it is worth giving it another shot if you have been deterred in the past. Happy strokes! | ||
Submitted by: Brian Lachine | ||
Now that the HHWT has put in place their system, improvement has been amazing. Portages well maintained, campsites cleaned and even rangers checking permits. I do not mind paying the cash for this area to become a paddlers paradise again. Kudos to HHWT! | ||
