Old Woman Lake Route

CanadaOntarioLake Superior basin
Submitter & Author Information
Route submitted by: 
Admin
Trip Date : 
Route Author: 
Unknown
Additional Route Information
Distance: 
55 km
Duration: 
7 days
Loop Trip: 
Yes
Portage Information
No. of portages: 
29
Total Portage Distance: 
10405 m
Longest Portage: 
1350 m
Difficulty Ratings
River Travel: 
Advanced
Lake Travel: 
Intermediate
Portaging: 
Difficult
Remoteness: 
Advanced
Background Trip Info
Water Levels: 
Route Description
Access to Put-In Information: 

Frequent portages, some of which are extremely difficult. In particular, the two long portages (1350 m and 1100 m)

Technical Guide: 

Mijinimungshing Lake via. Mijinimungshing Road (off Hwy 17)
Southeast through Mijinimungshing Lake
South through Mirimoki Lake
P 1350 m to small lake (tough, uphill!)
P 350 m to Piquer Lake
P 130 m into Old Woman Lake
South through Old Woman Lake
P 15 m L around beaver dam into Mud Lake
P 900 m into Black Lake
South on Black Lake
P 500 m to small lake
P 1000 m to Black Mandyn Lake
South on Black Mandyn Lake
P 300 m to Hardtime Lake (steep and slippery!)
East through Hardtime Lake
P 730 m to Middle Wildcat Lake
P 750 m to Wildcat Lake
P 900 m to Sand River
South on Sand River
P 200 m L
P 95 m R
P 60 m R
P 75 m L
P 220 m L around Calwin Falls (rough portage!)
Some lining possibly required in 90 m stretch below falls
P 300 m L around Boulder Rapids (or P 130 m and run / line remainder)
P 95 m L around rapid
South then west on Sand River
P 30 m R
South on Sand River
P 25 m R around small waterfall
P 100 m R around small waterfall
P 1100 m L around Lady Evelyn Falls (very difficult!)
Fast flowing section of river - some lining or wading may be required
P 90 m R
P 90 m R
P 265 m R around High Cliff or CBR right side
Section of fast water over gravel/sand
P 265 m R around rapid
P 335 m R around rapid
P 135 m L uphill to parking lot on Sand River Road (access to Hwy 17)

Maps Required
Topo Maps (1:50,000): 
41 N/10-11 Old Woman Lake 41 N/7 Agawa Bay
Other
Special Comments: 

Whitewater is mostly class I and class II - 15 of the 29 rapids may be run by experienced whitewater paddlers after checking

Comments

Post date: Sat, 01/01/2000 - 07:00

Comments: 

I have done this route a few times as i use to work for the park itself for a few years. This route is a a rewarding route especially if you start from Gamitagama lake rather then mijinimunkshing lake. The portages can be very long and steep at times especially the last one into old women. If your lucky you can sleep a night or too in the trappers cabin( please respect it).

Post date: Sat, 01/01/2000 - 07:00

Comments: 

I, along with my 12 yr old son and other family/friends, completed this journey in 6 days. We wanted to fish as much as possible and we did. This was an eary May trip and the weather was bad as was the fishing. Wildcat Lake was a disappointment for fishing, however, one of the more pretty lakes to spend time on. We were not in any hurry so we brought some extra gear. Most portages were done twice. Would like to have ran a few more of the rapids on the Sand River, but with a younger boy in the canoe and the fact that it was fiberglass, I was a little more cautious. Great time and would do it again. Interior park camping fees are getting carried away $$$.

Post date: Sat, 01/01/2000 - 07:00

Comments: 

My wife and I completed this journey in three days. This trip is not suitable for aluminum or brass keeled canoes due to frequent hang-ups in shallow water.