bigcat19 wrote:
Thank you all for the info. Super useful. If it's doable at a not-too-urgent pace in 8 running days+2 or 3 rest days, that should work for us.
@Airbag: Thanks, I wouldn't have thought to have checked the OPG site for water levels. Had been looking at the Can Gov water level site, but they only had current data on the Sturgeon.
@Martin2007: I couldn't find that trip report you mentioned, but good to know that there are some tough portages. Our boats are reasonable weights and we single carry, so not a deal breaker.
@Martin2007 & @Eddy Turn: How long did it take you from Upper Goose Falls to Kelly's portage? This seems to be quite a long, slow stretch.
I was thinking the Gawasi route would be easier but one of the trip reports says that the 3.5km portage is wide, easy, and they did it in less than an hour. Anyone done both and have a preference?
Also, anyone have a preference between the three routes from Muskinonge to Matagamasi: via Cafafel/via Potvin/via Karl?
I canoed the sturgeon river route from Matagamasi in September 2020. That trip took place during an especially cold and wet week in September, which pushed up the river levels on the Sturgeon to about 20-25 m3/s. The section from Upper Goose to Kelly's took us one fairly long day of paddling, and that was being helped along by the relatively quick current / water levels. We also didn't take much of any breaks (lunch floating down the river) due to the pouring rain. We started mid-afternoon on a Saturday and paddled in a couple km to the first site. We paddled out a short distance that Friday, making our trip 6 nights, with two half days on either end. We'd been planning on doing it in 7 nights, but shortened it due to the poor weather. FYI, we didn't see either of the two campsites that our map indicated as being present between Lower Goose and Kelly's. We could've missed them, but maybe don't count on them. You could camp on some sandy point bars if you need a spot to camp along that section though, but you wouldn't have much tree coverage for a tarp. I'd suggest having a GPS with you to help you avoid missing the Kelly's portage...It's fairly easy to miss the turnoff. After Wolf lake we saw only one other person. The campsite at the end of the 1175m portage between Parsons Lk and the sturgeon R isn't very nice...it's basically at the end of an ATV trail in like a little parking area and has no view of the river. After Wolf lake we saw only on other person on the entire trip.