Hi all,

Already thinking about possible trips for the 2022 paddling season and liking the Chapleau-Nemegosenda loop for: (a) the loop aspect (b) the remoteness and (c) running a few rapids on the Chapleau.

I have read Kevin Callan's trip report in his Lost Canoe route book and he encountered a few paddling parties en route, but lately, there doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there in the last 5 to 10 years online. It makes me wonder why this route is largely being omitted from people's paddling plans.

Has anyone done this recently? I'm concerned about the condition of the portages and campsites specifically. I also heard that Quigley's B&B is no longer operating in the town of Elsas on Kapuskasing Lake. Is there any other commercial activity in Elsas currently?

Some postings on this site have mentioned the poor conditions of the portages between Nemegosenda Lake and the town of Chapleau due to logging in the last decade. Perhaps this is the deterrent? If this section is impassable, is anyone aware of any outfitters operating in the area that might offer a shuttle from Waweya Lake off of Highway 101 to Chapleau or Racine Lake?

Any recent info. would be greatly appreciated! Happy Holidays everyone.

Steve

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“A day without canoeing probably wouldn’t kill me, but why risk it?”

I canoed the Chapleau and Nemegosend Rivers loop 25 years ago. Back then there wasn’t a lot of information nor use. The loop aspect was appealing then as it is now. But I don’t recall the camping being anything to write home about. In fact, we cut the tip short by a night nearing the end by walking out to the road and hitchhiking back to our vehicle. This was on part motivated by less than pristine wilderness conditions as we approached the end of the trip. Having said that I do remember enjoying the canoe friendly waterway, small bodies of lake and river.
The bottomline, I felt there were better canoe trips than the Chapleau and Nemegosend Rivers loops.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

Thanks for your input!

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“A day without canoeing probably wouldn’t kill me, but why risk it?”

Is there public access to Nemegosenda L now? In older imagery I see the clear cut close to it but no access. I now see an access road with what looks like maybe an RV parked there.
https://goo.gl/maps/Sjeze5KLa1yXviPs8

I'd be surprised since I think there are private interests on the lake, but it would make for a nice shuttle option to end there, starting from Chapleau or Racine L, avoiding what sounds like a noisy/industrial section of the loop and a significant chunk of the mandatory portage distance.

Also giving this a bump to see if anyone has an updated report of the route.

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@Lost Lakes

Just sent you an email, Jon.

Steve

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“A day without canoeing probably wouldn’t kill me, but why risk it?”