View topic - The Shoals: North & South Loops

In July of 2016, we headed off to The Shoals Provincial Park straddling Highway 101 west of Chapleau.

The Shoals is now a non-operating park and the campground is closed. However, you still need a backcountry permit to utilize the interior. Permits can be bought at a self serve kiosk at the Prairie Bee Lake launch. Enforcement does check from time to time as we saw a truck parked with out a permit displaying a ticket from Ontario Parks.

The Shoals primarily offers two canoe routes: A 16 km southern canoe loop, and the northern 40 km loop. There are countless back lakes in the adjacent Windermere-Goldie Lake Conservation Reserve so you can up the distance and keep on exploring. Currently the southern loop isn't really a loop as the old launch at the campground is gated. You can do a long out and back from Prarrie Bee or attempt a loop via a long lost route... Feeling adventurous, we ventured down Little Wawa creek to connect both loops. Our Chrismar map stated that once upon a time it was passable.... If you don't watch the video (which you should ) spoiler: the creek really isn't passable, well not unless you want to bushwhack and portage in stream. We slogged our way up. Travelling 5km in ~5hrs.

All in all an amazing trip! There are some awesome campsites and the scenery is ever changing!

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My Backcountry Website: www.explorethebackcountry.com