Algonquin Park: Camping Trip Logs: 016 - Maple Lake Weekend - Access Point #29

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Day 4

July 1, 2012 - Maple Lake to Kioshkokwi Lake

This was our last day and we were up early for coffee and to get things packed. It was a beautiful calm morning when we started paddling. But we knew Kioshkokwi Lake could get windy so we wanted to get started.

Ready to leave. One pack now.

Reflections in the still lake.

Small island camp site on Maple Lake.

It didn't take long to get to the first portage and start heading down Maple Creek. It was a lot easier this time since all the food and booze were gone. I was able to single carry the longer portages on the way out.

Start of the 805m portage on Maple Creek.

Rocks and logs at bottom of rapids on Maple Creek.

Wind ripples on a straighter section of the creek.

There was a small beaver dam along the way.

Markus walking along the portage.

One (of the many) things I like about Jeffrey McMurtrie's Algonquin Map is that it indicates areas of historical interest. Algonquin Park has been around for a long time and has a lot of interesting spots to check out. Along Maple Creek is one of them, an old logging camp. It's not much to see now but looking over the remains of a bunch of rusty bunk beds you can start to imagine what it would have been like working and living in the middle of the woods for days or weeks at a time.

Start of the path that leads to the ruins.

The "ruins", rusty old bunk bed frames.

There were some good sized trees growing through the bunk beds.

I spent a bit of time looking around the area, which was quite overgrown, before carrying on down the portage. Next time you're heading out on a canoe trip be sure to check Jeff's map for any points of interest on the way!

Eventually we made it down Maple Creek and looked out onto a windy Kioshkokwi Lake. The wind wasn't too bad yet so we headed off into a headwind as usual.

Grass steamers.

Into the wind on Kioshkokwi Lake.

It took us almost an hour to cross to the Access Point, with the wind in our faces all the way. It was the Sunday of the long weekend and most sites were taken and there was lots of traffic on the lake.

When we got to the shore we found the campground jam packed with people, which means you will have a few yahoos of course. The beach area was full of canoes including one left swamped upside down?

Crowded landing.

It was nice to finally get out on an interior Algonquin camping trip, the first real one of summer 2012. The weather was great other than being a little too windy, but that meant Markus and I could take it easy around camp instead of going for the usual 8 hour "day trip".

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