French River - Hartley Bay to Georgian Bay | ||
| Route description submitted By: | ||
General Info | Difficulty Ratings | |
| Distance: 50 km Duration : 3 days Loop Trip : yes | River Travel : novice Lake Travel : intermediate Portaging : Easy Remoteness : novice | |
Portage Info | Maps Required | |
| No. of Portages : 2 Total Length: 420 m Average Length: 210 m Longest Portage : 240 m | Topo Maps (1:50,000) 41 H/15 Key Harbour 41 I/2 Delamere Other Maps French River Provincial Park Map - shows all campsites, portages, etc | |
Handicapped Accessibility | GPX Data for this Route | |
 Suitability : unknown | no gpx data found | |
Route Description | ||
| Start at Hartley Bay Marina - off Hwy 69 at Bigwood
West through Hartley Bay into Wanapitei Bay South through Wanapitei Bay East between Canal Island and Merranger`s Island South on Eastern Outlet of French West at the Whale`s Mouth past the Elbow P 180 m L at Dalles Rapids (watch for old boiler tank) West then south on French River East through Georgian Bay North to Bass Creek P 240 m R on wooden tramway North through Bass Lake North on Main Outlet of French North through Wanapitei Bay East through Hartley Bay to finish at marina | ||
General Comments | ||
Trip Log / Diary | ||
Photo Gallery | ||
| Using the canoe cart to bring the boats and gear over the boardwalk / portage at Bass Lake. (Photo Credit : Debbie Munn) | |
| The portage to Bass Lake - a wooden boardwalk makes it easy.. (Photo Credit : Richard Munn) | |
User Submitted Information | ||
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Submitted by: Dave Burke | ||
I would not suggest doing this loop in reverse, ie. heading south through Bass Lake, west across the bay, then up the main French and east over Dalles Rapids, as there are two small rapids (easily run)west of the Dalles with extremely rough portages through thick and scratchy undergrowth. OUCH! Go counter-clockwise, as K. Callan suggests in his book. (Navigational goofs forced us into going the wrong way). | ||
Submitted by: Matthew Eberly | ||
I completed this loop in June 2009 with a mixed strength group. The portages at Dalles Rapid are a bit tough, otherwise the paddling was not too long or technical. We had everyone try to run the bottom of Dalles Rapid and one canoe capsized. Turning the corner out onto Georgian Bay was an immediate and dramatic contrast, with great tail winds and amazing island scenery. | ||
