Crowe River (Deer River)

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 10/13/2012 - 16:12
Canada›Ontario›South Central
Submitter & Author Information
Route submitted by: 
Chris G
Trip Date : 
Additional Route Information
Distance: 
15 km
Duration: 
1 days
Loop Trip: 
No
Portage Information
No. of portages: 
0
Total Portage Distance: 
500 m
Longest Portage: 
30 m
Difficulty Ratings
River Travel: 
Novice
Lake Travel: 
Not applicable
Portaging: 
Difficult
Remoteness: 
Intermediate
Background Trip Info
Water Levels: 
Low
Route Description
Technical Guide: 

The start of this section of the Crowe River starts at the Public Beach on Chandos Lake which is 15min drive north/east on HWY 620 from the town of Apsley. The river is accessible via a short section on the Deer River which is a 300 meter paddle east from the beach. Enter the Deer River under the road overpass. The Deer River is about 1-2km long from the start at the beach to the merger with the Crowe River. Take-out is at the next road overpass which is the same HWY 620 at the start at the hamlet of Glen Alda. Travel time is 5 - 10 hrs. All but one portage are log jams. There is a set of rapids 3/4 of the way which would appear to be run-able in high water season; otherwise you can line-down.

Other
Special Comments: 

Travel Date: July 2012. NOTE: Many would deem this section of the Crowe as un-passable due to the numerous log jams. There is lots of parking at the Public Beach starting point. At normal summer flows, you can expect to hump over a log jam every 200-400 meters for half of the trip. A skilled paddler with a short canoe can navigate tightly around about a 1/3 of these and high water levels would also allow passage over about another 1/3. Due to the numerous log jams, expect an entire day to travel this section of the Crowe. Water temperatures are very warm in summer months and the river is generally very shallow and clean. There are no marked portages anywhere so every portage around a log jam is a bush-whack. The wildlife in this area is some of the best I have seen anywhere as it's very remote given it's proximity due to its inaccessibility. Plan to encounter on the river/banks beavers, otters, deers, moose, and bears. Waterfowl and exotic birds such as the Osprey are very present here. There is a great but rustic gas-station at the end of the trip in Glen Alda and there is a bakery. The owner of the Gas Station even offered to drive me back to my starting point.

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