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Mar 04 2010

Lanark Highlands

Joe’s Lake

How to Get There: North of Hopetown on County Rd. 511 to French Line at Brightside. Go westerly on French Line and Lavant Darling Rd. to Joe’s Lake, 15 km. Turn right on Flower Station Rd. just before the bridge.

The Launch Site: Small park across from derelict ball diamond and huge gravel bank.

The Paddle: Bear left, follow shore and you eventually reach a wetland channel leading into the Clyde River. Follow channel about 500 m to dam and picnic site.

Watch For: Bluebirds as you approach lake and bitterns in reeded wetland.

Seasonal Information: Good until freeze-up. 

Stump Lake and Mississippi River

How to Get There: Perth to Lanark on County Rd. 511. West on County Rd. 12 through McDonalds Corners to Elphin, north on County Rd. 36 for 2 km to Stump Lake.

The Launch Site: Small park and dock. Picnic tables and privy.  

The Paddle: Clockwise and into river. Take left shore upriver to rocky area and rapids. Good spot to lunch and explore. Rugged, be careful. Return on north side and into branch of river to end and waterfall (McLaren Depot Snye). Return to launch site or explore Stump Lake.

Watch for: Many bays and streams to explore.

Seasonal Information: Great autumn leaves. Good until freeze-up. 

White Lake West End

How to Get There: From Perth, take County Rd. 511 almost to edge of Lanark County. Watch for boat launch sign at White Lake Rd. Go 1.4 km to 3-way split. Take left fork onto WALABEC Rd. 0.9 km, then turn right onto Walabec Side Rd., then 0.2 km to boat launch.

The Launch Site: Gravel beach. Park at edge of lot to accommodate people with motorboat trailers.

The Paddle: Westend White Lake is like northern lakes with rocky shores, islands, wetland coves and bays. Interesting meander along shores and around islands. Several island picnic sites.  

Watch For: Unusual creek opening on north shore leading to falling brook. Interesting rock formations and wild flowers. Watch for bald eagles.

Seasonal Information: Great fall colours. Good until freeze-up.  

Dalhousie Lake and Downriver

How to Get There: Perth to Lanark on County Rd. 511 west to McDonalds Corners on County Rd. 12, then north on County Rd. 8 to bridge.

The Launch Site: Sylvania Lodge park on the lake side of bridge.  

The Paddle: Under bridge and down river as far as Sheridan Rapids.

Watch For: Short channel into McCullough Mud Lake (not named on map) on north side. Wetland birds along shores. Beaver, muskrat, and otter. Lunch sites limited.

Seasonal Information: McCullough Mud Lake shallow in parts in late summer and autumn. Good until freeze-up.  

Park Lake

How to Get There: From Perth, take County Rd. 511 north through Hopetown 2 km to County Rd. 16. From Ottawa, take Hwy. 417 to exit 155 for Hwy. 49 through Almonte. Pick up County Rd. 16 to Hopetown at County Rd. 511 and north to County Rd. 16 again. Pass through Poland about ¼ km, turn south on Umpherson mills Rd. Take left fork at Umpherson’s sawmill. Turn Right at first side road onto smaller but well-maintained road at property number 2571.

The Launch Site: Have patience! You eventually come to a launch site on right side of road.

The Paddle: Circumnavigate the lake. Keep track of directions for you can get lost in multitude of bays and passages. Back at launch site, go downriver under culvert (if beavers haven’t plugged it) to small lake with picnic island to left.

Watch For: Most beautiful lake in the region.

Seasonal Information: Great fall colours. Good until freeze-up.  

Clyde River at Clyde Forks

How to Get There: From Perth, take County Rd. 511 past Hopetown to French Line at Brightside. North on County Rd. 511 to French Line. Follow French Line and Lavant Darling Rd. to Joe’s Lake. Take right on Flower Station Rd. and follow on to low dam beside road.

The Launch Site: Above dam. This is Clyde River.

The Paddle: Upriver, under bridge and veer right into Widow’s Lake. Take creek at north end of lake as far as you can go.

Watch For: Beaver dams. West side of lake is roadway. This is the former K&P railroad bed. Beautiful, high bluffs abound.  

Seasonal Information: Good until freeze-up.  

Rivens Lake and Little Clyde River

How to Get There: From Perth, take County Rd. 511 past Hopetown and next left past County Rd. 16 at Lammermoor Rd. From Ottawa, take Hwy. 7 past Carleton Place to County Rd. 15 to Lanark and County Rd. 511, then north to Lammermoor Rd.  

The Launch Site: ½ km on Lammermoor Rd. to double culverts. This is Little Clyde River.

The Paddle: Upriver as far as you can go (subject to beaver dams). For entrance to Rivens Lake, keep right. Small lake interesting to circumnavigate. Good picnic area on rocky bluff. For downriver, go through the culvert at launch site.

Watch For: Nesting alder flycatchers and other marsh species. Portage beaver dams with caution. Downriver may potentially be plugged at culverts.

Seasonal Information: River best in spring and early summer.  

Clyde River at Lanark

How to Get There: From Perth, take County Rd. 511 to Lanark/ From Ottawa, take Hwy. 7 past Carleton Place to County Rd. 15 and on to Lanark.

The Launch Site: In village, just over the bridge and turn right past feed store park.

The Paddle: Explore downriver under bridges to dam. Then upriver through Kerr Lake and under County Rd. 511 bridge to rapids. Lunch at rapids or the village.

Watch For: In Kerr Lake, colonies of black terns. Wetland shores abundant with waterfowl.

Seasonal Information: Beware of duck hunters in autumn. Good until freeze-up.  

Robertson Lake

How to Get There: From Almonte, take County Rd. 16 (Wolf  Grove Rd.) to County Rd. 511 at Hopetown. Turn north to County Rd. 16 and West to Robertson Lake. Take sharp turn to Lavant. From Perth take County Rd. 511 North.

The Launch Site: Public park. Parking on site. Small car fee may be levied.

The Paddle: Due to prevailing winds circumnavigate lake clockwise in morning, counter-clockwise in afternoon. Return to park for lunch and swim at sandy beach. Picnic tables.

Watch For: Marsh birds along shores. Bass spawning beds at far end of lake. Picturesque and relaxing lake. Magnificent fall colours.  

Seasonal Information: Good until freeze-up.  

Taylor Lake

How to Get There: From Almonte, take County Rd. 16 (Wolf Grove Road) 12 Km to Lanark  Conc. 12. Turn north.

The Launch Site: End of road.

The Paddle: Circumnavigate lake. Watch for underwater stumps in bays. Lake was raised considerably two decades ago. Several lunch places.

Watch For: Directly across lake from boat launch look for road leaving the shore. Connecting these two points was a famous floating bridge destroyed by Hurricane Connie in 1964. Many of the logs can be seen under water. Marsh birds along north shore and east end of lake.

Seasonal Information: Good until freeze-up.



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