Hello al,


I am going to base camp on Big trout lake this summer for four days, and would like to hear from anyone who might have some suggestions for things to do, or maybe good site to stay on. are there any near by attractions?

Please get back

Thanks

Go to the Trip-log section of AlgonquinAdventures and look up trip from Canoe Lake (Access pt 5) - plenty of logs with ideas and places to see. Also check out myccr.com and search for "Big Trout Lake"

Carl

Thanks Carl,

How about some day trips or thing to do while I there..

I'm thinking of walking one of the portages at night. Kind of dangerous however it might be fun.

White trout next door has a few good spots to check out, most are marked on the canoe routes map

Hi Robert, I ditto Chris's comment regarding White trout Lake, plenty of historical things there to see, plus the cliffs.
THe portage to Lake La Muir, although long, is basically a flat trail..heading towards Merchants Lake, you can paddle through a large marsh, as well as the big Marsh west of White Trout Lake.



Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

Thanks for your help...


Does anyone know how long it would take to travel from Openogo to Big Trout via the water taxi?

Hi Robert,

without more details, I can only guess. 15 min to the top end of Opeongo(Unless they are shuttling someone else, somewhere else first).
Guessing you are doubling your portages, I'd say another 5-6 hrs(via Happy Isle, Merchant), till you emerge from the creek onto Big Trout Lake proper. I have heard over and over from many people, books I've read, etc, that Happy Isle can be a very windy lake...No Kidding!I have been on Happy Isle only once, and it was quite a battle paddling up it to get to Merchant Lake.

Hope this helps

Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

Thanks

I plan on doing single trip portages and hitting happy early as to avoid the winds (I hope).


Does anyone know of a good site on Big Trout? I like sandy beaches and flat ground. Who doesn't lol.

IIRC the campsite on the point just below the 840m portage to Blue L. was pretty nice but it t'was 15+ years ago. I also recall an island site that was awesome but I have no idea where it was.

OOps that was me

How bad do you think the wind is? I've done North tea in the wind and it sure was a nice walk (not fun at all) would you say it's about the same?

How bad do you think the wind is? I've done North tea in the wind and it sure was a nice walk (not fun at all) would you say it's about the same?

I ditto Marcus' thread that paddling against the wind on Happy Isle can be quite a challenge. Once past there, I didn't find wind an issue on Merchant, Big T, Longer, etc to Lamuir which we did all in one day starting from the water taxi at OP.

No Problem ( but best to take water taxi across the Big O)

then , subject to winds , BIG T is easily reachable for a sit down supper
assuming an decently early morning start ( before 9 am)

If the wind is bad... it's BigT I would be worried about crossing

Campsites , in order of preference ( I would likely do Longer/Shippagew or Lamuir area tripping and perhaps even do these as a loop If White Trout was a must daytrip
then option #3 area campsite might be better



1. Great point site

2. I think this site on Longer is great

3. Anywhere nearer White Trout

HTH
Rac n

Wow fantastic!

Thanks for all your help I'll be on Big trout in July 11-14 hope the weather is good, so I can see all that you guys have suggeste.

I have circled in blue sites we have used for over night stays or in the case of the two closer to Longer Lake's 300 meter portage just lunch stops but very nice. The campsite pictures are from the site farthest east which means it is easily accessible from Otterslide Creek or even Merchant.


View from base camp, looking west towards the middle of Big Trout. When you cross BT, the bare face of the hill off to the north and east end of the lake marks this location. It looks like a large hillside that has eroded but is quite nice and its height provides wonderful views of the lake.


Closer view of some of the islands that afford nice day tripping right on BT but the idea of dropping down into White Trout is a good one as there are some nice spots to have lunch, the beginnings of Grassy Bay is an interesting paddling area and the historic spots on WT's north shore are a good place to walk around.


A day trip up Longer to Red Pine Bay (AKA, Lower Burntroot) is worth the paddle which is easy and if the water level is right you may be able to skip one of the portages which are short, but the landings are rocky so be careful.

Burntroot is one of the prettiest spots for a layover day as its wide expanse affords star gazing evenings from some of the island campsites. If you paddle you might make a long day trip and sneak into that area.

-Jester

Thanks Jester,

Wow! I think I got enough information to write a book on Big Trout.

thanks


Hey how are the bugs in July? will I need bug nets or will bug spray be fine?

spray should be fine. But I was getting bitten by no-see-ums, and eaten alive by skeeters on thanksgiving weekend last year and we saw blackflies too! Very Unusual.
so sheesh, anything is possible this year. It might be a good idea to bring a headnet just in case. Once you are on a big lake like Big Trout, the breeze will help keep the bugs to a minimum.

Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

Thanks Markus,

You never know when it comes to bugs, and the weather we've had lately. Who knows it might still be snowing come July. I'll pack both.

I can't think of anything ells to ask. Thanks so much you all have been fantastic

Best regards,

Robert

Hey I just thought of one more question.

What are the portages like? are the flat? wet? or am going to become a rock climber?


Thanks

Rob can ya refresh my memory in regards to your route?
If it's a loop out of canoe lake to Big Trout, all the portages are quite manageable, and the only thing that comes to mind, is the length of the portage from Tom Thomson to Ink Lake, and the very last portage going into BT from the Otterslides....on a rainy day, can be dangerous as it is steep but short descent into the lake. The beginning of the portage from Little Otterslide to Burnt Island Lake, is an ankle buster...lots of angular rocks for a good 100m or so...other than that, there are no real surprise on that route.

Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

Hi Markus,

Sorry I guess a route would help.


We our taking the water taxi to the north arm on Openogo, doing the P2180, P340 and P1840


I hope we can do all of the portages in one trip,

Regards,

zzzzz

Hi Rob,


I don't have my map in front of me, but that sounds familiar and if I remember you mentioned something about Merchant.
So via happy Isle, Merchant, and the creek into BT?

Just like Anonymous says, ZZZZ...it's a sleeper I guess.
The 340m is not worth mentioning..The 2180m is long and it has hills, but nothing steep. The one from Merchant to the creek into BT, is all downhill...a little slippery near the end with the stepping stone decent here and there.

Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

While somewhat long and a bit rockier than many of Algonquin's trails, this actually is a fairly good walk. I'd rate the rocks as noticeably more prevalent than other trails, including the other trail I recall as standing out... the Pardee/Lawrence trail to Kirkwood, which heading west, is not only gradually uphill but rocky like a mini-Temagami trail.

Little Otterslide to BIL I don't recall as being steep down to BIL but at my age all of life is downhill so maybe I just miss stuff like this. I think it is a downhill slope and my memory seems to jibe with Wherever's digital topo software which shows about 200 meters of "flat" trail to the lake.

Here is the elevation change over 800 meters which starts at 457 meters at Little Otterslide and ends at 440 meters at BIL.


Little Otterslide Lake to the left, BIL to the right

One caution with topos is the trail may rise to just below the next contour line and then drop down back to square one and continue down to just shy of the next lowest contour line so a map may seem to show a fairly level area but there could be many elevation changes which wear a hiker out just as much as if there was one short distance but steep incline.

I don't believe this loop has any major obstacles other than a couple long walks but that is part of the reason you are going out in the bush.

-Jester

I know enough to know I don't know enough

Wow!

Thanks Guy's

All I need now is good weather lol.......


regards,

Robert

We are going to Big Trout Friday July 11th @5:00am Wish us luck!


Thanks For all your help and advice see ya when we get back

Perhaps its still there and worth checking out

On the trail from the closed campsite ( I think its open again)
towards the next campsite towards Longer Lake


Enjoy... I was great back in the 70's
but there appeared to be someone on
this campsite the past may and I could not
verify it was still there.. Used to be Marked
with a sign


Great fising in the stream from Longer to BT
Especially at the Longer lake end... Many a 2 lb
Speck caught from the shore just as the stream departs longer


Have Fun
BT rocks

Rac n