This weekend I am heading in with a buddy for two nights and 3 days in Barron Canyon. Although I live in Ottawa, I've never explored this area of the park and am pretty psyched!

We only have one car and we're going to keep it at Achray, and have reserved both nights on St. Andrews.

Plan is this:
Day 1
Early Start from Grand Lake
Carcajou Bay
Stratton Lake
High Falls area
pitch camp at St Andrews

Day 2
High Falls Lake
The Cascades
Explore the Canyon
??Return route??
Camp at St Andrews

Day 3
Exit via Stratton at Grand Lake
Walk the Barron Canyon trail

Does this make sense, and is it realistic? We are pretty decent paddlers and on Day 2 everything will be single carry and light since most gear will be at the site.

How far down Barron Canyon is worth going ... all the way to Squirrel rapids before we turn back?
Should we just go back through the Cascades again, or is it worth taking the different route through Opalescent and Cork?

From where exactly do you access the High Falls area? Can they be accessed from St. Andrews Lake?

Suggestions for good campsites on St. Andrews are also appreciated!

I'll post some sort of log thing afterwards! Thanks.

-Davis

Hi, we did a similar trip a year ago. Your days will be long, but certainly doable, especially if you leave your gear at the campsite. There is a nice site on St. Andrews lake with 4 stone seats near the firepit. I believe it was the last (or second to last) campsite on the west (left) side of the lake. You need go north the long arm on Stratton Lake to access highfalls. We spent the better part of a day there, it was really amazing.
On our way out, we ended up driving down the Barron Canyon Road and putting in on the Barron River above Brigham Lake to daytrip down the canyon. We weren't up to the numerous portages the other way. This allowed for a more leisurely time in the canyon vs spending most of the day getting to and from there.
I hope this helps.

Davis,
Your trip is perfectly doable. We've done it with three young children.
When you do the canyon day trip, you only need to paddle until the end of the cliffs. No need to head down to Squirrel rapids. And go the Cascades route there, but return via Opalscent and Ooze Lake. (The Cork Lake, Length, Marie, return is possible too, but a lot longer.)

Stainless

Thank you - it seems that the plan is viable and we will be able to enjoy plenty of time to meander and see the sights!

I'm so eager to get going on this first trip of the year it isn't funny!!!

You can bushwack your way over to High Falls from the head of the portage to High Falls Lake from St. Andrews Lake. Take a compass if need be. It's not far, but the terrain is tricky. You can hear the falls once your part way there. Be very careful of poison ivy through out the area.