Hello,

We're headed to Cedar Lake for 3 nites in mid - July, staying at the Campground there because we're bringing our dogs, neither of which are 'experienced' in a canoe, lol. One 190 pd Rhodesian + 1 30 pd Australian sheperd. I've been to Cedar a few times in the past - once returning from a trip accross the park and once leaving for the Pettawawa River. I don't recollect if there is a sandy beach (or any beach) at the campground there. I'd assume there is a beach of some kind, but according to the table listed at the bottom of this link: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/campcan/pericamp.html, it doesn't contain a 'good' beach.

Can someone who has stayed there let me know what (if any) kind of beach there is please.

And Bo, if you have any decent spots to share regarding the fishing for lakers, walleye and bass, I'd be much appreciative. We're taking our canoe and kayak, but just for day trips while base camping it from site 11. Because of the dogs we won't be going far - they will have to remain in the car or more preferably the wife or myself will stay behind and look after them.

There is also a hike to visit a meteor crater and fire tower, but if anyone has other local activities in the area I'd love to hear them.

btw - I tried to book at Achray for 3 nites but there was nothing available from 2nd week of July - mid August. Fully booked.

Tks for any help...

From what I remember, there is a decent beach at Brent.

As for fishing, walleye is good out a ways where the Petawawa River flows in from Catfish. Bass fishing is really good in Little Cedar and lakers are down deep anywhere in the lake. I've caught some really good ones on steel line fishing down around Gilmour Island up to the portages into Gull Lake.

Good luck!


Bo

I couldn't help but notice the portage going into Fry Lake is all over the map! The old ones on Jeffrey's map go more or less straight to the lake, the modern one though, sheesh, has to be the most convoluted portage I've ever seen, on paper.

Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

I haven't been in a decade.

There is a beach.
The road in is loooong and sloooow.
I'd check the map and possibly daytrip down an unmaintained portage or two. The fishing is bound to be great!

Has anyone walked the trail along the rim of the Brent crater? On our way back from Samuel de Champlain PP last summer, I drove in the Brent rode to see the crater. We went to where the lookout tower isn't, couldn't see anything, couldn't see any signs of the trail, turned around and came back out. When we stopped at the info center back out near the start of the road we were told that there actually is a trail and a parking lot if we had just kept driving. Apparently the trail runs along the road at the point where the lookout tower used to be.

I'm wondering if you really can see anything useful if I do get the kids back up that way again.

___________________________
No your other left!
www.loonislandoutdoors.com

Tks for the responses. It is unlikely we will do any portaging off of Cedar, but I may do a solo 2/3 day into Rana - Pen then Ghost, but that's doubtful due to the short stay + long unmanaged portage to Ghost.

I'll bring my portable Downrigger + depth finder and hopefully scare up a laker or two during the day. Likely just troll the shoreline for bass otherwise, maybe do the islands if the wind isn't too bad (or I'm solo'ing in the yak). Will evening/nite fish for Walleye along any rocky areas close to weedbeds or river mouth per Bo's Petawawa R suggestions.

Hopefully there's some good juicy ghost stories local to the area to provide more colorful campfire stories for the kids, if not I'll have to make up a few as usual...

I did the trail once and it was hurried due to the black flies (we went in June). The lake was nice and windy the entire time so we were nevered bother anywhere besides in the forest. As far as the trail goes, it's too grown over to see anything that resembles a crater, even from the lookout tower. The pamphlet was an interesting read though. Also, when you come out of the trail exit you have to walk down the road about 500 metres (atleast) to where you parked your car. At the time I went (5 yrs ago) there was no sign telling you that or which way to go. If it's still like that when you get back to the road take a right and walk for about 5 minutes.

Regarding the fishing, my fish finder was showing lots of fish right near the bottom, don't know if they were lakers or walleye. Try sinking a jig down to the bottom and raising it a foot or two for a bit and see if you pull up a walleye. We weren't that far out from the cabin where I was spotting them.

The only sandy beach I saw from the campground was on 2 campsites together. No one was there at the time, so I put my boat in there using the trailer. Pretty much any site on the water will have a spot for your dogs to swim though.

Email response from a contact at the Brent Store regarding the beach:


"The campground at Brent has a narrow but fairly long beach, plus the boat launch if you are looking for a place for your dogs to swim.

To get detailed advise about park services, call the Algonquin Park information line at 705-633-5572.

I would recommend a visit to our historic Brent Store. The staff there have been in the area for many years and will be able to give the "insider's guide" to Brent and all its attractions.

Have a great holiday.

Best regards,

Gordon Baker"

Yea, the path of that portage changed for the first time in many years on last years map. Previously it was the semi-direct straight line to Fry and prior to that you had the choice to go to Fry or continue on to Camp Five.

Jeff