HOW TO FIND THE ROUTE
Lower Twin Lake is an excellent location to start your trip down the Drowning River. It is located on the Lower Twin Lake side of the river that connects Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, GPS point (530190, 5555760). A local outfitter operates a camp ground at this location for those wishing to spend the night and get a fresh start the following morning.
You can also start your adventure at the river exit of Lower Twin Lake. This is outlined as “Start 2” on the map inside. You can travel from Nakina using either the Waba or Twin Lake Road. These logging roads are gravel and cross the river at the top of Lower Twin Lake. Please take when travelling these operating logging roads.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS REQUIRED
It is highly recommended canoeists supplement this brochure with the National Topographic Series Maps as outlined below:
National Topographic Series Maps
1:50000
Grant 42L/1
Nakina 42L/2
Esnagami Lake 42L/7
Wababimiga Lake 42L/8
ROUTE TESTIMONIAL
"The Drowning River has been renowned for its Speckled Trout fishery for over a century. Famous Northen Ontario guide, Emile Cote, loved this river, and for good reason: beautiful campsites and portages, lots of fastwater and rapids make this trip a wilderness canoeist’s dream.
The campsite at Jack Pine Portage is one of the most astonishing stands of old jack pines I have ever seen.
Most canoeists will end this trip at the first portage on the Wababimiga River. A portage leads out to the Supawn Lake road where pickup can occur.
Travel up the Wababimiga River to Wababimiga Lake is only recommended if
you have a strong grasp of poling canoes, as the current is quite stiff.
Waba lake is the stomping ground of the famous Vanderbeck family, written about by Stephen Meader in “Trap-Lines North”, and the sense of history in this area is strong. A fishing rod is a must for this trip. You will be hard pressed to find a river with more specs than the Drowning.”
Rob Haslam runs the Outers Wilderness Canoe Club at the Geraldton Composite High School.
Drowning River Canoe Route : 14-Day Trip
Portage #1
The upstream side of portage #1 is located on the river left side at GPS point
536390, 5560120). The portage is approximately 215 meters long and is
used to bypass a shallow rocky section of the river. This section can be run depending on paddler skill level or even lined or walked through during lower water.
Portage #2
Portage #2 is used bypass a short run of rapids. The 140 meter trail is located on
the river right.
Portage #3, High Hill Portage
Portage #3 is located on the river right side and is used to bypass a set of narrow, steep long set of rapids. The upstream side of the portage is located at GPS point (542770, 5560170). The total length of the portage is about 360 meters. Called High Hill Portage, the first part of the trail is steep. At the top of this trail is a nice campsite in a jack pine stand. From the campsite, it is all downhill to the end of the trail.
Portage #4
Portage #4 is located on the river left side and is approximately 100 meters long. It
is used to bypass a wide section of rapids with 2 islands in the middle. The
upstream side of the portage is located at GPS point (544520, 5560990). This
section of rapids can be run depending on paddler skill. It can also be lined very
easily and waded during low water. The best route is between the 2 small islands.
Portage #5
Portage #5 is located at the end of the Southern arm of the lake. The trail is used to bypass a narrow section of rapids that often has log jams. The trail is located off the river left side and is about 320 meters long. The upstream entrance of the portage trail is located at GPS point (547480, 5560770). The downstream side of the trail is located on a flat rock, perfect for a lunch stop.
Portage #6
The second shortest portage trail on the trip, portage #6 is used to bypass a log jam in the river on a sharp bend. This log jam is created by the sharp bend in the river and has been there for many years. The portage trail is approximately 50 meters long and is located on the river right side. The upstream entrance is located at GPS point (548730, 5561430).
Portage #7
Portage #7 is located at the far Northeast end of Relief Lake and is used to bypass 2
sets of rapids. The portage trail is located on the river left side and is about 335
meters long. The upstream entrance to the portage trail is located at GPS point
(553780, 5567660).
Portage #8, Jack Pine Portage
Portage #8 is named Jack Pine Portage because it is used to bypass the Jack Pine
Rapids named after the large stand of jack pine at the head of the rapids. The
upstream entrance to the portage trail is located on the river left side at GPS point
(558920, 5569090). The trail is about 400 meters in length. At the head of the trail
is a beautiful camp site in the jack pine flats. Look at the plaque on the tree as it
has been erected in honor of an old portage #10 and is used to bypass a small
section of rapids that sometimes has a small log jam. The trail is about 100
meters long and is located on the river right side in a low black spruce, cedar
area. The upstream entrance to the trail is located at GPS point (562430,
571370).
Portage #10, Tin Can Portage
Slightly down river from portage #9 is Tin Can Rapids and the Tin Can Portage. Tin
Can Rapids is a long, narrow cascading set of rapids. The origin of the name “Tin
Can” is unknown however people over the years have left tin pots at the camp site.
The campsite which is located on top of the hill at the start of the portage is small
and probably only has room for 1 or 2 tents. The upstream entrance of the trail
is located on the river right side at GPS point (562930, 5572500). The trail is
about 350 meters long and passes through an over mature forested area with
lots of balsam into a thick black spruce area before it goes back downhill to the
river.
Portage #11, Bald Rock Rapids
Portage # 11 bypasses Bald Rock Rapids, named appropriately because the whole
river runs off a large flat rock in the river. The portage is very short, less then 20
meters and there is an excellent campsite on the edge of the bald rock. The campsite
and portage trail is located on the river right side. The upstream entrance is at GPS point (564600, 5578160). The scenery at this campsite is spectacular and it makes you feel as if you were farther North somewhere along the coast of James Bay.
Portage #12
The trail is used to bypass 2 sets of big rapids and is approximately 380 meters
long. At the end of the trail is an excellent campsite that looks over the second
set of rapids and the pool below. The trail is on the river left side located at GPS
point (562640, 5585370).
Portage #13
From the downstream entrance of portage #12 you can see the portage sign for
portage #13 directly across the pool below the rapids. The portage trail is found on the river left side at the GPS point (562450, 5585580). The trail is approximately 200 meters long and is used to bypass a set of rapids. These rapids are runable depending on skill level.
Portage #14
Portage #14 is located just upstream from where the Drowning River and Waba River intersect. Portage #14 is used to bypass a large set of rapids with an island in the middle. The portage trail is located on the upstream side on the river left side and is about 280 meters long. The upstream side is located at GPS point (560990,
5586960). On the Northwest side of this intersection, is a campsite that once was
the site of an old trappers cabin.
Portage #15
Portage #15 is used to bypass a log jam in the river. The trail on the river left side
is about 160 meters long. The downstream entrance of the trail is located at GPS point (560370, 5587000).
Portage #16, 36-Foot Falls
Portage #16 is used to bypass a cascading set of falls named 36-Foot Falls. The falls
cascade their way down a total vertical distance of 36 feet with the last drop being the most impressive. The portage trail is located on the river right and is approximately 200 meters long. The downstream entrance to the trail is located on a flat rock at GPS point (558830, 5584370).
Portage #17 Waba River to Waba Lk
Portage #17 is used to bypass a section of river that is impassable due to overhanging
trees. Trail goes from the Waba River to a beach on Waba Lake and utilizes an old
logging road for one of the trails. The trail is about 1.2 km long and located on the river right side. The downstream entrance to the portage trail is located at GPS point (550100, 5580440). This beach has excellent camping and swimming opportunities.
Portage #18
Portage #18 is used to travel from Waba Lake into Nancy Lake and is approximately 800 meters long. It utilizes an old logging road for part of the trail and then crosses a current logging road before you descend down the bank to Nancy Lake. The Waba Lake entrance is located at GPS point (539200, 5575770) and the Nancy Lake side of the portage is located at GPS point (538780, 5575950).
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO END YOUR TRIP HERE ON THE WABA ROAD.
Portage #19
Portage #19 is the longest portage on the trip at a distance of 2 km and is used to
portage between Nancy Lake and Jamie Lake. There is also a couple of old logging roads in this area that can be used to portage on but are very wet. This portage is very seldom used and the trail is often rough. This portage crosses between the Waba River drainage (Nancy Lake) into the Squaw River drainage (Jamie Lake). The Nancy Lake side of the portage can be found at GPS point (537540, 5575680) and the Jamie Lake side of the portage can be found at GPS point (535710, 5575230).
THIS PORT IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AND VERY ROUGH. NOT RECOMMENDED
Portage #20
Portage #20 is the last portage of the trip. It is used to bypass an old bridge over the
river, some rapids and a narrow spot blocked by trees. The portage is about 250 meters long and utilizes an old logging road. The downstream side of the portage trail is located at GPS point (527000, 5569720).
NOTE: The term “river left” always refers to the downstream left hand side of the
river, just as “river right” always refers to the downstream right hand side of the river. These terms remain the same even when traveling upstream.
Lower Twin Lake is an excellent location to start your trip down the Drowning River. It is located on the Lower Twin Lake side of the river that connects Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, GPS point (530190, 5555760). A local outfitter operates a camp ground at this location for those wishing to spend the night and get a fresh start the following morning.
You can also start your adventure at the river exit of Lower Twin Lake. This is outlined as “Start 2” on the map inside. You can travel from Nakina using either the Waba or Twin Lake Road. These logging roads are gravel and cross the river at the top of Lower Twin Lake. Please take when travelling these operating logging roads.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS REQUIRED
It is highly recommended canoeists supplement this brochure with the National Topographic Series Maps as outlined below:
National Topographic Series Maps
1:50000
Grant 42L/1
Nakina 42L/2
Esnagami Lake 42L/7
Wababimiga Lake 42L/8
ROUTE TESTIMONIAL
"The Drowning River has been renowned for its Speckled Trout fishery for over a century. Famous Northen Ontario guide, Emile Cote, loved this river, and for good reason: beautiful campsites and portages, lots of fastwater and rapids make this trip a wilderness canoeist’s dream.
The campsite at Jack Pine Portage is one of the most astonishing stands of old jack pines I have ever seen.
Most canoeists will end this trip at the first portage on the Wababimiga River. A portage leads out to the Supawn Lake road where pickup can occur.
Travel up the Wababimiga River to Wababimiga Lake is only recommended if
you have a strong grasp of poling canoes, as the current is quite stiff.
Waba lake is the stomping ground of the famous Vanderbeck family, written about by Stephen Meader in “Trap-Lines North”, and the sense of history in this area is strong. A fishing rod is a must for this trip. You will be hard pressed to find a river with more specs than the Drowning.”
Rob Haslam runs the Outers Wilderness Canoe Club at the Geraldton Composite High School.
Drowning River Canoe Route : 14-Day Trip
Portage #1
The upstream side of portage #1 is located on the river left side at GPS point
536390, 5560120). The portage is approximately 215 meters long and is
used to bypass a shallow rocky section of the river. This section can be run depending on paddler skill level or even lined or walked through during lower water.
Portage #2
Portage #2 is used bypass a short run of rapids. The 140 meter trail is located on
the river right.
Portage #3, High Hill Portage
Portage #3 is located on the river right side and is used to bypass a set of narrow, steep long set of rapids. The upstream side of the portage is located at GPS point (542770, 5560170). The total length of the portage is about 360 meters. Called High Hill Portage, the first part of the trail is steep. At the top of this trail is a nice campsite in a jack pine stand. From the campsite, it is all downhill to the end of the trail.
Portage #4
Portage #4 is located on the river left side and is approximately 100 meters long. It
is used to bypass a wide section of rapids with 2 islands in the middle. The
upstream side of the portage is located at GPS point (544520, 5560990). This
section of rapids can be run depending on paddler skill. It can also be lined very
easily and waded during low water. The best route is between the 2 small islands.
Portage #5
Portage #5 is located at the end of the Southern arm of the lake. The trail is used to bypass a narrow section of rapids that often has log jams. The trail is located off the river left side and is about 320 meters long. The upstream entrance of the portage trail is located at GPS point (547480, 5560770). The downstream side of the trail is located on a flat rock, perfect for a lunch stop.
Portage #6
The second shortest portage trail on the trip, portage #6 is used to bypass a log jam in the river on a sharp bend. This log jam is created by the sharp bend in the river and has been there for many years. The portage trail is approximately 50 meters long and is located on the river right side. The upstream entrance is located at GPS point (548730, 5561430).
Portage #7
Portage #7 is located at the far Northeast end of Relief Lake and is used to bypass 2
sets of rapids. The portage trail is located on the river left side and is about 335
meters long. The upstream entrance to the portage trail is located at GPS point
(553780, 5567660).
Portage #8, Jack Pine Portage
Portage #8 is named Jack Pine Portage because it is used to bypass the Jack Pine
Rapids named after the large stand of jack pine at the head of the rapids. The
upstream entrance to the portage trail is located on the river left side at GPS point
(558920, 5569090). The trail is about 400 meters in length. At the head of the trail
is a beautiful camp site in the jack pine flats. Look at the plaque on the tree as it
has been erected in honor of an old portage #10 and is used to bypass a small
section of rapids that sometimes has a small log jam. The trail is about 100
meters long and is located on the river right side in a low black spruce, cedar
area. The upstream entrance to the trail is located at GPS point (562430,
571370).
Portage #10, Tin Can Portage
Slightly down river from portage #9 is Tin Can Rapids and the Tin Can Portage. Tin
Can Rapids is a long, narrow cascading set of rapids. The origin of the name “Tin
Can” is unknown however people over the years have left tin pots at the camp site.
The campsite which is located on top of the hill at the start of the portage is small
and probably only has room for 1 or 2 tents. The upstream entrance of the trail
is located on the river right side at GPS point (562930, 5572500). The trail is
about 350 meters long and passes through an over mature forested area with
lots of balsam into a thick black spruce area before it goes back downhill to the
river.
Portage #11, Bald Rock Rapids
Portage # 11 bypasses Bald Rock Rapids, named appropriately because the whole
river runs off a large flat rock in the river. The portage is very short, less then 20
meters and there is an excellent campsite on the edge of the bald rock. The campsite
and portage trail is located on the river right side. The upstream entrance is at GPS point (564600, 5578160). The scenery at this campsite is spectacular and it makes you feel as if you were farther North somewhere along the coast of James Bay.
Portage #12
The trail is used to bypass 2 sets of big rapids and is approximately 380 meters
long. At the end of the trail is an excellent campsite that looks over the second
set of rapids and the pool below. The trail is on the river left side located at GPS
point (562640, 5585370).
Portage #13
From the downstream entrance of portage #12 you can see the portage sign for
portage #13 directly across the pool below the rapids. The portage trail is found on the river left side at the GPS point (562450, 5585580). The trail is approximately 200 meters long and is used to bypass a set of rapids. These rapids are runable depending on skill level.
Portage #14
Portage #14 is located just upstream from where the Drowning River and Waba River intersect. Portage #14 is used to bypass a large set of rapids with an island in the middle. The portage trail is located on the upstream side on the river left side and is about 280 meters long. The upstream side is located at GPS point (560990,
5586960). On the Northwest side of this intersection, is a campsite that once was
the site of an old trappers cabin.
Portage #15
Portage #15 is used to bypass a log jam in the river. The trail on the river left side
is about 160 meters long. The downstream entrance of the trail is located at GPS point (560370, 5587000).
Portage #16, 36-Foot Falls
Portage #16 is used to bypass a cascading set of falls named 36-Foot Falls. The falls
cascade their way down a total vertical distance of 36 feet with the last drop being the most impressive. The portage trail is located on the river right and is approximately 200 meters long. The downstream entrance to the trail is located on a flat rock at GPS point (558830, 5584370).
Portage #17 Waba River to Waba Lk
Portage #17 is used to bypass a section of river that is impassable due to overhanging
trees. Trail goes from the Waba River to a beach on Waba Lake and utilizes an old
logging road for one of the trails. The trail is about 1.2 km long and located on the river right side. The downstream entrance to the portage trail is located at GPS point (550100, 5580440). This beach has excellent camping and swimming opportunities.
Portage #18
Portage #18 is used to travel from Waba Lake into Nancy Lake and is approximately 800 meters long. It utilizes an old logging road for part of the trail and then crosses a current logging road before you descend down the bank to Nancy Lake. The Waba Lake entrance is located at GPS point (539200, 5575770) and the Nancy Lake side of the portage is located at GPS point (538780, 5575950).
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO END YOUR TRIP HERE ON THE WABA ROAD.
Portage #19
Portage #19 is the longest portage on the trip at a distance of 2 km and is used to
portage between Nancy Lake and Jamie Lake. There is also a couple of old logging roads in this area that can be used to portage on but are very wet. This portage is very seldom used and the trail is often rough. This portage crosses between the Waba River drainage (Nancy Lake) into the Squaw River drainage (Jamie Lake). The Nancy Lake side of the portage can be found at GPS point (537540, 5575680) and the Jamie Lake side of the portage can be found at GPS point (535710, 5575230).
THIS PORT IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AND VERY ROUGH. NOT RECOMMENDED
Portage #20
Portage #20 is the last portage of the trip. It is used to bypass an old bridge over the
river, some rapids and a narrow spot blocked by trees. The portage is about 250 meters long and utilizes an old logging road. The downstream side of the portage trail is located at GPS point (527000, 5569720).
NOTE: The term “river left” always refers to the downstream left hand side of the
river, just as “river right” always refers to the downstream right hand side of the river. These terms remain the same even when traveling upstream.
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