HOW TO FIND THE ROUTE
The access to Dickison Lake is located approximately 75 kilometers South of the
community of Geraldton.
Starting at the intersection of Michael Power Boulevard and Highway 11, travel West for 4.5 kilometers and turn south on the Goldfield Road.
The next 63 kilometers are on a gravel logging road and caution should be taken as you travel down this road.
Turn West at Trio Road and follow it for 7 kilometers.
Use the UTM coordinates from the topographical map to help locate the beginning
of the portage into Dickison Lake.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS REQUIRED
It is highly recommended canoeist supplement this brochure with the National Topographic Series Maps as outlined below:
National Topographic Series Maps
1:50000
Dickison Lake 42E/3
Wintering Lake 42E/6
Wildgoose Lake 42E/11
Geraldton Lake 42E/10
ROUTE TESTIMONIAL
“This is a challenging trip with lots of rewards. Isolated lakes and rivers within a
one hour drive of Geraldton make this trip one of my favorites.
The starting point at Dickison Lake is worthy of a day or two of exploring. A bushwack on a bearing from the back of the campsite will bring you to the headwaters of the Gravel River, and a spectacular falls that very few people have ever seen.
A rare Blue Heron Rookery overlooks the head of the first port. A series of small lakes lead the headwaters of the Kenogamisis river. The last two or three days of this
trip has an excellent s e r i e s of rapids for the experienced white water canoeist.
Walleye fishing in Wintering and Gamsby Lakes is excellent, as it is in the river.
And of course, one of the best features of this trip is that you can paddle right back into the community of Geraldton, ending your trip at the Geraldton Waterfront.
This is an exciting 10-12 day trip that has many alternate starting and ending points!”
Rob Haslam runs the Outers Wilderness Canoe Club at Geraldton Composite
High School.
DICKISON TO GERALDTON CANOE ROUTE : 10-12-Day Trip
Portage #1
Around: The portage brings you to start of route.
From: Trio Road to Dickison Lake.
Location: UTM (0480420, 5447619)
Trail: Over grown logging road used by quads.
Length: 1.5 kilometers
Portage #2
From: Dickison Lake to a pond
Trail: Steep trail
Landing: Rocky
Launching: Poor
Length: 200 meters
Portage #3
From: One small pond to another
Trail: Dry and hilly
Length: 85 meters
Portage #4
From: Small pond to Ensign Lake
Trail: Dry and hilly
Length: 300 meters
Portage #5
From: Ensign Lake to Kamuck Lake
Trail: Follows old bush road along river right
Length: 1000 meters
Portage # 6
From: Kamuck Lake to Pond 1
Location: North end of Kamuck Lake
Trail: Dry, rocky
Landing: Swampy, bushy, 3-4 canoes
Launching: Rocky, shallow, 2 canoes
Length: 100 meters
Portage # 7
From: Pond 1 to Keane Lake
Location: North end of pond 1
Trail: Mostly dry, through slash
Landing: Rocky, good, several canoes
Launching: Rocky, good, several canoes
Length: 500 meters
Other: Cross creek over rock bridge, follow trail along north east side of creek.
Portage # 8
From: Pond 2 to Pond 3
Location: Northeast end of pond 2
Trail: Dry at the start however turns into mucky swamp.
Landing: Good, swampy, holds many canoes.
Launching: Rocky, swampy, holds 2-3 canoes
Length: 460 meters
Other: Swampy area is not pleasant.
Portage # 9
Around: Shallow water, creek running into Toupee
From: South end of Pond 3
Location: Northwest corner of pond 3
Trail: Large burn area with several hills.
Mostly dry with a few wet holes.
Landing: Rocky, 2-3 canoes
Launching: Swampy, 2-3 canoes
Length: 890 meters
Other: Windfall requires removal each year due to deadfall from fire.
Portage # 10
Around: Rapids at the North end of Gamsby.
From: Wintering Lake resort dock.
Location: Dock
Trail: Gravel Road
Landing: Several Canoes
Launching: Grassy bank by cottage, several canoes.
Length: 400 meters
Other: Rent a cabin for the night!
Portage # 11
Around: Series of Rapids.
From: Steep Trail before rapids.
Location: River right, short paddle from previous portage.
Trail: Dry with several steep hills.
Landing: Several canoes. Eddy after short rapid
Launching: Eddy, several canoes.
Length: 459 meters
Other: Must make eddy river right is start of port.
Portage # 12
Around: Series of rapids, extending past bridge on Goldfield
From: Eddy at head of large rapids
Location: River left
Trail: Dry trail through bush, changing into bush road.
Landing: Sandy, 2-3 canoes
Launching: River bank, downhill, several canoes
Length: 1.8 kilometers
Other: Follow portage trail to Goldfield Road, continue South on Goldfield Road, turn east onto bush road before bridge.
Portage #13
Around: Series of rapids
From: Old dam at Northwest end of Finlayson Lake
Location: River left, either from the dam, or if water permits, paddle 100 meters to
portage sign, river left.
Trail: Dry and hilly.
Landing: Several canoes.
Launching: Bay with several canoes.
Length: 900 meters
Portage #14
Around: Rapids
Location: River left, head of rapids
Trail: good and dry
Landing: Good, river bank, several canoes.
Launching: Good, steep gravel hill
Length: 150 meters
Portage #15
Around: Rapids
Location: River left, head of rapids
Trail: Cedar swamp
Length: 450 meters
Portage #16
Around: Rapids
Location: River left, head of rapids
Trail: Good with wet spots
Landing: Good for three canoes
Launching: River bank
Length: 600 meters
Portage #17
Around: Rapids
From: Marilyn Lake
Location: Old bridge on Marilyn Lake
Trail: Good bush road
Landing: Old bridge with room for 2-3 canoes
Launching: Steep gravel hill on downhill slope
Length: 300 meters
Other: Campsite at the end
Campsite # 1
Location: Kamuck Lake, south shore, at river exit, blown out bridge and old bush
road
Landing: Good and large
Space: Large grassy clearing on east side of river
Other: Road leads to Goldfield
Campsite #2
Location: Keane Lake, south west shore, jack pine stand
Landing: Rock and bush
Space: Separate sites located behind shore (inland)
Other: Sheltered however few flat areas
Campsite #3
Location: Toupee Lake West shore
Landing: Rock shelves
Space: Sufficient, several uphill levels
Campsite # 4
Location: Wintering Lake, South end, first point after river
Landing: Sandy beach
Space: Sufficient, well sheltered
Other: Good site
Campsite #5
Location: Gamsby Lake, extreme North end, West shore below final North bay.
Landing: Sandy shore with grass between jack pine
Space: Cleared area between jack pine, well sheltered
Other: Excellent location
Campsite #6
Location: Mid way through port #12
Landing: Large eddy
Space: Large clearing before Goldfield Road
Other: Lots of bugs
Campsite # 7
Location: Northeast shore of Finlayson Lake
Landing: Large
Space: Large clearing
Campsite #8
Location: North end of Wallace Lake by exit of river
Landing: Large sandy
Space: Room for several tents
Other: Beautiful site.
Campsite #9
Location: Old log chute abutments on river
Landing: River bank
Space: Old bush road with large clearing
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.
The access to Dickison Lake is located approximately 75 kilometers South of the
community of Geraldton.
Starting at the intersection of Michael Power Boulevard and Highway 11, travel West for 4.5 kilometers and turn south on the Goldfield Road.
The next 63 kilometers are on a gravel logging road and caution should be taken as you travel down this road.
Turn West at Trio Road and follow it for 7 kilometers.
Use the UTM coordinates from the topographical map to help locate the beginning
of the portage into Dickison Lake.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS REQUIRED
It is highly recommended canoeist supplement this brochure with the National Topographic Series Maps as outlined below:
National Topographic Series Maps
1:50000
Dickison Lake 42E/3
Wintering Lake 42E/6
Wildgoose Lake 42E/11
Geraldton Lake 42E/10
ROUTE TESTIMONIAL
“This is a challenging trip with lots of rewards. Isolated lakes and rivers within a
one hour drive of Geraldton make this trip one of my favorites.
The starting point at Dickison Lake is worthy of a day or two of exploring. A bushwack on a bearing from the back of the campsite will bring you to the headwaters of the Gravel River, and a spectacular falls that very few people have ever seen.
A rare Blue Heron Rookery overlooks the head of the first port. A series of small lakes lead the headwaters of the Kenogamisis river. The last two or three days of this
trip has an excellent s e r i e s of rapids for the experienced white water canoeist.
Walleye fishing in Wintering and Gamsby Lakes is excellent, as it is in the river.
And of course, one of the best features of this trip is that you can paddle right back into the community of Geraldton, ending your trip at the Geraldton Waterfront.
This is an exciting 10-12 day trip that has many alternate starting and ending points!”
Rob Haslam runs the Outers Wilderness Canoe Club at Geraldton Composite
High School.
DICKISON TO GERALDTON CANOE ROUTE : 10-12-Day Trip
Portage #1
Around: The portage brings you to start of route.
From: Trio Road to Dickison Lake.
Location: UTM (0480420, 5447619)
Trail: Over grown logging road used by quads.
Length: 1.5 kilometers
Portage #2
From: Dickison Lake to a pond
Trail: Steep trail
Landing: Rocky
Launching: Poor
Length: 200 meters
Portage #3
From: One small pond to another
Trail: Dry and hilly
Length: 85 meters
Portage #4
From: Small pond to Ensign Lake
Trail: Dry and hilly
Length: 300 meters
Portage #5
From: Ensign Lake to Kamuck Lake
Trail: Follows old bush road along river right
Length: 1000 meters
Portage # 6
From: Kamuck Lake to Pond 1
Location: North end of Kamuck Lake
Trail: Dry, rocky
Landing: Swampy, bushy, 3-4 canoes
Launching: Rocky, shallow, 2 canoes
Length: 100 meters
Portage # 7
From: Pond 1 to Keane Lake
Location: North end of pond 1
Trail: Mostly dry, through slash
Landing: Rocky, good, several canoes
Launching: Rocky, good, several canoes
Length: 500 meters
Other: Cross creek over rock bridge, follow trail along north east side of creek.
Portage # 8
From: Pond 2 to Pond 3
Location: Northeast end of pond 2
Trail: Dry at the start however turns into mucky swamp.
Landing: Good, swampy, holds many canoes.
Launching: Rocky, swampy, holds 2-3 canoes
Length: 460 meters
Other: Swampy area is not pleasant.
Portage # 9
Around: Shallow water, creek running into Toupee
From: South end of Pond 3
Location: Northwest corner of pond 3
Trail: Large burn area with several hills.
Mostly dry with a few wet holes.
Landing: Rocky, 2-3 canoes
Launching: Swampy, 2-3 canoes
Length: 890 meters
Other: Windfall requires removal each year due to deadfall from fire.
Portage # 10
Around: Rapids at the North end of Gamsby.
From: Wintering Lake resort dock.
Location: Dock
Trail: Gravel Road
Landing: Several Canoes
Launching: Grassy bank by cottage, several canoes.
Length: 400 meters
Other: Rent a cabin for the night!
Portage # 11
Around: Series of Rapids.
From: Steep Trail before rapids.
Location: River right, short paddle from previous portage.
Trail: Dry with several steep hills.
Landing: Several canoes. Eddy after short rapid
Launching: Eddy, several canoes.
Length: 459 meters
Other: Must make eddy river right is start of port.
Portage # 12
Around: Series of rapids, extending past bridge on Goldfield
From: Eddy at head of large rapids
Location: River left
Trail: Dry trail through bush, changing into bush road.
Landing: Sandy, 2-3 canoes
Launching: River bank, downhill, several canoes
Length: 1.8 kilometers
Other: Follow portage trail to Goldfield Road, continue South on Goldfield Road, turn east onto bush road before bridge.
Portage #13
Around: Series of rapids
From: Old dam at Northwest end of Finlayson Lake
Location: River left, either from the dam, or if water permits, paddle 100 meters to
portage sign, river left.
Trail: Dry and hilly.
Landing: Several canoes.
Launching: Bay with several canoes.
Length: 900 meters
Portage #14
Around: Rapids
Location: River left, head of rapids
Trail: good and dry
Landing: Good, river bank, several canoes.
Launching: Good, steep gravel hill
Length: 150 meters
Portage #15
Around: Rapids
Location: River left, head of rapids
Trail: Cedar swamp
Length: 450 meters
Portage #16
Around: Rapids
Location: River left, head of rapids
Trail: Good with wet spots
Landing: Good for three canoes
Launching: River bank
Length: 600 meters
Portage #17
Around: Rapids
From: Marilyn Lake
Location: Old bridge on Marilyn Lake
Trail: Good bush road
Landing: Old bridge with room for 2-3 canoes
Launching: Steep gravel hill on downhill slope
Length: 300 meters
Other: Campsite at the end
Campsite # 1
Location: Kamuck Lake, south shore, at river exit, blown out bridge and old bush
road
Landing: Good and large
Space: Large grassy clearing on east side of river
Other: Road leads to Goldfield
Campsite #2
Location: Keane Lake, south west shore, jack pine stand
Landing: Rock and bush
Space: Separate sites located behind shore (inland)
Other: Sheltered however few flat areas
Campsite #3
Location: Toupee Lake West shore
Landing: Rock shelves
Space: Sufficient, several uphill levels
Campsite # 4
Location: Wintering Lake, South end, first point after river
Landing: Sandy beach
Space: Sufficient, well sheltered
Other: Good site
Campsite #5
Location: Gamsby Lake, extreme North end, West shore below final North bay.
Landing: Sandy shore with grass between jack pine
Space: Cleared area between jack pine, well sheltered
Other: Excellent location
Campsite #6
Location: Mid way through port #12
Landing: Large eddy
Space: Large clearing before Goldfield Road
Other: Lots of bugs
Campsite # 7
Location: Northeast shore of Finlayson Lake
Landing: Large
Space: Large clearing
Campsite #8
Location: North end of Wallace Lake by exit of river
Landing: Large sandy
Space: Room for several tents
Other: Beautiful site.
Campsite #9
Location: Old log chute abutments on river
Landing: River bank
Space: Old bush road with large clearing
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.
RSS Feed