HOW TO FIND THE ROUTE
The Namewanikan canoe route can be accessed at a number of locations along the route. The two most popular are the Wildgoose Lake Beach and the Kinghorn Road.
Wildgoose Beach Entrance: Travel 20 kilometers West of Geraldton to the Wildgoose Beach Road. Turn North and follow the road for 2 kilometers to
the beach turnoff on your left. There is ample parking and the beautiful beach offers an opportunity to have a quick swim prior to embarking on your trip.
Kinghorn Road: Travel 55 kilometers West of Geraldton to the Kinghorn Road. Turn North and follow the road for 14 kilometers to the river. You can access the river at the bridge.
You could also start at the Highway 801 bridge or off Highway 801 at Paint Lake.
Your shuttle vehicle can be stored at Poplar Lodge Park in Beardmore.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS REQUIRED
It is highly recommended canoeist supplement this brochure with the National Topographic Series Maps as outlined below:
1:50000
Wildgoose Lake 42E/11
Beardmore 42E/12
Northwind 42E/14
Treptow Creek 42E/14
Shakespeare Island52H/9E
ROUTE TESTIMONIAL
“Canada’s boreal forest is an awe-inspiring place to be. Stretching from coast to coast
across the north, it is like a vast green halo or belt of virtually pristine forests, lakes and rivers. And right in the middle of it all are the riverssurrounding Lake Nipigon. I fondly remember my 2004 Namewaminikan River voyage and I think that it ranks right up there for great boreal scenery and easy pool and drop whitewater. As I travelled the river I marvelled at the jet black spruces sculpting the skyline, feasted on hatfuls of blueberries, trembled at the roar of a falls and admired the
multi-green thick moss stretching down to water edge. Not only is it stunning
scenery but our Canadian boreal lands are unique and important filters for the entire planet. And what better way to journey through this wild and rugged land and see the amazing beauty of this last true wilderness than from a canoe.”
Becky Mason, 2004
Becky Mason is an artist, environmentalist and canoeing instructor based in Chelsea, Quebec. She acquired her paddling skills and her passion for canoes from her father, Bill Mason. Her artwork has been displayed in a wide array of exhibitions and galleries in Ontario and Quebec. Becky has contributed to several canoeing books, produced an award-winning video entitled Classic Solo Canoeing, and
travels frequently presenting slide shows and sharing her love of the wild. Her artwork, Classic Solo Canoeing courses, speaking schedule and video can be found on her website: www.redcanoes.ca
NAMEWAMINIKAN CANOE ROUTE:
Wildgoose 8 Days - Partridge 6 Days - Kinghorn 5 Days
Portage #1
Around: Long series of rapids between Turkey Lake and Partridge Lake.
Landing: River left just before final bend by the railway tracks
Launching: Rocky, room for several canoes
Length: 1.6 kilometers
Other: A nasty port that follows an old bush road in many places with lots of new
growth. Some wet areas as well.
Portage #2
Around: Kinghorn Falls; Northwest end of Partridge Lake
Landing: River right, just before falls, large open space.
Launching: Steep narrow rocky launch directly below falls.
Length: 10 meters
Other: The launch is particularly difficult with the wet slippery rocks.
Portage #3
Around: Rapids and small falls
Landing: River left just before small falls
Launching: Small beach at bottom of falls
Length: 50 meters
Other: Extremely scenic
Portage #4
Around: Large falls
Landing: Grassy bank river left just before falls.
Launching: Steep rocky launch on narrow left canyon after falls
Length: 40 meters
Other: Port continues directly across large clearing overlooking falls
Portage #5
Around: Easy C1 rapids that ends in a large dangerous shelf that spans the
entire width of the river.
Landing: Grassy bank, river right, just before swift water starts
Launching: Rocky shelf river right downstream of bridge
Length: 350 meters
Other: Trail follows old treeplanting corridor to a large camping area just before
the road. Trail continues on other side of road down to river below bridge.
Spectacular shelf stretching approximately 100 meters of river.
Portage #6
Around: Lengthy set of rapids
Landing: Extreme river left corner just before rapids
Launching: Cedar bank, follow down from road
Length: 500 meters
Other: Follow port to gravel road, follow road for 400 meters, cut back down to
river
Portage #7
Around: Chute through a small gorge
Landing: Steep grassy bank, river left
Launching: Rocky cedar stand at bottom of chute
Length: 50 meters
Other: Chute is easy C1
Portage #8
Around: Martin Rapids, lengthy set of C1’s
Landing: River left, natural gully off gravel road
Launching: Natural gully off gravel road leading down to river.
Length: 600 meters
Portage #9
Around: Twin Falls, a large falls with two stages
Landing: River right, grassy bank
Launching: Wide gravel, rocky space below falls
Length: 500 meters
Other: Very scenic spot with nice campsite overlooking second stage of falls
Portage #10
Around: Chute through small gorge
Landing: River right, muddy bank below large cedar close to chute
Launching: Follow rock shelves to pool below chute
Length: 220 meters
Other: Chute is runnable, but proceed with caution, its only 10 feet wide
Portage #11
Around: Lengthy set of C2 + rapids
Landing: River left, rocky shelf before rapids
Launching: End of road at reservoir
Length: 1.2 kilometers
Other: Follow old bush road from river out to main gravel road. Walk down gravel
road to first right hand split, approx 1 kilometer and follow spit down to water.
Portage #12
Around: High falls hydro dam
Landing: Gravel boat launch, river left before hydro dam.
Launching: River left side of hydro dam where creek runs in beside cliff face.
Length: 200 meters
Other: Follow road that leads downhill from boat launch. The dam only utilizes
one side of the falls. Once you get on the river, you will be able to see and imagine
how spectacular this falls once was.
Campsite #1
A large raised gravel site on river right at the mouth of Wildgoose Creek.
Campsite #2
A sheltered Jack Pine stand at the end of the Northwest bay of Partridge Lake.
Campsite #3
A sheltered site on an old bush road on the south side of Coral Lake.
Campsite #4
Several sheltered spots along the portage beside the small falls.
Campsite #5
Beautiful camping site under a huge pine tree. Located at the North corner of
beach in East bay of Expansion Lake.
Campsite #6
Hunting camp at the end of Paint Lake. Nice sheltered spot.
Campsite #7
Nice open campsite in middle of portage around the falls.
Campsite #8
Large open area just before bridge and road along Portage #5.
Campsite #9
Ridge overlooking twin falls. Extremely scenic, but only room for two tents. A
trail leads back from the main portage trail at the bottom of the ridge to the campsite, located just above the second falls.
Campsite #10
Two spots are available here. If the water is not high, there is a sand spit at the
mouth of Lake Nipigon on river left. There is also a very steep trail from the
sand pit that leads to a large grassy lookoff. If one can manage this trail, the view
of a sunset on Lake Nipigon is stunning.
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 Namewanikan canoe route can be accessed at a number of locations along the route. The two most popular are the Wildgoose Lake Beach and the Kinghorn Road.
Wildgoose Beach Entrance: Travel 20 kilometers West of Geraldton to the Wildgoose Beach Road. Turn North and follow the road for 2 kilometers to
the beach turnoff on your left. There is ample parking and the beautiful beach offers an opportunity to have a quick swim prior to embarking on your trip.
Kinghorn Road: Travel 55 kilometers West of Geraldton to the Kinghorn Road. Turn North and follow the road for 14 kilometers to the river. You can access the river at the bridge.
You could also start at the Highway 801 bridge or off Highway 801 at Paint Lake.
Your shuttle vehicle can be stored at Poplar Lodge Park in Beardmore.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS REQUIRED
It is highly recommended canoeist supplement this brochure with the National Topographic Series Maps as outlined below:
1:50000
Wildgoose Lake 42E/11
Beardmore 42E/12
Northwind 42E/14
Treptow Creek 42E/14
Shakespeare Island52H/9E
ROUTE TESTIMONIAL
“Canada’s boreal forest is an awe-inspiring place to be. Stretching from coast to coast
across the north, it is like a vast green halo or belt of virtually pristine forests, lakes and rivers. And right in the middle of it all are the riverssurrounding Lake Nipigon. I fondly remember my 2004 Namewaminikan River voyage and I think that it ranks right up there for great boreal scenery and easy pool and drop whitewater. As I travelled the river I marvelled at the jet black spruces sculpting the skyline, feasted on hatfuls of blueberries, trembled at the roar of a falls and admired the
multi-green thick moss stretching down to water edge. Not only is it stunning
scenery but our Canadian boreal lands are unique and important filters for the entire planet. And what better way to journey through this wild and rugged land and see the amazing beauty of this last true wilderness than from a canoe.”
Becky Mason, 2004
Becky Mason is an artist, environmentalist and canoeing instructor based in Chelsea, Quebec. She acquired her paddling skills and her passion for canoes from her father, Bill Mason. Her artwork has been displayed in a wide array of exhibitions and galleries in Ontario and Quebec. Becky has contributed to several canoeing books, produced an award-winning video entitled Classic Solo Canoeing, and
travels frequently presenting slide shows and sharing her love of the wild. Her artwork, Classic Solo Canoeing courses, speaking schedule and video can be found on her website: www.redcanoes.ca
NAMEWAMINIKAN CANOE ROUTE:
Wildgoose 8 Days - Partridge 6 Days - Kinghorn 5 Days
Portage #1
Around: Long series of rapids between Turkey Lake and Partridge Lake.
Landing: River left just before final bend by the railway tracks
Launching: Rocky, room for several canoes
Length: 1.6 kilometers
Other: A nasty port that follows an old bush road in many places with lots of new
growth. Some wet areas as well.
Portage #2
Around: Kinghorn Falls; Northwest end of Partridge Lake
Landing: River right, just before falls, large open space.
Launching: Steep narrow rocky launch directly below falls.
Length: 10 meters
Other: The launch is particularly difficult with the wet slippery rocks.
Portage #3
Around: Rapids and small falls
Landing: River left just before small falls
Launching: Small beach at bottom of falls
Length: 50 meters
Other: Extremely scenic
Portage #4
Around: Large falls
Landing: Grassy bank river left just before falls.
Launching: Steep rocky launch on narrow left canyon after falls
Length: 40 meters
Other: Port continues directly across large clearing overlooking falls
Portage #5
Around: Easy C1 rapids that ends in a large dangerous shelf that spans the
entire width of the river.
Landing: Grassy bank, river right, just before swift water starts
Launching: Rocky shelf river right downstream of bridge
Length: 350 meters
Other: Trail follows old treeplanting corridor to a large camping area just before
the road. Trail continues on other side of road down to river below bridge.
Spectacular shelf stretching approximately 100 meters of river.
Portage #6
Around: Lengthy set of rapids
Landing: Extreme river left corner just before rapids
Launching: Cedar bank, follow down from road
Length: 500 meters
Other: Follow port to gravel road, follow road for 400 meters, cut back down to
river
Portage #7
Around: Chute through a small gorge
Landing: Steep grassy bank, river left
Launching: Rocky cedar stand at bottom of chute
Length: 50 meters
Other: Chute is easy C1
Portage #8
Around: Martin Rapids, lengthy set of C1’s
Landing: River left, natural gully off gravel road
Launching: Natural gully off gravel road leading down to river.
Length: 600 meters
Portage #9
Around: Twin Falls, a large falls with two stages
Landing: River right, grassy bank
Launching: Wide gravel, rocky space below falls
Length: 500 meters
Other: Very scenic spot with nice campsite overlooking second stage of falls
Portage #10
Around: Chute through small gorge
Landing: River right, muddy bank below large cedar close to chute
Launching: Follow rock shelves to pool below chute
Length: 220 meters
Other: Chute is runnable, but proceed with caution, its only 10 feet wide
Portage #11
Around: Lengthy set of C2 + rapids
Landing: River left, rocky shelf before rapids
Launching: End of road at reservoir
Length: 1.2 kilometers
Other: Follow old bush road from river out to main gravel road. Walk down gravel
road to first right hand split, approx 1 kilometer and follow spit down to water.
Portage #12
Around: High falls hydro dam
Landing: Gravel boat launch, river left before hydro dam.
Launching: River left side of hydro dam where creek runs in beside cliff face.
Length: 200 meters
Other: Follow road that leads downhill from boat launch. The dam only utilizes
one side of the falls. Once you get on the river, you will be able to see and imagine
how spectacular this falls once was.
Campsite #1
A large raised gravel site on river right at the mouth of Wildgoose Creek.
Campsite #2
A sheltered Jack Pine stand at the end of the Northwest bay of Partridge Lake.
Campsite #3
A sheltered site on an old bush road on the south side of Coral Lake.
Campsite #4
Several sheltered spots along the portage beside the small falls.
Campsite #5
Beautiful camping site under a huge pine tree. Located at the North corner of
beach in East bay of Expansion Lake.
Campsite #6
Hunting camp at the end of Paint Lake. Nice sheltered spot.
Campsite #7
Nice open campsite in middle of portage around the falls.
Campsite #8
Large open area just before bridge and road along Portage #5.
Campsite #9
Ridge overlooking twin falls. Extremely scenic, but only room for two tents. A
trail leads back from the main portage trail at the bottom of the ridge to the campsite, located just above the second falls.
Campsite #10
Two spots are available here. If the water is not high, there is a sand spit at the
mouth of Lake Nipigon on river left. There is also a very steep trail from the
sand pit that leads to a large grassy lookoff. If one can manage this trail, the view
of a sunset on Lake Nipigon is stunning.
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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