Daytripper: Into the woods

Every week BayToday.ca contributor Bill Walton provides a daytrip idea. This week Bill ventures out to South River, but not that part most people see.

South River is one of the few towns that have not yet been by-passed by Hwy 11 south. Most people don’t stop unless the traffic light at Ottawa Street is red or they need fuel. South River is quietly booming as the Muskoka overflow creeps inevitably north. Rene’s Café is on the corner, a haven for excellent music that some North Bay folks have already discovered. The Shell station sits beside the place for great butter tarts if the body and the car both need refuelling.

The South River Festival of the Arts attracts many well-known area artists every year. This year, the 7th Annual Festival runs from August 12 to 15th. But it is not the town that is our destination – it is the country to the east, towards Algonquin Park.

I recently met a father and son from Switzerland who wanted to drive through the park, but not on Hwy 60. They wanted to see the ‘real’ park. I had a hard time explaining that the park was mostly uninhabited except on the main highway – there was no network of roads inside the park. This week’s trip would have been an excellent ride for them – or anyone else who seeks peace and quiet in the forest far from the maddening crowd.

We exit Hwy 11 at Trout Creek at and the junction of Hwy 522 we turn left at the General Store.

Over the CNR tracks we turn right onto Forestry Road, leaving pavement behind as we head into the hinterland. There are numerous turnoffs to camps on unseen lakes but soon these last signs of civilization disappear.

A typical lake runs right along the road, and although I had seen turtles sunbathing here before, none were out this day.

The forest is mixed with many hardwoods and this trip is particularly pretty in the fall when the maples have turned red.
Glimpses of lakes through the trees warrant a slow pace as you look for photo opportunities.

The goldenrod were out in full bloom making a sharp contrast with the blues of the lake in the background.

The first well-used road to the left (red on the map) will take you towards the park.

There are a few cottages along the lakes here but you still have the sense that you are getting into the deep forest.

A small lake filled with reeds and water lilies said ‘moose’ to me so I stopped right where a large moose had left a track that was still fresh. My tracking skills noted the bent weed stem that had not dried – somewhere that big moose was watching me – I could feel it!

I turned around at the place where two lakes are
joined by a small creek.

I could see some fingerling trout sunning along the rocks, but I was struck by the absolute clearness of the water

Back on the Forestry Road I continued south towards South River. There are many small lakes along the way – some I’m sure without names, so apply your own names (but please, not another Trout Lake!). On the left is Camp Wendigo, formerly Camp D.A.R.E.

This used to be a camp for young males with drug problems where they learned to cope for themselves, but has changed into an ‘open-custody’ facility now that accepts young adults males who need help (see website).

A few kilometres past Wendigo is the main road leading into Algonquin Park. This is an optional side trip – or perhaps a trip for another day. The road into South River soon becomes paved and more and more homes appear. There are properties for sale and no doubt the escapees from Toronto will soon own them.

As you return to North Bay along the new section of 4 lane highway you can now look east towards those big rolling hills and say to yourself – I know what’s behind those hills!

The Forestry Road and the side trips are in good gravel condition. The paved section coming into South River is winding – a great ride for motorcyclists.
Total Distance: 165 kms round trip. Time for the trip – all the time in the world.

Links: www.southriverarts.com;

www.southriverontario.com;

www.projectdare.com.