Site
Boundary Lake Route: North Otter Lake west to Rothwell Lake, west into Holleford Lake and north to Desert Lake, to Mitchell Creek, to Birch Lake to Kingsford Lake to Devil Lake to Big Clear Lake to Labelle Lake and back to the Big Salmon Lake boat launch.
Water
North Otter Lake, Rothwell Lake, Holleford Lake, Desert Lake, Mitchell Creek, Birch Lake, Kingsford Lake, Devil Lake, Big Clear Lake, Labelle Lake, Big Salmon Lake.
Getting There
The paddle begins from near the Trail Centre Office of Frontenac Provincial Park. Access to this is via Big Salmon Lake Road. Launch into North Otter lake.
Notes
Start your paddle in North Otter Lake, and go west to Rothwell Lake and continue west into Holleford Lake. From there go north to Desert Lake, then north and east to Mitchell Creek. The paddle time from the start to the bridge at the start of Mitchell Creek is approximately 4 to 5 hours. Continue on Mitchell Creek to campsite #7, in Frontenac Provincial Park, on Birch Lake. Paddle time from the Mitchell Creek bridge to campsite #7 is 1 hour. The paddle continues to campsite # 8 on Birch Lake. Paddle time from the Mitchell Creek bridge to campsite #8 is about 2 hours.
Continue to paddle north east to Kingsford Lake. There is a short portage required to go around Kingsford Dam at the far end of Kingsford Lake. From the dam, continue on to Devil Lake and eastward into Big Clear Lake.
The paddle continues south into Labelle Lake and then south west, back to the Big Salmon Lake Boat launch.
A branch paddle may be done from where you turn to go into Mitchell Lake. You can continue to the north corner of Desert Lake to gain entry into Canoe Lake.
Once in Birch Lake, you may take a branch off the main route east to the Little Salmon Lake portage. You can also go off the main route and north to the Clearwater Lake portage.
Continuing in Kingsford Lake the route goes north east to campsite # 11. Paddle time: 3 hrs. from bridge or 1 hr. from Kingsford Dam.
Continuing from the Kingsford Dam portage the paddle route goes around the south side of Devil Lake to campsite # 10. Paddle time: 2-3 hrs. from Kingsford Dam or 2 hrs. from Devil Lake Boat Launch or 4-5 hrs from Big Salmon Lake launch.
Continuing the above, main route from campsite #10 the route goes south connecting the Big Clear Lake portage and south to the Labelle Lake portage and finally back down Big Salmon Lake to finish at the boat launch at the end of the lake.
Other paddles from the main route on Devil Lake can be made
south to Moulton Lake, or north east through the big islands in Devil Lake to
Bedford Mills in the lakes north east corner. Another branch from near
campsite # 10 to the Hwy #10 Boat launch.
There are three Frontenac Provincial Park (FPP) campsite areas on this route, each with it's own toilet facilities.
! Area # 7 (see map): There are 4 separate campsites.
! Area # 8 (see map): There are 4 separate campsites.
! Area # 11 (see map): There are 4 separate campsites.
! Area # 10 (see map): There are 4 separate campsites.
This route involves various portages which range from easy to very difficult, as discussed below.
The portage from Birch Lake to Little Salmon Lake is a very difficult portage with two steep hills and 2 smaller hills.
! Birch Lake to Little Salmon Lake - 1138 meters (3,734 feet).
The portage from Birch Lake to Clearwater Lake is an average portage with 1 hill.
! Birch Lake to Clearwater Lake - 1003 meters (3,291 feet).
The portage from Hardwood Bay in Devil Lake to Big Clear Lake is a difficult portage with hills.
! Hardwood Bay in Devil Lake to Big Clear Lake - 898 meters (2,946 feet).
The portage from Big Clear Lake to Labelle Lake is average with a hill.
! Big Clear Lake to Labelle Lake - 190 meters (623 feet).
The portage from Labelle Lake back to Big Salmon Lake is easy with 1 hill.
! Labelle Lake to Big Salmon Lake - 491 meters (1,611 feet).
All campsites must be booked through the Frontenac Provincial Park office. Additional information on all park details may be found at the park office.
Sight Seeing
Apart from the spectacular wilderness sites, there are also some further items to see:
1. Near the launch point is the former site of the "Trails End" fishing lodge on Big Salmon Lake.
2. A little over half way between campsite number 3 and campsite number 4 on a point of land on the right side as you paddle towards campsite number 4, is Shingle Point where a shingle mill once operated in the 1800s.
3. The Frontenac Provincial Park Trail Centre at the confluence of North and South Otter Lake.
4. After leaving the portage from Birch Lake and entering Little Salmon Lake, there is the remains of a mica mine on the right hand site a short distance up from the portage.
5. A short distance past this mine is a lookout point.