Canyon Section Day Trip

The Canyon Section in the srping is one of Ontario's most scenic and challenging wild water runs. The river cuts down through the Canadian Shield as it approaches the Spanish River and the North Shore.  There are fine opportunities for both running and playing for wild water paddlers comfortable in class III, but advanced paddlers will find the Canyon Section's class IV sets uniquely challenging!

• Difficulty and cautions: no portages for class III rapids, many class IV rapids which can be portaged, overall challenge IV,suitable for advanced wild water paddlers; cold water, cold air, major rapids, rapids, waterfalls
• Base camp: old quarry 5k north of hydro line north of Massey on #553, grid reference 137234
• Maps: topographic 1:50,000: 41-J/8 Whiskey Lake, 41-J/1 Spanish; planometric 1:100,000: 41-J/SE Blind River
• Length and gradient: 10 kilometres, 6.2 miles, 1 day; .6%, 6m/km, 32ft/mile
• Put-in: base camp/old quarry 5k north of hydro line north of Massey on #553, grid reference 137234
• Camping: at put-in
• Take-out: major hydro line north of Massey on #553,grid reference 163203

Intermediate wild water trippers will enjoy the Falls Section is in the spring. The topography is typical of the rugged Canadian Shield, and the vegetation is mixed. Several scenic waterfalls and rapids must be carried, but portages are easily identifiable, and campsites are plentiful.

• Difficulty and cautions: no portages for class II rapids, several class III rapids which can be portaged, overall challenge II, suitable for intermediate trippers; cold water, cold air, waterfalls
• Base camp:  old quarry 5k north of hydro line north of Massey on #553, grid reference 137234
• Maps: topographic 1:50,000:  41-J/8 Whiskey Lake, 41-J/1 Spanish; planometric 1:100,000: 41-J/SE Blind River
• Length and gradient: 37 kilometres, 23 miles, 2 days (camp on river); .2%, 2m/km, 10.5ft/mile
• Put-in:  forks bridge near East Bull Lake 25 km north of base camp/old quarry take out, grid reference 090442
• Camping: on river one night, at base camp other nights
• Take-out:  base camp/old quarry 5k north of hydro line north of Massey on #553, grid reference 137234