Paddling trip: Clyde R. Lanark to Kerr L.
LEADER: Pete MacEwen
CARPOOLING: at your discretion
DIRECTIONS:
From ALMONTE:
From the Esso Station at the corner of Wolf Grove Rd. (CR 16) and CR 29, drive west 20 km to Hopetown. At the T intersection, turn Left on Hwy 511. Proceed south for 10 km to Lanark village and continue on 511 (George St.) to Hillier St., the last street immediately before the bridge. Turn Left on Hillier St (do NOT cross the bridge) and in a few metres you will be at River Park, the launch site.
From PERTH:
Take Hwy 511 north from Hwy 7 to Lanark Village, about 16 km. Jog Left at the T intersection onto South St. (CR 12) and then jog immediately Right onto George St. (Hwy 511), cross the bridge and then immediately turn Right onto Hillier St. In a few metres you will be at River Park, the launch site.
From CARLETON PLACE and OTTAWA:
Take Hwy 7 West from Carleton Place and turn Right at the stone church on your right, onto the Fergusons Falls Rd. (CR 15). Continue on this road through the town of Fergusons Falls, past Temple’s Sugar Bush, across the bridge over the Mississippi River and past Mal’s Campground on your left. At the T intersection, turn Right on Hwy 511 and follow the directions above from Perth as you enter Lanark Village (“Jog Left at the T…”).
LAUNCH SITE:
River Park, 101 Hillier St., Lanark Village.There is parking and a portable toilet at the site.
TIME:
The planned departure time is 10:00a.m. Please try to arrive by 9:30a.m. (and no later than 9:45a.m.) in order to park your vehicle and launch your boat by 10:00a.m.
THE PADDLE:
The paddle will be about 12 km return and should take us about 4 hours, plus lunch. This section of the Clyde River is a marsh, from the village upstream to Kerr Lake, which is a larger open marsh. We will continue a short distance upstream from Kerr Lake past several cottages and homes to a set of rapids where we will turn around and return to Kerr Lake. We will eat lunch there in our boats and return downstream to Lanark Village.
On the test paddle this week, which I did with the able assistance of Art Goldsmith, we saw lots of wildlife, including 2 Ospreys, about 10 Eastern
Kingbirds, a family of Common Loons (mom, dad and a baby) and about 15 Canada Geese who were in the water together on the far shore of Kerr Lake. We did not see any ducks. We heard many Swamp Sparrows, who seemed unaware they were in a marsh, plus several other species of birds.
BRING: lunch, lots of water, bug juice, binoculars, sunscreen, etc.
Ensure you are equipped with life jacket, bailing bucket, whistle, heaving line, extra paddle, etc.
REGISTRATION: You must pre-register for this event by completing the form found HERE. Please complete a separate form for each participant (see “Submit additional responses” when you submit the form) as we need the “agree” to the waiver from each person.
Registration is limited. In order to give everyone a chance, priority will be given to members who were not on the latest trip (Izatt Lake) until Wednesday morning July 30th. Then all registrations will be processed in order. If you end up on the waiting list, you will be notified. No news is good news!
MVFN membership must be up-to-date (check your membership card). You can update and pay for your membership on the MVFN website. You may bring a friend or two, subject to the approval of the trip leader.
In case of severe weather, this event may be rescheduled to Sunday August 10 or cancelled. A note confirming the paddle will be sent out on Thursday August 7, once the weather forecast is firm.
If you register and then change your mind, please text or phone Pete at 613-447-6094 and let him know. If you are in doubt about the weather on the morning of the paddle, please contact Pete at the same number before 8:00a.m.
Our next trip will be on Sunday Aug 24, 2025. Mississippi River downstream from Pakenham