Upper Clyde River at Forks of the Clyde, May 25

FIRST PADDLE OF THE YEAR
Upper Clyde River at Forks of the Clyde
Saturday May 25, 2024 –  10 AM

Leader: Pete MacEwen
Departure Time:  10:00am on Saturday May 25, 2024.  Please arrive at the launch site no later than 9:45am.
Carpooling:  At Your Discretion.  None required.
Launch Site:  K and P Trail, 2 km South West of Clyde Forks Village on Upper Clyde River.

Directions from Almonte: (approximately 50 km, 45 minute drive)

From the Esso Station at Almonte Street and CR 29, drive SW on Wolfgrove Road (CR 16) 24.9km to Hopetown.
Turn right on CR 511 (signed CR 511/Cr16) and drive NW 6 km.  Turn left onto French Line Road at Brightside and
drive 8 km. Continue on the Lavant-Darling Rd another 5.3 km to Joes Lake (no apostrophe).
Turn right onto the Flower Station Road on the north shore of Joes Lake and continue 3.2 km, past the dam on your left,
and turn left onto Clyde Forks Rd.  Continue 1 km, crossing the Clyde Forks Bridge, to Clyde Forks Village.
Continue SW on Clyde Forks Road for about 1.5 km, turn right and cross the bridge over the South Branch of the Clyde River.
Turn right immediately after the bridge onto the K & P Trail, which is on a causeway through the river.  Proceed north about 0.5 km to where the road widens and there are parking spots and a boat launch on the right.
LOST?? Plug these coordinates into the search bar on Google Maps:
45.130238,-76.687525
If you reach the north shore of the river, you’ve gone too far.

Directions from Perth:
Take CR 511 north to Hopetown and follow directions above from Hopetown.

Facilities:  There are no facilities at the Launch Site.
Length of Paddle:  about 8 km round trip.
Maximum participants: 20
The Paddle:
We paddle north from the launch site on the South Branch of the Clyde River into the North Branch of the Clyde and through Widow Lake. We will continue on the Clyde until we reach a small rapids flowing downstream towards us and a culvert.
Return south to the Forks of the Clyde and paddle east to Clyde Forks Village.  We will stop for lunch on the dock area of the property of Rob Vanderkam, a fellow member of MVFN.
After lunch, we will continue paddling east to the Clyde Forks Bridge and perhaps a little further if time permits.
We will then paddle west back to the Fork and then the short distance south to the launch site.

I would like to thank Art Solomonian and Denis Gallant for their help planning this paddle and their company on the “dry run”.
I would also like to thank Rob Vanderkam for his warm greeting on our arrival at Clyde Forks, for his advice and for giving us permission to stop for lunch on his property.  I hope he is able to join us on the paddle.

Items to Bring Lunch & snacks, water/drinks, sunscreen & bug repellent, hat, binoculars, camera/smartphone.
Please be sure to bring your safety equipment: life jacket, whistle, bailer, heaving line and extra paddle.:

At all times, please remember that we are a group of Naturalists. Please do not approach or otherwise do anything to startle wildlife, particularily during the nesting season. Take pictures to share with the group and/or post on iNaturalist. 
Registration:  You must pre-register for this event by completing the registration form found HERE

MVFN Membership must be up to date (check your membership card).  If needed, you can update and pay for your membership HERE. You may bring a friend or two, subject to space availability and the approval of the trip leader.

For further information, contact  Pete MacEwen by e-mail or phone 613-447-6094.

In case the forecast is for unsuitable weather on Saturday May 25, this event will be rescheduled to the next day, Sunday May 26, or cancelled.
A confirmation e-mail will be sent out just prior to the event in either case.
If in doubt, contact Pete at 613-447-6094 before 7:30am that morning.

For more information or to volunteer to lead a trip, contact Art Solomonian at paddling@mvfn.ca

NEXT TRIP:  Sunday  June 9:  Art Solomonian, Long Lake (south of Perth)