Pakwash Lk –
Red Trout Lk Loop
From/To: Pakwash Prov. Pk, Hwy 105
Distance: 273.7 km
Time: 13 – 20 days
Portages: 26
Maps: 52 K/13 Madsen, 52 K/14 Pakwash Lake, 52 N/3 Little Trout,
52 N/4 Red Lake, 52 N/5 Nungesser River, 52 N/6 Henfrey Lake
This route begins and ends at Pakwash Prov. Pk. The park is on Hwy 105, 48 km south of the town of Red Lake and 24 km north of the town of Ear Falls. There are several other possible starting points:
– Chukuni R, Hwy 105 – Trout Lk R, Hwy105
– Snowshoe Dam – Bug R, Hwy 105
– Chukuni R, Hwy 125 – Town of Red Lake
– Town of Cochenour – Anderson Lk
– Nungesser R where the Nungesser Rdcrosses
– Coli Lk access point
This route passes through different portions of the same watershed. One is from Coli Lk, Nungesser Lk, south to where the Chukuni R runs into Pakwash Lk. The other is from Trout Lk, Trout Lk R to where the Trout Lk R runs into Pakwash Lk; from here, the water eventually reaches Hudson Bay.
This loop passes through a variety of terrain varying from spruce lowlands to eskars and moraines. Opportunities for viewing wildlife and fishing along the route are good. Walleye and northern pike are available the entire route; lake trout can be found in Trout Lk.
Parts of this route have historic significance as a water highway to the nomadic Ojibway families for hunting, fishing, and trapping. Fur traders and prospectors also used this route (or portions of it). Pakwash Lk and Gullrock Lk up to the town of Red Lake was used as a transportation route to bring supplies to the Red Lake gold field before Hwy 105 was built.
There are signs of civilization in several places along this route such as hydro lines, roads, and bridges. The towns of Red Lake, Cochenour, and McKenzie Island are also on the route. Several of the lakes have tourist camps and cottages on them.
There are several opportunities for weekend or 1 day trips along this route. If the route is travelled as described, you’ll be travelling upstream from Pakwash Prov. Pk to Coli Lk, then downstream from Trout Lk to Pakwash Prov. Pk. Other trip possibilities are to start at Coli Lk and proceed downstream through Nungesser R and Little Vermillion R to Red Lake; the trip could be ended in Red Lake or carried on further. Another starting point could be Anderson Lk to Trout Lk, Trout Lk R, and Bruce Lk – all downstream ending at Pakwash Prov. Pk on Hwy 105 or continue up the Chukuni R.
From Pakwash Prov. Pk, paddle northwards up Pakwash Lk to enter the Chukuni R for 16 km to the 1st portage.
Portage #1 – Sam’s Portage, Chukuni R
Location – Left side of the river 500m north of Hwy 105
Landing – No difficulty
Trail – Dry trail, clay base, all high ground, steep hills at the beginning and
end, some difficulty on the hills when the clay is wet, 321.9m long,
take the trail that heads uphill, not the path that runs along side the
river. The portage ends just above the rapids
Launching – No difficulty – steep drop to the river
Portage #2 – Chukuni Portage, Chukuni R
Location – Right side at the base of the rapids, 1.6 km from #1
Landing – Poor, clay and rock, slippery bank
Trail – Dry 140.8m trail, clay base which is slippery when wet, all high
ground, near the end take a sharp right turn that leads downhill
Launching – Poor steep bank, large boulders at the shore or underwater
depending on water levels
Portage #3 – Snowshoe Portage, Chukuni R
Location – Left side just below the rapids, 6.4 km from the last trail
Landing – Clay and boulders, slippery when wet
Trail – Dry, 201.2m long, through a large clearing, clay base, 1st 40.2m is
slippery when wet
Launching – Is off a dock, no difficulty
Continue paddling upstream across Two Island Lk, Gullrock Lk, Keg Lk, Chukuni R, and Red Lk through Post Narrows, Hoyles Bay to the Chukuni R – a total distance of 49.1 km. Along this stretch you will pass the towns of Red Lake, Cochenour, and McKenzie Island. Post Narrows was the site of an old HBC trading post where there is also a Native burial ground.
Portage #4 – Chukuni R
Location – 49.1 km from #3, on the right just below the rapids
Landing – Good, clay and rock
Trail – Clay base, reasonably level, 120.7m long
Launching – Good
Paddle 1.2 km to the next portage
Portage #5 – Chukuni R
Location – On the left below the rapids
Landing – Fair
Trail – Reasonably flat, slight incline, could be wet depending on rainfall,
301.8m long
Launching – Fair
Continue 800m to the next trail
Portage #6 – Chukuni R
Location – Left side below the rapids
Landing – Good
Trail – Rolling terrain, clay base, 402.3m
Launching – Above an old wooden dam; there could be many logs at this
point
From here, paddle the rest of the Chukuni R to Little Vermillion Lk and enter the Nungesser R. It’s upstream from here to Coli Lk. There are not many good campsites along the Nungesser R. After 30.4 km, you’ll reach the next path.
Portage #7 – Nungesser R
Location – Right side just below the rapids
Landing – Good, no rocks
Trail – High and dry ground, 140.8m
Launching – Fair, steep bank just above the rapids
Travel another 3.2 km along the river.
Portage #8 – Nungesser R
Location – Left bank at the base of the rapids
Landing – Fair, steep bank to climb up
Trail – 20.1m long
Launching – Poor, steep slope to the river
Paddle 400m to the next path.
Portage #9 – Nungesser R
Location – Left bank just below the rapids
Landing – Good
Trail – Dry, clay base, level, 60.4m long
Launching – Good, just above the rapids
Another 8 km of paddling before the next portage.
Portage #10 – Nungesser R
Location – On the right behind a small island at the base of the rapids
Landing – Good
Trail – 362.1m
Launching – Good
Portage #11 – Nungesser R
Location – 400m from #10, on the left
Landing – Good, some small boulders
Trail – Rolling with the occasional steep rise, sand base, 181m
Launching – Good, gradual slope to the water
On this section of the trip you’ll cross Nungesser Rd which had turned north from Hwy 125. Continue upstream for 8 km to the next portage.
Portage #12 – Nungesser R
Location – On the right at the base of the rapids
Landing – Good
Trail – A 20.1m rise followed by a 20.1m drop, sand and clay base. Path is
used heavily by the tourist camps on Nungesser Lk
Launching – Good
Submerged rocks are present just around the corner from the launch site. Once on Nungesser Lk, travel southwesterly to Coli Ck. There are a few campsites along the creek as it passes through a large, stagnant spruce swamp. 10.4 km of paddling brings you to the next portage.
Portage #13 – Coli Ck
Location – Can be difficult to locate at the base of the rapids on the right
Landing – Fair, wet
Trail – The 1st 40.2m is rough and wet but improves over the remaining
140.8m
Launching – Good
400m further is the next path.
Portage #14 – Coli Ck
Location – On the left before the rapids, before the creek narrows
Landing – Swampy
Trail – Sand and rock base, rolling, 402.3m long, crossing a point of land
where the creek makes a backswing
Launching – Just above the rapids
Paddle 11.2 km up Coli Ck and through 2 unnamed potholes to the next portage.
Portage #15 – Coli Ck
Location – Near the base of the rapids on the right
Landing – Fair, wet
Trail – Is wet in low areas, rolling, moss covered rocks, 301.8m long
Launching – Fair, wet
Proceed upstream to Coli Lk, then southeasterly across the lake to the most southern bay. You’ll arrive at the next portage after 15.2 km of paddling.
Portage #16 – Coli Lk to Anderson Lk
Location – Southwest end of the lake near the edge of a reed bed in a small bay, rocky shoreline
Landing – Easy unloading
Trail – Wet in low areas, rolling terrain, generally rough walking, 3258.9m
long; about 1086.3m through, there is a logging road to cross
Launching – Poor, submerged rocks off shore
Portage #17 – Anderson Lk to Blackbear Lk
Location – 600m after #16, slightly east of the south end of Anderson Lk,
west of an intermittent stream
Landing – Good, sand bottom
Trail – High ground for the 1st 804.7m the drops into a spruce swamp with
wet sections during the remaining 623.6m
Launching – Poor, swampy, and wet
Travel 1.6 km to the next portage.
Portage #18 – Blackbear Lk to Trout Lk
Location – 120m north of the creek at the east end of the lake
Landing – Fair, rock bottom
Trail – Dry 482.8m trail going over a large hill, the last 181m is swampy
Launching – Poor, swampy
There is no specific route across Trout Lk. However, due to its size and varying wind and weather conditions, there are 2 main routes.
A) Follow the west and south shore around a large peninsula into Otter Lk. There is also a portage used by the tourist camp from Trout Lk into Otter Lk.
B) The 2nd choice is generally the safest and most scenic route. Follow the north and east shores through the island to Otter Lk.
At no time should the canoe party stray out of easy reach of the shore
avoid all large expanses of open water on Trout Lk. There is a Native cemetery on the west shore of the narrows as you leave Trout Lk. When in the narrows, head south through Otter Lk. Once on Little Trout Lk, paddle east avoiding large, open stretches of water and enter the Troutlake R, proceeding downstream to portage #19, 51.2 km from the last trail.
Portage #19 – Troutlake R
Location – Just above the rapids on the right, in a small channel away
from the rapids
Landing – Good
Trail – Downhill, an easy 60.4m
Launching – Good
It is another 1.2 km to the next trail.
Portage #20 – Troutlake R
Location – In a small bay on the left before the top of the rapids
Landing – Good
Trail – 241.4m
Launching – Good, just below the rapids
Paddle 5.6 km to the next path.
Portage #21 – Troutlake R
Location – On the right just above the rapids
Landing – Good, submerged rocks on approach
Trail – Dry, clay base except at the launching area, 120.7m long
Launching – Poor, low, swampy, many rocks
Portage #22 – Troutlake R
Location – 200m from the last path, above the rapids on the left
Landing – Poor, submerged rocks
Trail – Slight downhill slope, dry 161m trail except for 1 spot
Launching – Poor, submerged rocks
Portage #23 – Troutlake R
Location – 800m from the last portage, on the left above the rapids
Landing – Poor, rocky
Trail – Slight downhill slope
Launching – Poor, rocky
A further 12 km of paddling brings one to the next trail.
Portage #24 – Troutlake R
Location – On the right above the rapids
Landing – Good, submerged rock on approach
Trail – Dry 60.4m path, clay base, runs along side of a steep hill, dangerous
if wet
Launching – Just to the left of a steep bald rock face, dangerous if wet
Continue 6.4 km downstream.
Portage #25 – Troutlake R, Big Falls
Location – Just above the rapids on the right
Landing – Grassy clearing, mud bottom
Trail – Good, open country, grassy 1669.7m path, dry, 1 stream crossing,
do not take the trail that forks to the left near the start of the
portage, do not attempt to run any portion of the rapids before the
falls
Launching – Good, grassy clearing, mud bottom
It’s 4.8 km of paddling to the last portage.
Portage #26 – Troutlake R, Whitefish Falls
Location – Just above the rapids on the left
Landing – Good, grassy shore, mud bottom
Trail – Slight downhill slope, clay base, some wet portions, 201.2m long
Launching – Fair, muddy and rocky
There are a limited number of campsites from here to Bruce Lk therefore, your time should be judged accordingly. A total paddle of 25.6 km brings you back to Pakwash Prov. Pk.
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