Thanksgiving Paddle and Hike to Rock Dunder

Rock Dunder

When autumn arrives in this part of the world; Ontario Canada, bringing those warm, sometimes startlingly clear sunny days to a landscape awash in vibrant colours, there is no better way (I think) of enjoying the great outdoors than paddling a kayak, except perhaps paddling a kayak and taking a hike in the woods as well.   This is something a group of us have been doing over the past number of years with a paddle and hike to Rock Dunder, usually on or about the Thanksgiving holiday choosing a time when weather is most suitable the better to enjoy natures extravaganza.

Rock Dunder near the village of Morton in Rideau Lakes Township is a hill of about 180 m (590 ft) elevation overlooking Morton Bay and Whitefish Lake, part of the Rideau Canal waterway. It is the highest point of land in the area affording marvelous views of the surrounding countryside, which at this time of year is ablaze with fall colours.   This will be our destination, the summit of Dunder where we will have our picnic lunch and enjoy the view.

Put-in by Old Kenney Hotel

On this occasion we are eight in number and our put-in will be upstream from Dunder at historic Jones Falls in front of the old Kenney Hotel.  Once a mile long set of rapids and falls graced this stretch of river, now replaced with a set of four locks with a lift of 18 m (60 ft) and a stone arch dam.  The dam had the distinction of being the largest in North America when it was completed in 1832.  Today a remnant of the falls trickles into the basin below the dam(below).

Remnant of falls

Launching off the grass by the Kenney Hotel we limbo under the Long Bridge built 1930's which connects the Kenney to the base of the locks and into the open water of Whitefish Lake for an approximately 6 km paddle to Morton Bay at the base of Rock Dunder.

Morton Bay

Entrance to Morton Bay

This will be a relatively short paddle but the hike, 2 km each way is fairly demanding over rough, sometimes quite steep terrain and the landing we use is not the easiest and will require a bit of time to lift eight kayaks up a steep embankment.  This site being difficult to access and somewhat removed from the trail leading to the summit provides some security for gear left here while hiking, although this has never been of great concern.                                                                 

Parked and ready to hike

To begin the trail follows the shore of Morton Bay and is fairly level up to the first cabin where you could take shelter if needed.   Many ups and downs before crossing a small creek.   Then it is steadily uphill so it behooves one to equip themselves with sturdy footwear.   Being Thanksgiving the trail can get quite busy as I think many come to whet their appetite for the turkey dinner to come, or perhaps to work off an overindulgence of a past one.

Steeper

Creek crosses trail

With the summit within reach the trees fall away to reveal a 360 degree vista to the horizon.  To the SE one can make out the Skydome on Hill Island in the St. Lawrence River, a distance of about 27 km as the crow flies.  And below us the waters of Morton Bay leading to Whitefish Lake and the Rideau Canal. Everywhere the reds and golds of maple and birch with their showy finale before once again succumbing to another Canadian winter.

Morton Bay to Whitefish Lake beyond

Sitting atop Dunder we can enjoy lunch and the view, while contemplating what a wonderful resource we have in this Rideau Canal waterway of which today we have traveled just one small part of its 203 km length: truly a World Heritage.   Lunch over we retrace our path down the rock to our landing site to change back into paddling gear before paddling back to Jones Falls.  Then its a drive home for a date with a turkey, another happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
from
Doug