Murphy's Point & Colonel By Island

Hoggs Bay & Colonel By Island

Spring has arrived and another kayak season is well underway and with today's perfect paddling weather, 20+c and sunny with light winds it was time to get out for a full days paddle on Big Rideau Lake.   Our put-in is the public launch just off highway 15 a bit east of Portland and our destination is Hoggs Bay a lovely sheltered bay in Murphy's Point Provincial Park then a visit to the fish sanctuary behind Colonel By Island on the return leg of our trip.

off Hwy 15

Portland put-in

Travelling about a kilometre west we round McDonald island turning NW foranother four towards the buoyed channel of the Rideau canal arriving at a point a little NE of Col. By island we turn to starboard at Fancy Free island then continue NE until just past the end of Tar island before diagonally crossing the channel to reach the entrance to Hoggs Bay.

Fancy Free approach

Entrance to Hoggs Bay

The entrance to the bay is somewhat hidden behind an island and not easily discernible from the opposite shore.    When you pass the island with a cottage on it you see ahead the ramp and docks for Murphy's Point, only on almost reaching this does it become clear that a narrow channel continues to the left, this is access to Hoggs Bay.  From here on no power boats are allowed, Yeah!  Not that they were any concern on this day as it seemed we had all of Big Rideau to ourselves.  The bay has a swimming beach for young children and a recent addition of a sheltered pavilion and swing set.  Today there is no one to be seen in the park so we opt for landing on the beach, a no-no under normal operating conditions.

Entrance

Beach

It is very pleasant having our lunch here, so peaceful, the only sound the gentle sighing of wind in the treetops truly a great time to be out paddling before the boaters or park visitors become active.  Normally I would pull up on the grassy bank just before the beach so not to interfere with beach users but also not to draw attention from any park officials as presumably we would be required to have paid for day use.   Lunch over we set off for Colonel By island; this time by keeping the shore on our starboard side until almost opposite Tar island before making our crossing of the channel to approach Colonel By from the north.

Crossing Big Rideau

I will be looking for what I call my secret entrance to Lost Lake an area of water enclosed by four islands and designated as a fish sanctuary; one of the islands being Colonel By.  This narrow passage is easily navigable when water levels are high, i.e. now, but may require a lift over later in the season when levels drop.

Secret entrance

Lost Lake fish sanctuary

Travelling roughly Sw through Lost Lake brings you to a narrowing of the channel which will take you around the west side of Colonel By bringing you out to where the main Parks Canada docking and moorings for the island are located.  I will come here quite often in warmer weather to swim and picnic as a nice little beach develops further round when water levels drop.  

Colonel By Island

From here we head in a south easterly direction for about 5 km to get back to our put-in then it is pack up and head home. Just a note, although the weather was lovely water temperatures are still pretty frigid so I am still wearing some cold water gear which is recommended.

Happy paddling!

KayakJock