This is some of the best whitewater in southern Ontario (yeah, we consider Algonquin still southern Ontario). The best experience is at least five nights putting in at Brent on Cedar Lake and taking out at Lake McManus. Or, you could put in half way down at Lake Traverse. If you really boot it, you can do Traverse down in two nights.Â
Most of the runnable whitewater is 'drop and pool', which means fun but short rapids.
This longer route has more complex whitewater and more portages.
Nights: 4 to 6.
Paddling distance: 88 km
Shuttle distance: Brent to McManus is 138 km, (2 hours, 44 minutes)
Outfitter: You can shuttle yourself with two or more cars, or use an outfitter. Algonquin Bound Outfitters, Algonquin Portage
River data: Petawawa river hydrometric data
Nights: 2 to 3.
Paddling distance: 47.4 km
Shuttle distance: 47 km, (54 minutes)
Outfitter: You can shuttle yourself with two or more cars, or use an outfitter. Algonquin Bound Outfitters, Algonquin Portage
River data: Petawawa river hydrometric data
I highly recommend the classic guidebook for the Petawawa by George Drought. You can remove a lot of the guess work around what is runnable and what is not. It's available from The Friends of Algonquin Park site.
Many of the scenes in Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle whitewater series were filmed on the Petawawa.
Petawawa is the only river in Canada (that we're aware of) that has a section not protected by the Navigable Waters Act and canoeists are forbidden to access it. A military base begins right at the end of the Park with a large sign that says, "No access - Live Artillery Fire."Â
