Includes Newboro, Clear, Indian, Benson, Mosquito and Loon lakes
A very scenic section of the Rideau with dozens of back bays and many kilometres of shoreline to explore. These lakes have many islands and winding shoreline and so can be paddled even when the wind is up. The map included in this guide can be enlarged (while viewing the PDF) to any level of detail you desire.
No specific route descriptions have been given for paddling the lakes - you should explore these on your own. The detailed map in this guide will allow for travel planning. However, for those just paddling through the lakes (going lock to lock), a scenic route has been suggested.
Indian Lake: This lake is easily accessed from Chaffeys Lock, you can launch from either the dock at the lockstation, or from the public ramp down Iron Bridge Lane (44° 34.940'N - 76° 19.050'W - small paved ramp). You can also launch from Indian Lake Marina for a fee.
Newboro Lake: This lake is easily accessed from Newboro at either the Newboro boat launch (44° 38.835'N - 76° 19.200'W - paved ramp) or from a small beach just south of the launch. A small fee applies for using the parking lot and a fee also applies for using the launch.
Loon Lake: A small gravel public launch is located just north of the bridge at Bedford Mills on County Road 10 (44° 36.465'N - 76° 24.060'W).
Facilities
Lodging: If you're paddling and camping, the lockstations are a good choice for camp spots (a camping fee applies). There are also several campgrounds, a host of B&Bs and several hotels such as the Hotel Kenney at Jones Falls, the Opinicon Resort Hotel at Chaffeys Lock and the Poplars and Stirling Lodge in Newboro. For information about local accommodations see: www.rideauheritageroute.ca, www.westportrideaulakes.on.ca and www.rideau-info.com (this website).
Supplies: A local source for supplies is the village of Elgin (off Hwy. 15 opposite Davis Lock Road), which has a grocery store, pharmacy and hardware store. Groceries can also be obtained in Westport.
Rentals: Canoe and kayak rentals are available in Kingston and Westport.
Etiquette
Your trip planning should include a "leave no trace" approach - carry out what you carry in. Many areas are un-serviced (no garbage cans) - so plan to be self-contained. The lockstations provide waste disposal facilities.
Preparation
Please read the trip planning information on www.rideau-info.com/canal/paddling/ While these lakes are easy paddling, normal paddling preparations should be made (all required safety gear, maps, food, water, first-aid kit, etc.). Although the map in this guide is a very accurate 1:50,000 representation of the lakes, it is recommended that you carry either the1:20,000 hydrographic chart (Chart 1513) or the 1:50,000 NTS map (31C/9). Please take all normal safety precautions, including checking the weather forecast before you head out and making sure that someone on shore knows your planned travel route and itinerary.
Distances:
Circumference distances are approximate, following the main shorelines. The navigation channel and the scenic route are shown on the map.
Indian Lake circumference = 12 km (7.5 mi)
Benson Lake circumference = 10 k (6.2 mi)
Mosquito Lake circumference = 12 k (7.5 mi)
Newboro Lake circumference = 43 k (27 mi)
Loon Lake circumference = 13 k (8.1 mi)
Chaffeys to Newboro along the navigation channel = 7.9 km (4.9 mi)
Chaffeys to Newboro taking the scenic route = 12 k (7.5 mi)
The Lakes
General Notes
The following applies to all the lakes. They are all mesotrophic lakes (moderately enriched with nutrients). Zebra mussels are present. Aquatic vegetation growth is present in most sheltered areas with a depth of less than 3 m (10 ft). Wildlife is abundant, particularly loons, herons, ospreys, turtles, frogs, muskrats and beaver. The main game fish in the water is large mouth bass (small mouth bass, northern pike and crappie are also present).
Indian Lake
In the pre-canal era, the lake was about 8 feet lower than it is today. Its source water was from Newboro Lake by way of Mosquito Creek, there was no water connection at that time to Clear Lake. The completion of the lock and weir at Chaffeys in the fall of 1831 raised the water in the lake to the level it is today. Water levels are managed by Parks Canada.
The lake has a maximum depth of 26 m (85 ft) and averages about 12 m (40 ft). The land bordering the lake is all privately owned. Most of the lake has moderate density cottage and summer home development along its shoreline. There are a few areas that remain in their natural state (mostly along Scott Island shorelines).
Clear Lake
In the pre-canal era, this lake was about 2 m (6.5 ft) lower than it is today. A narrow channel connected it to Newboro Lake. The completion of the lock and weir at Chaffeys in the fall of 1831 raised the water in the lake to the level it is today. Water levels are managed by Parks Canada. The name Clear Lake was given to it since the lake is clear of islands, unlike the other lakes in the region.
The lake has a maximum depth of 34.5 m (113 ft) and averages about 15 m (50 ft). The land bordering the lake is all privately owned. Most of the lake has moderate density cottage and summer home development along its shoreline. There are a few areas that remain in their natural state, mostly along Scott Island shorelines.
Benson Lake
In the pre-canal era, this lake was about 2 m (6 ft) lower than it is today and about half its present size. The outflow was to Indian Lake through Benson Creek. The completion of the lock and weir at Chaffeys in the fall of 1831 raised the water in the lake to the level it is today. Water levels are managed by Parks Canada.
The lake has a maximum depth of 14 m (45 ft) and averages about 4 m (13 ft). The back bays are mostly a shallow water environment, with extensive aquatic vegetation.
The land bordering the lake is all privately owned. About one-third of the lake has moderate density cottage and summer home development along its shoreline. There are a several areas that remain in their natural state.
Mosquito Lake
In the pre-canal era, this was a creek, flowing out of Newboro Lake and into Indian Lake. A tributary to the creek was Mississauga Creek. The water was about 2 m (6 ft) lower than it is today. The completion of the lock and weir at Chaffeys in the fall of 1831 raised the water in the lake to the level it is today. Water levels are managed by Parks Canada.
The lake has a maximum depth of 2 m (6 ft) and averages about 1.5 m (5 ft). The back bays are mostly a shallow water environment, with extensive aquatic vegetation.
The land bordering the lake is all privately owned. About one-quarter of the lake has moderate density cottage and summer home development along its shoreline. The rest of the lake remains in its natural state.
Loon Lake
In the pre-canal era, this lake was about 1.5 m (5 ft) lower than it is today. The inflow to the lake was a creek originating at Buttermilk Falls, the outflow from Devil Lake. The lake drained through Stevens Creek to Newboro Lake. The completion of the lock and weir at Chaffeys in the fall of 1831 raised the water in the lake to the level it is today. Water levels are managed by Parks Canada.
The lake has a maximum depth of 9 m (30 ft) and averages about 7.5 m (25 ft).
The land bordering the lake is all privately owned. About half the lake has moderate density cottage and summer home development along its shoreline. There are several areas that remain in their natural state.
Newboro Lake
In the pre-canal era, this lake was about 2 m (6 ft) lower than it is today. The completion of the lock and weir at Chaffeys in the fall of 1831 raised the water in the lake to the level it is today. Water levels are managed by Parks Canada. Up until the late 1800s it was known as Mud Lake, so named for the depth of mud on the bottom of the lake.
The lake has a maximum depth of 26 m (85 ft) and averages about 6 m (20 ft). Many of back bays, particularly at the east end, are shallow water environment, with extensive aquatic vegetation.
The land bordering the lake is mostly privately owned (the exceptions being federal land in the vicinity Newboro Lock). About half the lake has moderate density cottage and summer home development, the rest remains in its natural state.
The Locks
Most Rideau lockstations offer facilities such as washrooms, water, recycling cans, waste cans and picnic tables. Most also allow camping for paddlers travelling the Rideau for a modest camping fee. Paddlers can portage the locks for free, but you owe it to yourself to lock through at least one lock in order to get the full experience of paddling the Rideau Canal. A single lockage and return (2010 fee) is $0.90 per foot (minimum charge of 12 feet) - so if your kayak is 14 feet long, it would only cost $12.60.
Points of Interest (listed south to north)
Chaffeys Lock: the lockstation has a single lock and a swing bridge. The old lockmaster's house has been converted into a museum, operated by the Chaffeys Lock and Area Historical Society. The Chaffey's Mill (built in 1872) used the flow of water from the canal weir to power its operation. It is now a private residence. If you take a walk into "town" - you'll see the entrance to the Chaffey's Lock Cemetery and Memory Wall , located beside the Brown's Marina store. This cemetery was used for those that died during the construction of the canal at this location and also for local residents (to the late 1800s).
Indian Lake: The iron bridge that you go under as you leave Chaffeys was erected in 1911 by the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway Company. It is now part of the Cataraqui Trail. There are some very nice old cottages along the southeast shoreline of the lake. An island with a very interesting history is Richardson Island, formerly known as Fettercairn Island. During WWI, Agnes Richardson (later Agnes Etherington) had a hospital built on the island, to be used for convalescing shell-shocked soldiers. It opened in May 1916. There was a large boathouse (built in 1917) and docking facilities. The facility was closed down at the end of the war. In 1929 it was given to the Girl Guides of Canada, who used it as a training centre until sometime in the late 1930s. Today only the foundations and part of the chimney remain on the island.
Clear Lake: The channel (Little Isthmus Channel) between Clear Lake and Indian Lake was excavated during the construction of the Rideau Canal. Prior to that, a 35 m (40 yd) portage was required to cross between the lakes. Today, this narrow channel makes for a very short ferry run between the mainland and Scott Island.
Newboro Lake: Newboro Lake has a long history of cottaging and you'll notice many lovely old cottages on the lake. It is also the site some of the earliest mining in the region. Iron Island was the site of an iron mine opened in about 1850 by the Chaffey brothers; John, Benjamin and Elswood. The Chaffey Mine as it was known, consisted of three small open pits that were used to extract the ore (magnetite). A causeway linked the island with the mainland, with a gap between it and the island so that a barge could be slipped in. A second iron mine, the Matthews Mine, was opened in about 1860. It was located about 350 m (380 yd) inland from the north shore of Iron Mine Bay and consisted of a single open pit.
Benson-Mosquito Lakes: Benson was a small lake in the pre-canal era and Mosquito Lake didn't exist, Mosquito Creek drained the west end of Newboro Lake into Indian Lake. The flooding of the area from the lock and weir at Chaffeys created Mosquito Lake and flooded the low land around Benson Lake. So today, there are many areas of shallow waters, home to marshland wildlife.
Loon Lake: A small lake, keep an eye out for Osprey which have nests in this area.
Bedford Mills: this is a spot with a long history of both milling and shipbuilding. The outflow from Devil Lake dropped over Buttermilk Falls and then continued to Loon Lake. It was these falls that attracted two fellows, Barnet and Legg, to set up a sawmill here by 1829. They were squatting on the site and in 1831, Benjamin Tett acquired the milling rights and continued to operate the sawmill. A sawmill operated in this location until 1920. You'll notice docks made of slab wood - these were used to pile the lumber sawn by the mill, ready to be loaded onto barges. The beautiful stone grist mill, now a private residence, was built in 1850 and operated until 1904. This was also the site of shipbuilding - at least 29 vessels, mostly barges, were built here between 1855 and 1921.
Newboro: this community was formed with the building of the Rideau Canal. It is located on "The Ishtmus, " the watershed divide between the Rideau River watershed to the north and the Gananoque/Cataraqui watershed to the south. In the pre-canal era, a 2,400 m (8,000 ft) portage connected Rideau Lake with Newboro Lake. The original intention for the canal was to simply to excavate an open cut between the two lake. But the water couldn't be sufficiently raised at Chaffeys so Colonel By decided to put in a lock here at Newboro. In the end, with many difficulties, a lock and an excavated channel leading to Upper Rideau Lake were completed. At the lockstation you'll find a blockhouse, built in 1832, one of only four built along the Rideau. Newboro features some good shopping opportunities for those who wish to exercise their credit cards.
Route Suggestions
Chaffeys Lock to Newboro Lock Scenic Route
Follow the main navigation leaving Chaffey's Lock, but then head west, along the south shore of Indian Lake. When due south of Richardson Island, turn north and paddle to the island. This was Fettercairn Island, you can see the remains of the old hospital. Continue to the north shore of the lake and turn east and paddle along shore to the narrow cut between Indian and Clear Lakes. Going through the cut you'll notice one of the shortest ferry crossings in Canada. Turn west and follow the south shore, paddling past a favourite rock diving spot. Then turn north and paddle to the narrows between Clear and Newboro lakes. Once in Newboro Lake, paddle pas t the west side of Goat Island and continue north to the Green Islands. Turn west and paddle along the shore until you are south of Channel Island. Turn north and paddle across the lake to Iron Island. Note the old (1850s) open pits on the island, used to extract iron. Note the causeway, now a few inches underwater that linked the island with the mainland. Now turn east and paddle to Newboro.
To Bedford Mills
Two interesting paddling routes can be taken to get to Bedford Mills (or this can be made into a day trip from Chaffeys to Newboro (or vice-versa).
From Chaffeys, paddle to Richardson Island. From there, turn west and paddle to Mosquito Lake. Paddle through that lake into Pollywog Lake and then through the channel into Newboro Lake. Cross Newboro Lake to Stevens Creek, turn west and head into Loon Lake. Paddle straight through Loon Lake to the County Road 10 bridge. Paddle under the bridge into the pond below the mills. Please note that the old mill is now a private residence. The one way distance is 12.5 km (7.8 mi).
From Newboro, paddle south along the shorline to Iron Island. Note the old (1850s) open pits on the iron, used to extract iron. Continue paddling west to Stevens Creek and follow the directions shown above. The one way distance is 9.5 km (5.9 mi).
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