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4/11/2019 9:49 pm  #1


Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

Hi All,

Looking to get some input on the campsites along the upper nip for a possible May trip...I think I've heard that they are generally not very good...what are your thoughts re: 1. High Dam ("#507 Nip River - Hiah Lake), 2. Grass Lake (#505), 3. Wolfland Creek Marsh (#508; 2 sites)??

Many thanks!

 

4/12/2019 8:22 am  #2


Re: Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

Here's a video of the High Dam site.  I've been looking at this route too but the sites don't look great 

https://myselfreliance.com/tim-river-spring-2015-solo-canoe-trip-day-1/nipissing-river-high-dam-campsite-day-1/

 

4/12/2019 9:41 am  #3


Re: Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

I did not stay on the Grass Lake campsite, but we did paddle by. It looks half decent, and the view out over grass lake was very nice. We stayed at the river campsite just east of the P110 on Jeff's map. It is up the bank, and then 30 feet into the bush to a clearing where the campsite is. Bugs were fairly heavy.

 

4/12/2019 12:48 pm  #4


Re: Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

Many thanks Evan and Steve! I think I remember your trip log now Steve...about having to situate your bivy to avoid the moose 'right of way'

     Thread Starter
 

4/12/2019 4:28 pm  #5


Re: Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

Grass Lake is probably the nicest site. High dam isnt a great camping site. I would probably choose the lower site over the upper. The river goes through a small gorge which is pretty. You can bushwhack to Loontail which is beautiful walk in the spring. Loontail junction isnt a bad site. Fishing can be good at all 3 locations.

 

4/14/2019 9:29 am  #6


Re: Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

Agree with others re. High Dam. Have stayed at that lower site twice now, which is more than my fair share for one lifetime LOL. Mind you, the river is gorgeous at the foot of that rapid. 

Since you mention Wolf Creek Marsh, I'd warn you away from the 2nd site, i.e., the one further downriver and closest to P30. I stayed there at the end of a very long day a couple years ago. The site is straight up a steep embankment and the takeout offers very little foothold or room to place your gear. My camera went tumbling down into the water after I gently tossed it on shore--fortunately packed in its drybag it survived intact. An amusing story--when I arrived up on the bank and surveyed the site the first thing that caught my eye was a moose skull resting on the only available tent site. I thought about it, surveyed some more, then finally settled on moving the skull. But I was wary of doing so; who knew what ill might befall me for disturbing the bones of some revered moose elder? Shortly after I retired for the night I heard something very big approach, getting louder and louder until it came to a stop only meters from my tent. Mildly terrified, I called out loudly and it took off--now clearly a moose from the distinctive hoof clomp. I breathed a sigh of relief then let out a chuckle thinking how either the ghost of the dead moose or its grieving mate had come to take revenge on the party who dared disturb the site!

So anyway, at the risk of hijacking this thread, I'm wondering if anyone has stayed at the Kelly Creek Junction site below Allen Rapids? I've only ever paddled by but haven't stopped to take a look. 

 

4/15/2019 3:59 pm  #7


Re: Upper Nip Campsites - any good ones

I'll third what everyone said about High Dam. Nice falls, poor camping sites. And at the bottom site, you're smack dab in the middle of where many stop and fish, so you might have lots of unexpected company, especially early in the morning.

I've done that general area twice now. Both times we started at Tim Lake and did the Tim River - Latour - Loontail to Nip bypass. Couple longer portages that way, but saves you all of the alders and several shorter portages of the upper Nip. Whether you take that route or not, the Loontail Creek campsite just up from the junction with the Nip is a terrific site - very very flat, tonnes of space (could set up 8 tents there if you wanted), great spot for viewing moose. However, if you start at the top of the Nip, staying on this site will mean paddling about 1 km UP Loontail creek. Current won't be an issue though - very wide and meandering there.

Paddlerunner: I too only paddled by the Kelly Creek Junction site, but did meet someone camping there. Ground seemed pretty flat, but it is a bit of a climb up the bank.

Happy paddling.
T

 

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