I am also curious, but looking more for summer (first week of august) water level experience / Alder. It can't be as bad as Birchcliffe and the Nip east of Big Bob... can it?

I made the trip down White Partridge creek with a buddy back on July 30th, 2014. So while the data may be 10 years old, it should still ring true for what to expect at that time of year.

Below is a screenshot of the GPS track. The highlighted section is from the end of the portage to The Forks. it's 10.9km and it took us 3h49m which includes 1h10m of stopped time.

As others have mentioned, the portage is a breeze - straight and flat. I remember it going a lot quicker than I expected (a touch under 40 minutes to make the 2,320m crossing, according to the GPS).

The creek itself is very similar to the upper portion of the Nipissing. There are many tight corners and narrow sections. We had to get out of the boat to duck under / lift up the alders to allow the canoe to continue forward. We did this a few times, but it was July and warm - so it was no big deal. As you get further along, the alders to move to the side and there are many stretches of the creek that are open and easy to paddle. We skipped the portage via creek walking, since we were already wet and the only obstacles are big rocks. Once past the portage the alders become much less of a problem and eventually opens up to marshlands. Not quite as large as the long marsh along the Nipissing, but the idea is the same.

When we got to the forks, we were scooping out twigs, leaves and spiders by the handful. It was pretty funny at the time, but probably because we were glad it was over.

Overall no regrets and would do it again.

This was May 2023

Right before I got my saw out and swapped spots with the dog. Non stop sawing for 2 hours until I got scared about being stuck on the creek over night and decided to go back. Took about 10 mins to get back lol. 

Bypass loppers should mandatory for the next person who goes down that creek! 

Fish-Online is so good now you can see the extent of the Alder from Aerial Imagery

White Partridge Creek


Alder Hell on the Nipissing River

AlgonquinLakes wrote:

MartinG wrote:

Bypass loppers should mandatory for the next person who goes down that creek! ]

I guess that’s me. We’ve booked to go through there in May. Might bypass the loppers and just take a flame thrower.

I don't want to be the fuddy-duddy and I recognize we all mean well in 'improving' canoe access thru the creek but please be aware the cutting of live flora not only is contradicted by the leave no trace principles, it also damages the riparian environment and is forbidden according to the backcountry regulations of AP. 

We all know the 'damage' will barely be noticeable within a couple years of the crazy fast growth of the alders but we shouldn't be promoting those behaviors in any way in an open forum or afield.  Removing that cover foliage can increase the amount of sunlight and warm the water as well...which could reduce its suitability for some fish and animal species.

I don't see anything specifically outlawing flamethrowers though, so that should be fine.  ;-)

 hit mc norton lake if you are going

danmanwick wrote:

Ya I wasn't going to do it without getting permission, but they should remove it as an official route if they are not going to maintain it

I agree!

And If I wasn't such a gram weenie I would absolutely use loppers to help me get down this creek. It would be the most effective way to clear a path through a published canoe route.

The AFA can use a bulldozer to clear a path through a designated logging area but we can't use a cutting tool to clear a path through a designated canoe route? Leave no trace principles are dogma. A canoe route is a predetermined dedicated trace for people to travel. A portage is the exact opposite of Leave No Trace.

Last edited by MartinG (1/13/2024 9:33 am)