Algonquin Adventures / Hurdman - West Corbeau

**Posted by bheard** 7/05/2025 3:43 pm

Planning way ahead for my fall trips.
Has anyone been to Hurdman in the fall?
_I'd be coming from Brent/Cedar (not Brain Lake access) -- partly because, from what I hear, Brain - Stretch need to be done in spring for water levels?

If I come at it from Cedar, will the short creek distance into Hurdman be a problem?
Could I push on to Stretch (even if this were a day trip without all my gear)?

**Posted by Bampot** 7/06/2025 8:51 am

I did a trip at the end of August 2023 out of Brain Lake to Little Cauchon, and then made a loop by portaging up Daventry Road back to the access point. Water levels in Brain Creek and Hurdman Creek were fine when I went through in late summer. I stopped for a water break at the campsite on Stretch Lake. The scenery looking out at the rock cliffs was stunning, but the campsite itself wasn't great.

**Posted by Andy W** 7/06/2025 12:35 pm

bheard wrote:
Planning way ahead for my fall trips.
Has anyone been to Hurdman in the fall?
_I'd be coming from Brent/Cedar (not Brain Lake access) -- partly because, from what I hear, Brain - Stretch need to be done in spring for water levels?

If I come at it from Cedar, will the short creek distance into Hurdman be a problem?
Could I push on to Stretch (even if this were a day trip without all my gear)?

If you are coming out of Cedar, headed into Hurdman, I assume you are talking about the creek out of Aura Lee lk? It that is your plan, I would avoid trying the creek into Hurdman from Aura Lee but do the two small / easy portages from Aura Lee, into Laural and then into Hurdman. We tried both and the two carrys were much easier than a slog trying to get through the creek. . FWIW if you will be spending a night, the northern camp site on Hurdman is really nice. PS. The bass fishing has alreays been great for us from Hurdman all the way up (and including) stretch! Good walleye
fishing too Hope that helps

Last edited by Andy W (7/06/2025 1:17 pm)

**Posted by hiker72** 7/06/2025 3:24 pm

We did most of this as part of an early August trip several years back. I concur with Andy to consider taking the portages to Hurdman via Laurel and check out the northern site if it's part of the plan. We stayed two nights there and it felt very peaceful and remote. We went to West Corbeau as part of a day trip with some interesting waterways and lower maintenance portages to get there. It was navigable for us, although I recall it being quite shallow for a section after the P80. The site on West Corbeau would have been an absolute no-go - extremely overgrown, with ropes and a crude table indicative of a possible winter fishing camp.
Enjoy your trip planning!
Rich

**Posted by Evan Briden** 7/07/2025 10:02 am

I agree with all of this. We did this trip in the spring of 2024:
https://algonquinadventures.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?id=4311

The stretch from Aura Lee direct to Hurdman would be my second choice. The portage landings are very rocky, sharp , and annoying.

The two portages from Aura Lee --> Laurel --> Hurdman are very easy and a much more enjoyable use of your time in my opinion.

North site on Hurdman is awesome and the cabin ruins on the W. Corbeau to Stretch portage are neat.
I really like the creek north of Hurdman, feels remote and quiet.

In spring water we skipped a bunch of those portages, but with a decent amount of bumping and grinding.

Last edited by Evan Briden (7/07/2025 10:02 am)

**Posted by bheard** 7/08/2025 7:22 pm

Thank you folks!
I'll follow the advice to go via Laurel instead of directly from Aura Lee into Hurdman.

I'm looking forward to what sounds like an especially quiet area of the park.

_B

Hurdman - West Corbeau - Stretch ___but in October?

bheard wrote: