Restoule Upper Route

Location

 Restoule

Length

 72 km (4-6 days) / 44.7 miles

Difficulty

 River Travel - moderate
Lake Travel - moderate
Portaging - easy
Remoteness - easy

Number of Portages

 12 (plus 2 optional)

Topo Maps: 

1:50,000 scale: 31 L/04 – Nipissing

                        41 L/01 - Noelville

Description:

The Restoule Upper French Route is a 72 km route, with 12 portages, that generally takes between 4 and 6 days to complete.  Canoeists will begin at Restoule Provincial Park and follow the route the Ojibwa took with Samuel de Champlain to the French River and into Lake Nipissing (east to west).  The return voyage (west to east) takes users through a seldom travelled backwater into Restoule Provincial Park.

Directions: (to start of route)

From the HWY 11/17 junction near Seymour Street, head southeast on HWY 11 for 14.5 km (9 miles).  Take exit 329 for Lake Nosbonsing Road/HWY 654.  Continue on Lake Nosbonsing Road/HWY 654 for 23 km (14.3 miles), then turn right onto HWY 534.  21.4 km (13.3 miles) further, stay right to remain on HWY 534 for an extra 9 km (5.6 miles).  Follow signage to the Provincial Park.