Pukaskwa River
Ontario
The Pukaskwa River lies in Pukaskwa National Park, high on the north shore of Lake Superior. The river is a small and turbulent wilderness river. It begins at Gibson Lake, east of the park boundary, and cascades its way through rugged hills to Lake Superior. The headwaters of the river consist of a small stream rushing through dense forest and log jams, making it very rough going. The river opens up after reaching the hydro line, located on the eastern boundary, and paddling becomes easier. Then there come some flat stretches and swifts over gravel pans. When the water is high, there is fine whitewater, but when the water is low, there can be dragging and boulder dodging. After that the river starts to dramatically drop with falls and gorges that require careful scouting. Finally, there is Ringham's Gorge, a day from the coast, that ends with a 10-metre falls. "Two Pants Portage" is an alternative to running Ringham's when there is high water. The Pukaskwa River's watershed is small and has a granite base. The best paddling is from early May to early June, as the water level can change quickly with snow melt or rain fall. Note: You must register in and out of Pukaskwa National Park before canoeing the river.
