The trip takes you across the Pitt River and into Widgeon Creek. Having said that, the destination was beautiful and 40 years ago there was nobody there and no garbage It was pristine. Vehicle or walk-in access to these lakes is managed by the USFWS. We then backpacked up to Widgeon lake. There’s limited space for campers but if there’s a will, there’s a way. Chain O'Lakes Campground. The lake is still frozen and there is a good amount of snow there. Went on a Tuesday and only saw one other couple on the trail and there was no one else camping at the lake. I We have updated the map so that it starts at the Pitt Lake Boat Launch now. 3 of us hiked it 40 years ago and the trail was great until the last few km's, same as everyone else here posted. We camped for two nights and the only other human contact was two hikers who stayed for a half hour and float planes coming and going. Hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and dog sledding are just a few of the activities you can enjoy within this state park setting. Park ranger/city workers travel there daily now. Happy hiking! Chain O'Lakes State Park. Added by Rachel Bertsch Paddle and hike to Widgeon Falls. No snow on the trail leading to the lake though. Contact Pitt Lake Canoe Rentals for rental availability and reservations. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Newaygo State Park. As you leave the river the trail climbs to the 800m hanging lake through very steep terrain. Also, at some sections we had to carry our dog up as they were too steep for her. We then hiked for 5.5h to get to the lake. The lake is used mainly for hiking, trail running, camping, and canoeing. The total distance is approximately a 1 hour paddle (roundtrip) and a 6km (3.7 mi) hike (roundtrip), minimal elevation gain. Wilderness State Park – Carp Lake Participate in a host of recreational activities including hiking, fishing, and biking across 10,500 acres of campground in Northwest Michigan. All that aside, it was beautiful up there and the lake was perfect for swimming. Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Valley are accessible by canoe. Sign up to receive hiking updates, information And then BAM. Deceiving trail. You could spend days exploring up there and swimming in the crystal water, I wished I had my paddle board but I did not regret my choice to leave it behind since that would be a lot of extra weight to carry. There are currently no camping fees for the Widgeon Creek Campsite and reservations cannot be made. The canoe/kayak trip starts at north west corner of the Pitt-Addington Marsh in Pitt Meadows. Concrete boat launch is available at the dam. Camping Primitive tent camping. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It has tent pads, bear cache lockers, even outhouses. By the time we reached the last km mark up the steep mountain side, we came across snow on the ground that was melting from the heavy rain. Harrison Lake Campground. Further, the little stream flowing around rocks behind the campground were teeming with rainbow trout. The rumours are true. Wigeon Lake is located within the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) south of Potholes Reservoir. Volunteer campground host opportunities are available in state parks, recreation areas and forest campgrounds. You think people are lying when they say it gets hard at the end because it’s so gradual for so long. I’m not the most experienced, but I’d say having a fair amount of experience hiking should be recommended. You MUST canoe to the trail. Questions or comments can Took us 50 minutes to get to the Widgeon creek campsite. These sites are popular and often fully booked, so you’ll need to reserve your site in advance.. 6. Widgeon Falls is a special place. It's especially challenging after hiking for 6k on a pretty steady and tiring incline for most of it. Hi Nansy, thank you for the review! Lots of "are we there yet?" The red route on this page includes the paddling portion. You may camp here or at one of the other campgrounds nearby. My husband and I hiked this on a Friday with our dog and stayed for two nights. It would be beneficial to try to arrive as early as possible to avoid having to scrounge up some flat ground that isn't rock-solid to serve as your tent pad. moments and an absolutely crazy amount of deadfall. The falls along the way are beautiful as well! Would not recommend parking along quarry road and accessing the trail that way. There is one main trail in the area that heads up the Widgeon Valley from the Widgeon Slough campground. Campfires will not be allowed at any state forest campgrounds or other similar unsupervised, rustic campgrounds. Did this with my husky mix and he made it up no problem (however he can easily jump 5ft). The portage trail starts just west of the creek inflow, and it’s a tough one: over 500 m long with several uphill sections for a total elevation gain of 40 m. The camping area on Kidney Lake is directly across the small bay from the end of the portage. Views at the lake where stunning, way better than we expected. Enjoy 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and watch amazing sunsets over pristine water. Follow this road to past the sign indicating the Soda Lake Campground to the next sign indicating Soda Lake, Pillar/Widgeon Lakes (this sign indicates Pillar/Widgeon Lakes are .6 miles, which is partly true Widgeon Lake is this distance but Pillar Lake is approximately 3 miles. form. A bit slippery and challenging but manageable with a large load, if you take your time, for experienced hikers (we are both 17 years old and had very few issues with it.) 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