Cross-Wasaksina Loop
Total distance: 48 km
Number of portages: 4
Total portage length: 1855 m
Recommended time: 3 nights (4 days)
Beginning on Lake Temagami, this route offers a mix of big and small lakes, many campsites and few portages. You will pass through beautiful lakes with great fishing prospects; Cross Lake is one of the most scenic in the area, with only one cottage tucked away in a secluded bay. In addition to natural beauty, you will get a glimpse of Temagami’s cultural history through pictographs in Portage Bay and an optional hike up High Rock island, a traditional First Nations spiritual site. The hike is relatively steep but short, and the payoff is well worth the effort, giving you spectacular views north, east and west on Lake Temagami. We recommend it highly!
“Cross-Wasaks” is one of the most accessible canoe routes in Temagami, starting at the end of the Central Lake Temagami Access Road. As it is a loop, paddlers may drive themselves to the put-in/take-out location; no shuttle is required. The flip side to this easy access is that Cross Lake is popular with fishers and houseboaters, who can access Cross Lake through Outlet Bay on Lake Temagami. You’ll encounter motorboats and cottages on Lake Temagami, as well, but it’s nowhere near as busy as Muskoka cottage country. All cottages on Lake Temagami are situated on islands; the mainland shoreline is undeveloped and the lake maintains a wild character.
What you’ll love about it:
Easy access (relatively short drive)
Beautiful lakes and good fishing
Many campsites
Not many portages; one long one between Cross and Wasaksina but it’s flat
Doable in a short timeframe
Loop means no shuttle required
Mix of big and small lakes
Pictographs in Portage Bay
Hike up High Rock
Other things to consider:
Motorboats and cottages on Lake Temagami
Motorboats and houseboats can access parts of the canoe route
Perfect for:
Paddlers who want a shorter drive to their put-in
People with less than a week off work
Intermediate paddlers who don’t want to be too remote