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- Date posted
- Apr 5, 2003
- Date last travelled
Instructions to Morris Island Conservation Area
Take Highway 417 to the split, continuing west towards Arnprior on Highway 17. At the Galetta Sideroad, turn right, following it to Loggers Way. Turn left and follow the signs (they feature a brown letter C enclosing an icon of water and pine trees) to the conservation area.
Original Instructions
Leave the boathouse and drive down Woodroffe to the Queensway. Take the Queensway west to Junction 144, the Stittsville-Carp Road #5. Go north towards Carp. Drive straight through Carp, following the signs to Fitzroy Harbour. Drive north from Carp for about 18 kilometers until the road comes to an abrupt T-junction. Go right, crossing the railroad tracks, then turn sharp left immediately on the road to Fitzroy Harbour.
About one kilometer after the junction, you will reach the edge of Fitzroy Harbour. There will be a small store on your right. WE WILL RENDEZVOUS here. Head left on Victoria Street. The street shrinks down rapidly, and you'll wonder if you've taken the wrong turn. The road will cross the Mississippi Snye, a tiny channel of the Ottawa River carrying hardly any water. On the other side is Morris Island. Continue driving under the high tension wires until you reach a wide area in the road. The paved portion of the road goes right towards the dam. A small trail leads left. Continue straight ahead. Drive up onto the dike. Continue driving along the dike for about 1.2 kilometres. Eventually, the road will leave the dike, descending on a steep, muddy and potholed road to the river. Park your cars and put the canoes in here.
On the Water
Put the canoes in the water. It's a rather awkward spot for parking. We'll start paddling upstream, keeping to the Ontario (left) side. Eventually, we will cross the river to enter Baie Black. There are several good swimming spots on the way.
NOTE: This can be a tricky area to paddle in. Although you'd expect a large, flat expanse of water to be fairly tranquil, there may be unexpected currents because of the power station. This applies especially along the narrow channels leading from the main lake into Baie Black. BE CAREFUL TO KEEP ABSOLUTELY CLEAR OF THE POWERPLANT. To do so, we'll keep close to the Ontario shore as we go upstream and make a beeline across to Baie Black. Our route will lie about 1 km. east of the railroad bridge.
Cross the river and enter the bay by a series of channels interspersed by reefs. The current will be surprisingly strong in places. About 700 meters after you enter the bay, on the southern (left) side is a nice place to stop. There is a rock next to deep water. On the western side is a small inlet with a small, sandy beach. The water is very shallow. There are lots of other good places.
The bay makes some interesting exploring. When we leave, we could go back by a different route. Continue west, following the shore closely. You will eventually go through a narrow channel, and the route will turn abruptly south. Follow it as far south as you can, to the railroad embankment. A small channel cuts down to the Ottawa River. Although the map shows a railroad bridge, the tracks actually cross on a continuous embankment. You will have to make a tiny portage, and beware of the poison ivy. You will find a small, tranquil inlet that will lead to the main channel. Go east on the river back to the cars.
Another idea you might want to try some other time is to put your canoes in the water at Galetta. There is a small road following the Mississippi River on the west bank downstream of the Galetta mini-hydro station. Paddle down the Mississippi, passing the snye and with Morris Island to your right. You will be very close to the railway bridge when you reach the main channel.
DISTANCES0.0km Leave boathouse
2.2km Woodroffe and Queensway. Take Queensway west.
20.2km Queensway and Carp road. Go north.
29.5km Town of Carp. Drive through.
48.2km Turn right, cross RR tracks, turn left.
49.5km Fitzroy Harbour. Rendez-vous, then go left on Victoria St.
50.6km End of pavement. Keep going straight. Drive along dike.
52.5km Road descends from dike. Put canoes in water.
