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Route description: Jone's Creek
- Posted by
- cmkl
- Date posted
- Apr 5, 2003
- Date last travelled
The trip is ideal for the early spring or fall. It is a very beautiful area but quite marshy. Two maps are necessary for today's trip; 31 B/12 and 31 B/5.
Getting There
Leave the boathouse and drive down Woodrofe to the very end, where it merges with Highway 16. Follow Highway 16 south, across the Rideau River for about 70-80 km. until it meets Highway 401 at Johnstown. This is Intersection 721 (721 kilometres from Windsor)
Take Highway 401 west, passing Prescott, Maitland and Brockville. After Brockville, the route will veer slowly towards the south. At Intersection 687, the route will turn sharply to the right.
Take Intersection 685, following the signs for the Thousand Islands Parkway.
Follow the Parkway for about two kilometres. Note the bicycle path on the right. The road will descend a hill, with the St. Lawrence and several cottages on the left. The road will cross a wide reach of water heading inland from the St. Lawrence. The Parkway will cross on one bridge, the bicycle path on an identical span to the right. This is Joneâs Creek. We will put in at the bridge.
On the Water
We will head upstream. Although the area is very marshy, there will be several places to stop. The creek will eventually split into three forks. The one to the right is MacIllhenny's Creek, a short but very beautiful stretch. Jone's Creek continues along the centre arm. It is a nice, marshy route up to Highway 401 and the Service Centre. This area is the hamlet of Yonge Mills. Mud Creek goes to the left. It is the longest arm, but eventually peters out.
Return back to the cars. If there is time, an interesting paddle can be made around the mouth of Jone's Creek. The St. Lawrence River can get rather rough because of a long, uninterrupted fetch. It is possible to cross over to Upstate New York; but beware of the 27,000 tonne Seaway vessels.
Swimming is possible at the Brown's Bay Provincial Park just to the west of the Creek.
