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Route description: Lac l'Escalier
- Posted by
- cmkl
- Date posted
- Apr 5, 2003
- Date last travelled
The lake lies about 60 km northeast of Ottawa and flows by the Lievre River into the Ottawa River at Masson. It is actually an artificial reservoir. Refer to it on to 1:50,000 "Low" sheet 31 G/13. We will paddle from Lac Escalier through a narrow strait and onto Lac Rouge. There may be time to visit Lac Croche.
Getting There
Drive north on Woodroffe to the Ottawa River Parkway and go east. Although the westbound lanes of the Parkway are reserved for cyclists on Sunday mornings, it is still possible to drive on the eastbound lanes. Take the Portage Bridge and continue along Maisonneuve Street in Hull. When you get to the freeway that comes off the MacDonald Cartier Bridge, follow the signs for "Montreal" on Route 550. Take this route across the Gatineau River. After crossing the river, take the first exit, going north on Highway 307 (Rue Principale).
If you get mixed up and find yourself heading north on Highway 5 to Old Chelsea, not to worry. Turn off at Boulevard St. Joseph onto Route 105. Turn right in about 2.5 kilometers onto the Alonzo Wright Bridge, cross the Gatineau River, and join Highway 307. Go north (left). Whatever way you get to 307, go north through Limbour, Cantley and St. Pierre de Wakefield to Poltimore. At Poltimore (also called Portland-Ouest) things may get confusing. Follown Highway 307 in the direction of High Falls or Val des Bois. At Poltimore, this involves a left turn. We will rendezvous at Poltimore just after the left turn. Drive for about 100 metres and find small place to park on the right.
About 2.5 kilometers north of Poltimore, 307 makes a right-angle bend to the right. Follow this road; it will soon turn north but will veer east again. There will be an intersection. Keep following Highway 307 by going left (north) again. About 1-1.5 kilometres from this intersection, you will see Lac Escalier on your right. Some four kilometres from this last intersection, there will be a boat launch on the right. This is where we stop and put our canoes in the water. If you get to High Falls, you've gone too far. Go back 3 kilometres. Distances along the recommended route in kilometres are as follows:
0 - Junction Highway 50/307
12 - Cantley
19 - Junction. Go right to St.Pierre de Wakefield. Left takes you to Wakefield.
32 - St. Pierre de Wakefield
42 - Poltimore. Staging point. Turn left.
44.5 - Right-angle turn to right
48.5 - Right angle turn to left
50 - First view of Lac Escalier on right
54 - Put-in point
On the Water
We will head north, to the left, going under the bridge carrying Highway 307. Continuing up to the end of the lake, we will encounter a fork. The passage to the left is a narrow, marshy inlet going nowhere. We will take the route to the right, passing eventually into Lac Rouge. There are some nice places to stop at the northwestern shore. Depending on the time and our inclination, we may go into Lac Croche, an interesting and almost deserted lake to the northwest of Lac Rouge.
