Description
https://ottawacitizen.com/travel/daytripping-to-morris-island
Experienced paddlers can launch from the northwest corner of the parking lot out onto the wide stretch of the Ottawa River. Water levels and currents vary from day to day and can be challenging in the spring, but they don't change suddenly with dam operations. A nice 2- or 3-hour paddle can begin at the parking lot and proceed upriver under the big train bridge to the islands beyond, or directly across the river to the countless bays and islands on the Quebec side. A bit downstream on the Quebec side are the two islands where most of the gulls and cormorants in the region nest in late spring and early summer. Back on the Ontario side, there ere are two channels from the river into the sheltered bay of the conservation area. In 2020 the small floating barriers across these channels were reinstalled but they're easy to paddle over if returning this way. The bay can be shallow and weedy at times but it's usually navigable and always interesting, and it's usually possible to paddle under the footbridge to the south side of the causeway. Northern map turtles abound, as well as a few midland painted turtles and snapping turtles. At the west end of the main bay, by the causeway, there are picnic tables and a seasonal outhouse, and a few tires on the bank forming a canoe ramp. The parking lot is a 300-metre level portage from this point (not 100m and shown on a sign).
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