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Powell River, British Columbia


by Tory Bowman


ROUTE: Powell Lake Forest


The Powell Lake route is a haven for canoeists dissenting from the sea-kayaking culture of B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Despite being one of the best multi-day flatwater routes close to Vancouver, it remains rarely travelled. While the Bowron Lakes circuit sees 5,000 people in a three-month season, the Powell Forest route gets only 1,000 in an eight-month season stretching from


April to


November. Expect surreal B.C. landscapes: graveyards of drowned cedar snags, Volkswagon-sized stumps and snow-capped peaks. It’s welcom- ing to kids, dogs and reformed sea kayakers, making this a good trip for families or wilderness begin- ners.


Need to know Athree to five-day loop runs 69 counterclockwise kilometres from Lois Lake through Horseshoe, Nanton, Dodd and Powell lakes.


26 www.canoeroots.ca


Six portages along the way range up to 2.5 kilometres. Put in at the Lois Lake Recreational Site and take out at the Powell Lake Marina in the southeast corner of the lake.


Local Lore If you’re looking for a nearby but remote place to escape to, you should know Powell River has a fugitive’s stamp of approval. Escaped cons Charles Bagley and Edward Fawcett headed for Powell River in 1932 after fleeing Vancouver in a stolen boat. Officials didn’t even bother to inform nearby sleepy communi- ties such as Powell River and the fugitives escaped detection until they got up to their old tricks. After attracting attention by steal- ing the town manager’s car, the theatre’s safe and some booty from the liquor store, they had to leave their formerly safe haven behind, being reeled-in by the law soon afterwards.


SIDE TRIPS...................................................... Mountain-ringed Khartoum Lake, east of Lois Lake.


TIP .................................................................. Go on Easter or Thanksgiving: no logging or tourists.


GETTING THERE ............................................ Lois Lake is seven kilometres north of Highway 101 on Canoe Main, 10 kilometres west of Saltery Bay and 21 kilometres east of Powell River.


FERRIES.......................................................... From Vancouver–Horseshoe Bay to Langdale; drive north on Hwy 101 to Earls Cove; ferry from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay. From Vancouver Island–Little River (north of Comox) to Powell River.


INFO .............................................................. Powell River Visitor Info Centre, 1-877-817-8669. BC Ferries: 1-888-223-3779; http://www.bcferries.bc.ca. Logging road access 24 hour info line, (604) 485-3132; Powell Lake Marina, (604) 483-3314.


OUTFITTERS .................................................. Mitchell’s Canoe, Kayak and Snowshoes, www.canoeingbc.com.


MAPS.............................................................. Topos–92 F/15, F/16, K/1.


BEST CAMPSITE ............................................ At the north end of Windsor Lake you’ll find a south-facing gem nestled in the mountains with an old-growth cedar crapper and a spectacular view.


PHOTO BY TORY BOWMAN


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