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St Andrews Lake to St Francis Lake via Rouge Lake

2019 June 18

We recently spent three night camping on St. Andrews Lake in Algonquin Park. On one of the days we travelled to St. Francis Lake via Rouge Lake. In spite of the portage into St. Francis Lake being unmaintained, it was pretty straight forward. There were a few minor blow-downs but nothing you couldn't step over or around. But it was also clear that this is not a high traffic area.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Morning calm on St. Andrews Lake in Algonquin Park (with poplar fluff).

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Submerged pyramids are everywhere in Algonquin Park. This one is on St. Andrews Lake.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Fringed Polygala at the start of the portage from St. Andrews Lake to Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The portage from St. Andrews Lake to Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park. It follows the old rail bed.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Finishing the portage from St. Andrews Lake into Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The outlet of Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park. The lake level is beaver dam controlled.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The abandoned rail bed along the northern shore of Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park. It seems clear that the railway significantly affected the drainage of this area.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The start of the portage from Rouge Lake to St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The portage from Rouge Lake to St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park is not maintained, although it was straight forward to follow once into the bush.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — From the lone campsite on St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park. The fire pit used to be up against that rock with a big pile of rusted tins on the other side.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The sole campsite on St. Francis in Algonquin Park is compact and nicely located. However, there's not much in the way of tent pads.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Looking west from the sole campsite on St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Looking east from the sole campsite on St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — St. Francis Lake seeps out here towards Rouge Lake (St. Francis Creek).

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Yellow hawkweed at the sole campsite on St. Francis Lake.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Cornus canadensis, Bunchberry, at the sole campsite on St. Francis Lake.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The western end of St. Francis Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The western end of St. Francis Lake. There are some large deciduous trees in there.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The south-eastern end of Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The northern shore of Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — The northern shore of Rouge Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Looking back into Rouge Lake from the start of the portage to St. Andrews Lake.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Diana waiting to begin portaging from Rouge Lake to St. Andrews Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Cliff on the shore of St. Andrews Lake in Algonquin Park.

Three nights on St Andrews Lake — Cliffs on the shore of St. Andrews Lake in Algonquin Park.

Algonquin Park Rouge Lake St. Andrews Lake St. Francis Lake