Barron Canyon - light team route

Camping on Opalescent Lake on the Barron Canyon route did not disappoint. I was part of a light team of four who drove to the park on Saturday morning and put-in at Brigham Lake in order to maximise the chances of getting two of the best campsites on Opalescent Lake for Saturday night. After a short P200* from the parking lot, a short paddle down a really shallow section of the river to Brigham Lake, and a P730, we were at Opalescent Lake. As it turned out, we managed to take over the reputed "flintstones" campsite from the people who were just about to leave when we got there at about half past twelve, and secured the campsite opposite it on the north shore of the lake as well. This campsite is one of a kind, as some people a long time ago must have decided to build this unique kitchen/fireplace out of rock, complete with seats for eight.


It was a beautiful day for a little paddle around the lake, and a swim, before the main group who put-in at Grand Lake early that morning after camping Friday night at Achray arrived later in the afternoon.


And by the way, we met pirates as we arrived on Opalescent Lake. Honest! They were flying the Jolly Roger and even put up a sail (although I think the wind was going the wrong way so they were have having a tough time paddling forward). They were headed for Cork Lake, which was going to be out of character with its usual quietude that night judging from the amount of Captain Morgan's they had with them. You probably won't believe me until I post a picture, so wait till I get my hands on one.

On Sunday, we took the P730 back to Brigham Lake, followed by a P100 and a P440 in quick succession past rapids into the Barron Canyon. There is a good rock outcrop about 1 km into the canyon on the north bank of the river to have lunch and swim. It is near where the Barron Canyon Trail runs above. This is where we basked in the sun and looked up the face of the canyon walls. After lunch, we continued on a leisurely tailwind-assisted paddle through the rest of the canyon and the flats beyond to the take-out at Squirrel Rapids. We were out of the water by 4 pm. Only the car shuttle remained.

*P200 is a portage of 200 metres.