Otter Lake (Township of Widdifield) from the South Beach area. The Municipal park property is the left shoreline. These lands were initially purchased by the City in the late 60's and early 70's with the intent of turning the entire perimeter of Otter Lake into a municipal park. In recent developments, North Bay City Council has decided to keep the Otter Lake Recreational Lands for free public use. The lands are not maintained by the City. An informal group called the Otter Lake Friends is keeping the trails open and in good hiking/snowshoeing condition. This group is comprised of the Trout Lake Conservation Association, the North Bay Hunters and Anglers and the Widdifield Ratepayers. There is no garbage pickup in this area. Please, if you pack it in, pack it out and leave only footprints
Otter Lake looking South from McGruther's Road spur. This part of the lake you cannot see from the South Beach. In the top part of the photograph you can see a canoe heading for the Nikik Waterway, a canoeing access from Widdifield Station Rd via the Little North and the North Rivers.
After Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake, Otter Lake is the largest lake in the municipality of North Bay. The Otter Lake area is a pristine, undeveloped, very large natural area with extremely exciting geological and natural history. It is also just 15 minutes from downtown North Bay. This area is possibly the best kept natural secret of the municipality. It is an excellent area in which to go hiking, canoeing, camping, orienteering, snowshoeing . . . to name only a few recreational activities.. No buildings exist on the entire perimeter. There is a lone cottage on the one and only island.
| From the HWY 17/11 and HWY 63 junction drive 14 km up HWY 63 to Widdifield Station Rd (6.2 kilometers past Peninsula Rd). Turn left. 2.2 km further down Widd. Stn Rd you will cross a railroad track. 1.6 km after this crossing you will find the Southern Access Road on your left. (See the first map presented on this web site). You will find an Otter Lake sign at the entrance to the Southern Access Road. | |
The South Access Road and the associated forest walking trails are presently the most popular. Maps are posted at all trail junction points, so you need not worry about getting lost. Your trail adventure typically starts at the South Access Road. This is a historical logging road that was also used to access the Norhaven Beach, a beach that was used by the Norhaven Nudist Colony from 1948 to about 1960.
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Along the South Road you will also find the start of the North Bay Hunter's and Angler's (NBHA) walking
trail, in recognition of the group who applied for and obtained the permit to cut the trail. This trail has historical
significance as it granted public access to Otter Lake at a time when the City was trying to sell the Otter Lake Recreational
Lands and deny public access to Otter Lake. |
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North Walking TrailA historical colonization road called McGruthers Rd served to bring settlers to the Widdifield Station area.
The land was cleared and agriculture was attempted. However, after a number of crop cycles, the soil nutrients
became so depleted that the settlement was all but abandoned. What is left of the colonization road is
now referred to as McGruther's trail, which is routinely used by canoe-carrying ATV's to access the North end
of Otter Lake. It also serves as a picturesque walking trail. In the early 1900's a saw mill was constructed
on the shores of Otter Lake where McGruther's trail meets the lake. An explosives factory was also constructed
along McGruther's Rd closer to Widdifield Station Rd. Thus a cement bridge was built across the North River
to support the weight of the goods being transported. It is odd today to cross a steel-reinforced-concrete bridge
while walking McGruther's trail. This is truly a walk back in time. |
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| McGruthers Trail - the cement bridge crossing the North River | McGruthers Trail - typical summer view |
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There is also a 'central access road', which is gated and
remains for the exclusive motor vehicular use of the owner of the island, the City of North Bay,
and any other public agency as may be required from time-to-time. This right is registered on title. However,
there is no problem walking that road if you so desire.
Now that the City has generously agreed to allow citizens to continue to use the Otter Lake Recreational Lands,
it is imperative that we all contribute to keeping this area clean. Garbage attracts garbage.
So if you see any, please consider gathering it and packing it out.
Remember the saying: If you
pack it in, pack it out. Keeping this area clean is easy, but we do have to cooperate collectively, and we thank
you for your help in this regard.
Nekik in Ojibway means Otter. Roy Summers came up with the idea of exploring a direct water access route
via the North and Little North rivers (see poster above for the location of the route).
The Otter Lake Friends decided to name this route the NEKIK WATERWAY, in honour of our Ojibway
friends who first explored and settled this area thousands of years ago. Back then the North River
was a major river draining Lake Algonquin into the St-Lawrence via the Mattawa and Ottawa rivers.
To get to the start of the canoe route along the Nekik Waterway, travel up Widdifield Station Rd
from HWY 63. Just before you cross the railroad tracks for the second time you will come to a straight-away
(first photo on the left). Continuing to the end of the straight-away will give way to the towering
Muloch batholith (volcano that did not quite make it out of the ground - photo on the right). From here you
you will see the Nekik Waterway sign (next photo) just before you cross the
railroad tracks for the second time. This is where you put in. Stay left on the North River in order
to fork onto the Little North River then straight to Otter Lake. The route on the rivers should be
marked with flagging tape, but it really is a no brainer. Travel time is a little shy of half an hour. There
are a few beaver dam liftovers.
The following photos show you views, typical of the Nekik Waterway. We suggest that you bring
sandals or water shoes to help you with the beaver dam liftovers. The final lift into Otter Lake
is boulder-strewn if the water is low, and you will have to walk your canoe a little heading for deeper water.
Just past the boulder field is the remnants of an old water dam built by Booth Lumber Company, back at the turn of the
last century, in order to raise the water levels, to allow running logs from Otter Lake down to Trout Lake. There the
final destination was Trout Mills, where the MNR buildings are today.
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| The start of the Nekik Waterway is on the left, where the road disappears at the bottom of this photo. | The Muloch batholith, a towering volcanic intrusion that did not quite make it to the surface (background), hangs majestically over the Nekik Waterway. |
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| Looking at the Nekik Waterway map prior to putting in. | Putting in at the start of the Nekik Waterway |
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| Typical Nekik waterway scenery. The route is marked with flagging tape. | Guess who got surprised upon reaching Otter Lake via the Nekik? |
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| Roy Summers just coming out of the Nekik waterway in his canoe |
Coming out of the Nekik waterway, preparing to make a left turn (South) on Otter Lake |
| Background Information for the Otter Lake Master Plan - 1979 |
| The post-glacial history of Otter Lake |
| Otter Lake Access Roads are public roads - Roy Summers |
| The geology of the area |
| North Bay Hunters' And Anglers' 2551 Sandra Ave North Bay, ON P1B 7W7 |
Trout Lake Conservation Assoc. Box 1462 North Bay, ON P1B 8K6 |
Nipissing Naturalists Conservation Committee 496 Musky Island Road RR#1 Lavigne, ON POH 1RO |
| Widdifield Ratepayers Association dwtc@efni.com |
Roy Summers Phone: 705-474-4795 |
Last updated: December 15th, 2009