We’re back from the woods after an 80 km, 12 portage canoe trip in a non-operating park north of Atikokan called Turtle River Provincial Park. We put in at the Turtle River bridge on 622 and canoed to the strange log castle built by eccentric woodsman Jimmy McOuatt in the early 1900s, and then back. We also visited the remains of a POW logging camp located just north of the castle.

We had a bug-free trip, which was a real treat, and just 2 nights and a morning of rain. The trip alternated between river and lake stretches, including parts of Smirch Lake, Dibble Lake and big White Otter Lake. Fishing was great for bass, including some really big ones. Here’s a selection of snapshots I took along the way.