Agnes Lake, Quetico Provincial Park
Agnes Lake in Ontario, Canada is a gorgeous twenty-one mile lake running directly north-south in the wilderness of Quetico Provincial Park. For adventure travelers who love to canoe, Agnes Lake is a major thruway between the south-central entry point at Prairie Portage and the remote wilderness found in the center of the park.
My Dad and I canoed all twenty-one miles, back and forth, on our way into and out of the Quetico wilderness. On the way up we passed five canoes, and on the way back we encountered four canoes. This means nine other canoes in 42 miles. We saw more combined loons and eagles than people.
A loon swims across the canoe on Agnes Lake in Quetico
When one conjures up thoughts of a twenty-one mile lake they most likely think of jet skis and motorboats, but none of these noisy and pollution making contraptions are allowed up here. In fact, the water is so pure on Agnes that it is safe to just dip your canteen in the middle of the lake and drink away. Cathy, the ranger at Prairie Portage, advised us to rinse soap on the land as Quetico is one of the last pure water sources around. “Let’s keep it that way,” she implored to us as we entered the park.
The most interesting sections of Agnes are the narrows and Louisa Falls. The narrows are about a third of the way up the lake. They are dominated by beautiful boulder strewn bluffs.
Agnes Lake narrows
Louisa Falls lies on the far southern stretch of the lake. The falls make for an ideal outdoor bath and shower. Halfway up the falls there is a deep pool where one can immerse themselves into the crystal cool waters. The water from the top of the waterfall crashes down into the pool, but the cascade is light and one can head under the falls just like a shower.
Traveling Ted cools off in Louisa Falls
The pool is protected by a row of rocks, so it is completely safe to swim in without being ushered over the bottom half of the falls. Caution of course needs to be exercised, especially in times of high water, but playing in the pool of Louisa Falls is pretty safe.
At the north end of Agnes the lake opens up into a huge pathway of water until suddenly ending in a bay with a portage. The portage takes canoeists into the deeper interior of the park including Lake Kawnipi, and the poet chain lakes of Keats and Shelley.
Natural history buffs will also enjoy the lake as they have a treat in store for them. Agnes Lake has six areas listed on the map with Indian pictographs on them. One of these pictures features a canoe. These ancient forms of art suggest Agnes has been a preferred travel route not only for canoeists in aluminum and fiberglass canoes, but also for the Native Americans in hand carved craft many centuries before.
Ancient Native American art forms prove we are not the first to enjoy canoeing Agnes Lake
If this type of trip appeals to you, there are two places one can access the park from the United States that I recommend. If you go through Ely, Minnesota then go through Canadian Border Outfitters. Read about them here:
Boundary Waters and Quetico vacation begin with Canadian Border Outfitters
If you want to go through Grand Marais then try Voyageur Canoe Rentals. Read about them here:
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters is the key that unlocks Quetico and the Boundary Waters
Stay tuned,
TT
The goal of Traveling Ted TV is to inspire people to outdoor adventure travel and then provide tips on where and how to go. If you liked this post then enter your email in the box to get email notifications for each new entry. Daily travel photos are excluded from your email in order to not flood you with posts. There is no spam and email information will not be shared. Other e-follow options include Facebook (click on the like box to the right) or twitter (click on the pretty bird on the rainbow above).
Looks amazing! I canoed across Scotland last year and that was beautiful, but nothing compared to this wilderness. Nice pictures Ted
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What a nice and refreshing trip this must have been for you and Dad. Love the fact that you keep your hat on in the falls…hope you remembered to take off the fanny pack. LOL! Beautiful pics as well my friend!
Jeff Titelius recently posted..Postcards from Venice, Italy – A Journey Through Mystery and Wonder
Yay Quetico! I never heard about this exciting adventure destination until I read your posts about it on Examiner. Looks like a relaxing place to experience nature
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fyi, First Nation peoples have strongly requested that Quetico pictographs NOT be photographed.
Ted, this looks like an amazing journey & even more special to share it with your father
I will have to make more time for travel in Canada when I have the chance.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Stones Steps | Machu Picchu, Peru, | Travel Photo
This looks like something I would really enjoy- love that you included a video!
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i have never canoed on any lake before… the view looks amazing!!!
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This looks amazing. I have mot been to Quetico in years. Your photos make me want to go back for another canoe adventure!
Looks like a lovely day at the lake. Very cool that you can see Native American pictographs there!
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