Northern 101
Adventures to be had, memories to be made...we are committed to exploring and experiencing all that Northern Ontario has to offer us. Our plan is to immerse ourselves in the rugged beauty and vast vistas one step at time.
The Vermilion River traverses Sudbury from top to bottom, entering at Sellwood, coming through Capreol, then meandering through Hanmer and Dowling before leaving via Whitefish Falls and Espanola. It has a sandy bottom and is remarkably shallow in many spots, leaving only a foot of depth at numerous locations. You can see clearly in the shallow sections of the river although the deeper sections are more opaque. The river is known for good fishing. The name means Whitefish River. There were over 20 different fish species identified in the river a decade ago, and it is a diverse habitat for wildlife as it flows throughout Sudbury. There is a dam at one end opened over 100 years ago and owned by mining giant Vale, along with numerous indigenous reserves along the river. There is a continuous current, and the river is known for flooding frequently in the Spring such that it rises more than ten feet to flood the nearby cottages and camps. My friend Nancy and I spent Labour Day afternoon paddleboarding on the river. We went from Dowling for two kilometers upriver then turned around and basically glided back given the continuously flowing current. Given my paddling prowess, I wore my bathing suit and life jacket, expecting at some point to end up in the drink, even though I sat cross-legged or kneeled while paddling. In contrast, Nancy stood the whole time and wore her T-shirt and tights, being adept at balancing while paddling. "Shouldn't you wear a bathing suit?" "No, I won't fall. "25 cents says you will." "No, I will be fine." I earned my quarter when her fin caught a tree branch in one of the more shallow sections of the river and she went somersaulting forward. Once I confirmed she was fine, I laughed and laughed. The afternoon was about 20 degrees with a light breeze and ample sunshine. It was a beautiful end to summer vacation. Although the paddleboards were not as fast as a canoe, they were far easier to carry because everything you need fits into a large backpack, including your paddle, board, pump and fin. The Vermilion River is a perfect place to paddle, because of the sandy bottom and warm water. It is a long tributary and has a constantly flowing current so you can enter and exit anywhere along the river and be almost guaranteed a good time. We certainly had one.
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