Cloud Lake stream

[Stephen Punshon]

Hi all,

I had an overnight canoeing/fishing trip to Cloud Lake on Wed/Thurs and camped on the island near the south end of the lake.  Somewhere I had read that the outlet stream could be followed to Spry Lake and saw on the map that there was an extensive still water system so I set off paddling down the stream.  It was navigable only for a hundred m or so then it was dragging the boat over rocks until a pool and rough ATV bridge was reached after about 400m.  I kicked myself when I found a good portage trail leading from the bridge back to the lake. Downstream from the bridge was a waterfall and a huge fallen tree blocking access to a marshy pond.  I couldn't see any further so gave it up for another day as it was late in the afternoon. 

Does anyone know if the going gets better after the pond?  Also, I was intrigued by the name Aalders Landing on the map, anyone know the origin of this, a logging camp maybe?

[Tristan Glen]

Hi Stephen and other fellow paddlers,

I paddled Cloud Lake Brook, Spry River, and the Upper LaHave River in 2020. Here's my trip report from that trip:

Canoeing Cloud Lake Brook + Spry River + LaHave River

April 25 - 26, 2020 (2 days, 36km) Cloud Lake, Cloud Lake Brook, Spry River, LaHave River

Weather:  Both days were sunny and about 12 degrees, the night was about -2 

Day 1 (April 25):

Drove up highway 10, turned right onto CherryField Rd past New Germany. Then took Alton Rd north.  Both those roads were gravel, and Alton road was especially rough in parts. Got droped off on Cloud Lake at the Air Cadet Summer Training Centre.  We put in the water around 10:30am. It was sunny and clear.  We paddled south across Cloud Lake. Where Cloud Lake Stream began, we could see a few rocky runs, and a nearby ATV trail.  We walked the ATV trail which goes down and crosses the stream about 500 metres down.  We paddled that section, but ended up lining most of it, and lifting over many obstacles.  We had lunch at the ATV bridge.  We portaged a short distance to a little stillwater which we were able to paddle. For the next 2.5km, there were many lift overs, portages, and sections of canoe lining until we reached a very long still water near Little North Bog. This was a beautiful long and wide stillwater.  I found a great potential campsite on a rocky red pine point that sticks out into the stillwater. Although rocky, there were 2 potential tenting areas, a good fire pit spot, previously used canoe access, and an old tarp and some garbage. That large stillwater continued on for a few more kilometres with one lift over where the forest banks got close to the water.  At the end of the stillwater we found an established campsite under a white pine canopy with a fire ring, flat areas, cut branges, and a few cans and bottles. There was a well used footpath leading due west which I followed for about one km before turning back. We had afternoon tea here, then made a short portage around a little rapid. We made two more portages around rapids until we were back in a stillwater. Found a potential campsite on the top of a white pine hill overlooking the stillwater and lake, about 600 m before Rocky Run.  At Rocky Run we had to make one lift over, then we began entering Spry Lake. At the opening of Spry Lake we saw a sign nailed to a tree on the east bank that read ‘Spry L’.  We checked out Joe Simon Stream, and it looked to be navigable with many liftovers and likely some portages; it appeared to be a series of pools and runs. At the south end of Spry Lake we found a potential island campsite under a white pine and hardwood forest. We entered Spry River, and immediately had to portage a short but steep rapid to a small pond, followed by another short portage to another pond.  From that pond to the next calm section of river we lined about 400 metres and made camp in the floodplain area just below the rapids. The sun was still on us and it was about 6:30. 

Day 2 (April 26):

It was a frosty night. Were on the water by 9:30.  About 1 km down river we saw where an ATV trail crosses the river (presumably in low water), and a campsite there on the west bank under a spruce forest. We lined the short rapids there and continued on.  Just before where the Shell Camp Stream joins the Spry River and becomes the LaHave River, there was another short rapid that we portaged.  We then lined about 500 metres down to Peter’s Stillwater. About 1 km into Peter’s Stillwater we saw a cabin on the east bank, and there was a man there sawing wood.  He told us the cabin was built in 2001.  Peter’s Stillwater is almost 4 km long, and completely uninterrupted. We saw a large black bear on the west bank another km further south than the cabin.  At the bottom of Peter’s Stillwater we checked out the little access and campsite where the cabin owner had parked his truck. Two short runs later, we crossed under an old (possibly dilapidated) bridge.  We had lunch here.  The next 4.5 km were very slow.  It was a series of rapids and small ponds.  The canoeing sections were very very short, and we had to line most of it with the exception of a few rapids that had enough water to run. Twice we found a large pine tree felled so that it landed perfectly across the river as if to make a bridge.  Both times the tree was very recently dead and still had green needles.  Both times occurred right at a rapid. Very strange.  It took us 4 hours to travel the 4.5km to the Camel Hill Road where we got picked up at 4 pm. We made it half an hour early and had time to make tea and eat the last of our crackers and cheese. I would not recommend this last 4.5km section.  Even in April (high water) we were unable to run most of the rapids, and there were very few parts we could actually paddle. Peter’s Stillwater would be a good place to finish the trip if a good access could be found. 

Wildlife:  .

We saw many ducks, some geese, a turtle, and a blackbear!

Mapping:

This was a very neat trip that brought us to some remote places.  The northern section from Cloud Lake to the first large stillwater was very slow and shallow.  Despite this, I think with a few established portage trails, it would be worth it for even the intermediate paddler to toil through a few portages to reach the beautiful and wild stillwaters further south. 

I would have liked to have had more time on Spry Lake.  It was a large lake with likely many good camping opportunities.  I’d also like to explore the possibility of using Joe Simon Stream as an exit route. 

With established portages, this could be a great trip, ending somewhere along Peter’s Stillwater.  Traveling further south than Peter’s Stillwater involves very little paddling, and mostly lining or grinding a boat down shallow rapids.  The elevation begins dropping significantly after Peter’s Stillwater. 

Donnellan Brook and Shell Camp Stream both look like potential routes as well.

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