Paddling — Flatwater.
The Madawaska River through Greater Madawaska is a chain of dammed lakes — Centennial, Black Donald, Norcan, and Calabogie — that paddle as flatwater between dams. Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park, between Aumonds Bay and Griffith, lays 36 canoe-in campsites along the river through 1,200 ha of waterway-class Crown land — a multi-day flatwater corridor inside the township.
The brief.
The Lower Madawaska canoe-in sites are first come, first served on the river; the park is non-operating, so plan for self-supported camping with no facilities, no garbage service, and no on-site staff. From Calabogie village, day paddles run on Calabogie Lake; SUP and kayak rentals are available in the village.
Black Donald Lake (the impoundment that drowned the former mining village in 1967) and Centennial Lake add quieter day-paddle waters upstream. The named whitewater playspots on the Madawaska — at Palmer Rapids — sit upstream in Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, not in Greater Madawaska.
4. places.
- 01
Calabogie Lake
Village waterfront access for day paddling, kayak / SUP; dammed Madawaska impoundment.
- 02
Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park
Aumonds Bay to Griffith; 1,200 ha; 36 canoe-in campsites (first come, first served); non-operating park.
- 03
Black Donald Lake
Large impoundment lake (former mining village submerged in 1967); flatwater paddling.
- 04
Centennial Lake
Upstream lake on the Madawaska chain.
Today's read.
Temperature (3.3°C) below the typical range.