I have an early July trip that may include a trek from Sturgeon through Heron Bay, Fred, Allen Creek, Allen Lake, Bernice to Poohbah.

Wondering if anyone has any recent experience with Allen Creek. Read some reports a few years back that said the area is bone dry and literally a drag to get through. If this is the case, I will stay on Sturgeon to the Maligne to get to Poohbah. Would prefer the Allen route if it is doable.

Thanks in advance to all who have a take on this.

Kiporby went through it a year or so ago. But, he didn't go all the way because he dropped south for a bushwack to Hoare. It looked like good paddling on the north part. Not sure he has recon on the parts closer to Allen.

I checked his YouTube's. It was May 2015.

Thanks, Doc!

I did it in 2015. I remember it being confusing as to how to get through one sections. I think you could either put back in the creek or walk the edge My trip report is here. There is a couple of comments about the creek. I would rather do the creek over than do the Memory Land Portages again.

Thanks, Magic. Yeah, when I saw the three portages labeled "Memory Lane," I figured there was a reason for that. Appreciate your input, although after reading that trip report, I am thinking a week on a beach somewhere may be a better call!

Yes, I did it in May. Water levels to the part where I branched towards my bushwhack were good in May. Maybe one or two beaver dams to deal with. My understanding is the trek gets more difficult the closer to Allan Lake you get as there are several portages and shallower water. I would hesitate taking Allan Creek anytime in the summer past late June unless it has been a wet year.

Kiporby
I think you did the hardest part of the creek. The area that is confusing is the 1 or 2 portages that are just west of the no-name lake

I tried going up Allen Creek from Fred in the spring of 2014 - the year of really high water. I did the first three portages and had plenty of water. But above the third portage there was less water than a canoe needs. Since I am ancient I gave up and went back. I suspect that you could walk along the side of the creek but I didn't see any water in the near distance. Here are a couple of pictures where I ran out of water.

I used to do this route quite regularly as it was a great journey from Poobah to Fred. Then the drought years came and the beaver left. I tried to talk the ranger into clearing portages from Camel to Allen via Hoare as another east-west route would be wonderful. But the rangers are having enough trouble maintaining existing portages.

In the spring of 2015 I did go into Allen lake via Poobah but I didn't bother looking at the creek. I did explore a bit to see if I could see a route from the lake to Hoare but the weather turned ugly and the bush seemed thick. Hope that helps.

jdddl8: "I tried going up Allen Creek from Fred in the spring of 2014 - the year of really high water. I did the first three portages and had plenty of water. But above the third portage there was less water than a canoe needs. Since I am ancient I gave up and went back. I suspect that you could walk along the side of the creek but I didn't see any water in the near distance. Here are a couple of pictures where I ran out of water.


I used to do this route quite regularly as it was a great journey from Poobah to Fred. Then the drought years came and the beaver left. I tried to talk the ranger into clearing portages from Camel to Allen via Hoare as another east-west route would be wonderful. But the rangers are having enough trouble maintaining existing portages.


In the spring of 2015 I did go into Allen lake via Poobah but I didn't bother looking at the creek. I did explore a bit to see if I could see a route from the lake to Hoare but the weather turned ugly and the bush seemed thick. Hope that helps.


"

Much appreciated! Thinking more so that I will take the Sturgeon to Maligne route.