Some years ago there was talk that Allen Creek (south of Fred Lake) was not passable due to the beavers not keeping up the dams.

I’ve been hesitant to go down that creek but my trip plans are telling me to go there. Has anyone been down Allen Creek in 2022 or 2023? If so what about the fires? Thanks a bunch.

Tom

I don't know about Allen Creek.... But Everything is passable, if you put in the effort.

We didn't go through Fred/Allen Creek/Allen Lake, but I was in Sturgeon late May 2022, and the burned strip heading south and north from that area through the Allen lake route looked burnt to a crisp. I've taken a snip of the published burn severity map as a reference. From the map, it looks likely you'd have a pretty severely burned section just before you enter Allen Lake, and the campsite on Allen would be pretty suspect as well. Hopefully you'll hear back some more specific on the ground information.

It is interesting that their last Portage Maintenance Map (Sept 6) shows that the only uncleared ports in the whole park are either: A handful in the extreme west edge of the park and...the middle and northern ones along Allen Creek.

However sat imagery post-fire gives me some optimism that those portages were not too badly burned. Some creek areas were burned hard, and there could be blockages on the water, too...

Still, I'd go for it.

Canoe the North just posted a Quetico YouTube video where he goes through that area from early last summer. Definitely recommend watching that. He got through but definitely had some fun!

Ryan

Gaidin53: "Canoe the North just posted a Quetico YouTube video where he goes through that area from early last summer. Definitely recommend watching that. He got through but definitely had some fun!


Ryan"

Here's the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCq8jP-e1Uw

Allen Creek looks really burley.

Hey guys. Thanks for the info. That video is exactly what I was looking for, more so actually.
Yeah, Allen Creek looks as challenging as I was thinking. Not an easy paddle/walk. I think I will plan to make that leg of my trip in June if we are not in a drought again and plan for a long slow day so as not to push harder than my body permits me to. I’ve been wanting to do Allen Creek for a decade so I better just do it.

Tom

The portage maintenance map shows those portages as having been maintained in July of last year. Would have been after canoe the north went through. That being said it’s not an area that gets much travel so it’s most likely always going to /e a bit of a rough hard to find slog.

His trip back up the Maligne to get into Sturgeon looked like a challenge against the current. Part of the park that I don’t think sees as many visitors.

Looks like a fun challenge and kudos for planning and wanting to do it.

Ryan

Gaidin53: "The portage maintenance map shows those portages as having been maintained in July of last year"

Just the southern two - not the middle & northern ones.

I missed the smaller color not being maintained. You’d think they would have been with everything around them getting maintained.

They did do the Death March portage last year. I think they had an all portage maintenance crews party on that one at the end of the summer!

Ryan

The portage crew might have started on Allen lake moving up the creek. After clearing two of them they said the hell with it and turned around.


I think I’m gonna do it. I need to do it. I’m afraid…

On the bright side, we'll know where to look for your corpse!

:-)

sns: "On the bright side, we'll know where to look for your corpse!


:-)"

Yeah I’ll be like one of those mummies they find buried in the muskeg in Scotland. I’ll have my Zoleo tightly clutched in my hand, finger on the SOS button. :)

Allen Creek was a bear several years ago, it would be very gnarly now I would think.

Kiporby did it a few years ago.... you may want to message him

He came down from the North and bushwhacked into Hoare....

Finally looked at this thread... discussing an area I am not familiar with.

But what is your attraction to this route? Fishing, seclusion, challenge, or other?

Just curious. I'm sure that area will hold many adventures for you with traveling being just one!

bojibob: "Kiporby did it a few years ago.... you may want to message him


He came down from the North and bushwhacked into Hoare...."

Hey Bob! It's been a long time. Glad to hear from you again.

@bobber. I've just wanted to get down to Bernice for many years. I've never been to Poohah either. I do like to go places other people don't.
I've done a few crazy trips over the years but alas, easy to plan them in January but a different feeling when the day arrives.
Tom

bojibob: "Kiporby did it a few years ago.... you may want to message him


He came down from the North and bushwhacked into Hoare...."

Yes, I did paddle Allan Creek from Fred Lake to just north of the pond north of Hoare Lake. That portion was wonderful. I turned at a small creek at a junction towards that pond, so I didn't experience the 2 middle portages.

Guess you'll have to tell about those Tom.

Good to hear from yah Boji.

My older son and I travelled Allen Creek, north to south en route to Poohbah from Fred, in 2016. Easy at first, then exremely difficult the rest of the way. More bushwhacking and dragging brushy, narrow creek channel than actual paddling. The route depends on numerous beaver dams to make it navigable, but most of these did not hold water. The VAST majority of paddlers would not like this route if those conditions remain today.

I use to do Allen Creek regularly about 20 years ago as it was a great circular route to go to Poobah down the Maligne and then back through Allen Creek. Then we had the drought years and all the beavers in Allen either died or left.

I tried about five years ago in the spring and had no trouble going up through the first three portages then I ran out of water. Since I was solo and old I didn’t see the merit of walking up the creek for what appeared to be about a mile.

I have tried to convince the rangers to put a new route from either Allen Lake or the top of Allen Creek to Hoare, the No Names and onto Camel West. However they lack the resources to add new portages. I still think another east west route through the center of the park would take pressure off other routes.

tumblehome:
@bobber. I've just wanted to get down to Bernice for many years. I've never been to Poohah either. I do like to go places other people don't.
I've done a few crazy trips over the years but alas, easy to plan them in January but a different feeling when the day arrives.
Tom"

Ain't that the truth! I've had more than a few trips planned on maps in the winter only to be exhausted actually doing it in September. The portages seem so innocent and easy on the paper. LOL

I'm more realistic these days and factor in layovers to actually enjoy myself instead of just a total grind to accomplish a goal.