On Sunday afternoon four of us ran the Oxtongue river on the western side of Algonquin Park. I had known nothing about it except there was an easy section and a harder section. The girls decided to do just the upper section of class 2-3 (ish) stuff and take out at the snow mobile bridge. Below the bridge is where the goods lie!
Shortly after the bride there is another class 3 rapid that quickly comes up to a nice horizon line. This rapid is a 2/3 stage drop with a bit of bite. You want to make sure you get over the fist hole in the first drop to set yourself up for a nice boof/surf move on the next 2 reactionary holes. Next was a nice class 3+ with a few nice little 2-3 foot boofs along the way, good times. After this was the last of the two big boys. This one was longer and has more potential to get BIG in high water. It stars off with about a 50 or so foot slide with one bigger hole in the bottom you need to skirt by, then a double drop that is wicked fun if you can lace the line. Boof over the hole, skip to the river right , one big stroke and through the next hole/wave you go. After this there are a couple more class 2’s and then the take out which is bushwacking to the road.
The flows were “ideal” for a first time down but like Moore Creek, I would love to see it with quite a bit more water to make things a little more spicy. Here are a couple pictures, enjoy!
