Loop:Snug Harbour, Snake Island, Cathcart, Umbrella Islands Return.

Happy Yakkers on the Bay - photo: Thomas Choe
Difficulty: Intermediate

Route Length: 35 - 40 km ( 3 - 4 day overnight trip)

Topo Maps: 41 H7/8 Parry Sound & 41 H 10 Sans Souci
Charts: 2242

Launch / Landing:Snug Harbour (or Wausauksing Marina - Parry Island - closer launch to Cathcart Island Group)

Description: Part 1: Snug to Snake 5 - 7 km (depending en route).Departing fromSnug Harbourpaddle soutwest with one open water crossing of 2-3 km depending on where you cross. A good rest or lunch spot is 3 km south of Snug, on north Pancake Island - public picnic site with outhouse facility. From here can head due west 4 km to Snake Island . Take caution incrossing the main shipping channel to Parry Sound(yup watch out for the occasional laker or coast guard ship too!) There are several great camping site on Snake Island - one in middle east side, then west side and northwest side of island. There are a fewGLSKAthunderboxes installed at the most used campsites.

Lunch stop at Snake Island, photo: Lee Weitzel

Points of interest:

• Quartz / Diabase Dykein Snug Haven Channel - between Middle Island and Bon Air Island -
• Jane McLeod Shipwreck- lies in 30 m of water (bow is within 6 m) off southwestern tip of McLeod Island (near cottagers flag pole) - wooden schooner - 1890.
• Scenic protected paddle amongst westerly outer islets off Snake is worthwhile
  

Part 2: Snake to Cathcart / Rumble I - 6 km.Continue southeast towards and through islets off the west side of Bateau I. (Dearlove, Maple I.) and continue to camp on west side of Cathcart or north side of Rumble Island in protected bay. Rumble camp has oneGLSKAthunderbox. Alternative campsite are to the southeast of Cathcart, on either Lally or Stapley Islands - a few smaller sites are on north and south sides of Bricknell island.

View from Lally Island Campsite - photo: Lee Weitzel

Points of interest:

• Sandy Island- now part ofGeorgian Bay Land Trust- great daytrip option to circumnavigate while basecamped in area. Eastern side of Sandy has fun sandy shallows to paddle through - thus the name!!!
  
• Bateau I. is another good daytrip option to paddle around - please be respectful to private cottage properties.
  

Part 3:Cathcart to Umbrella Islands - 8 km(with a 3 km open water crossing). Paddle south of Cathcart / Sandy Island group viaSereres I(see points of interest below), and cross toUmbrella Islands. Camping sites are small and limited on this lonely grouping of islands. The best spot is on one of the middle islands in group (north of the "I" in "Islands" on the Sans Souci topo map - interior camp site. Another small campsite is on the most northeasterly island. Big Umbrella island is worth a look, owned by theGeorgian Bay Land Trust(overnight camping is not permitted).

Points of Interest:

• Unique Geologic Feature: Breccia Rock- small islet west of Sereres I.
  
• Fishing Station and old cribs- remains of an old fishing station and docks surrounding two most northerly middle islands in group.
  

Part 4: Umbrellas return to Snug Habour 18 km- Retrace route north via Sandy , Bateau, Pancakes to Snug camping en route to break up journey home. Another option is to stay base camped on Cathcart/ Rumble/ Lally/Stapley Islands and daytrip down and back to Umbrellas. An alternative (& emergency take out) is at the north end of Waubuno Channel - Oak Island - Wausauksing Marina on Parry Island 1st Nations.