North Tea Lake is an excellent paddle for beginners looking to add a bit more distance to a standard weekend getaway. Thanks to only a pair of easy portages the North Tea Lake trip is a nice relaxing paddle onto a gorgeous lake.
All paths contained herein are approximation and are meant for planning purpose only. Do not use them for navigation. Please carry an accurate topographic map for all route finding.
After pushing away from Kawawaymog Access Point you will paddle directly across the northern tip of the lake until you reach the mouth of Anable du Fond River. The Anable du Fond is barely a river and more of a swollen creek that weaves its way through a wetland. The slow and weaving river will seem like an endless labyrinth of bends but eventually, you will reach the portage. Both portages are short, easy, and well-marked trails that are simply used to bypass rapids.
You may be tempted to go exploring but remember that you are not yet in Algonquin. If you leave the marked trail you are trespassing on private property. Algonquin begins at the end of the second portage.
Once your first portage is complete your journey continues down the Anablue du Fond. Watch out for boulders just below the surface of the water as it is quite easy to beach your canoe on one. The next portage is about a kilometer further paddling and is much the same as the first, only a bit longer.
At the end of the second portage, you will be putting your boat into North Tea Lake. North Tea is a huge lake and if you are planning to camp towards the far end of it the bulk of your paddling for the day is about to begin. The map above marks a particularly nice campsite right in the middle of the lake that I would highly recommend as it has great views and a sandy beach.