Portage Location: from Cache Lake up to Hilliard Lake.

Length of portage: 760 meters

Portage maintenance: regular.

Elevation above Sea Level @ Cache L. 428 meters.

Elevation above Sea Level @ Hilliard L. 455 meters.

Difference in elevation: 27 meters.

Elevation of highest point: 456 meters.

Overall Rise/Fall: 28 meters.

Landing at Cache Lake (downstream)

Co-ordinates of location (optional): N45 31 45.1 W78 35 34.8

Topography of under-water approach: 2 meter long sandy beach landing with a few emergent boulders near shore.

Impediments to disembarking from and/or unloading a canoe: None during Spring water conditions. Strong (30km/hr+) north-east winds will pile the waves up along landing.

Topography of the ascending grade: Easy uphill taper.

Impediments to moving gear to portage trail: None. Sufficient space at landing for 2-3 canoes on the water with another 2 up on shore with adequate gear placement areas in small clearing and up along portage. Rough cut bench seating for 1 or a cozy 2.

Portage Trail

General description: A well groomed fairly straight and easy portage. During spring there were 3 x ~3 m long sections of soft muddy ground but no standing water in the depressions/collection areas. Otherwise it was firm footing with few roots/rocks and a nice easy uphill grade towards Hilliard Lake from Cache L. No steep short climbs. Portage is through a mixed evergreen/hardwood fairly open mature forest and follows a creek to its west through much of its length. Lots of spring flowers in bloom – violet species, trout lilies, purple trilliums and spring beauties late April. Two short boardwalk sections also present – mostly embedded into the dirt.

Topographical impediments to traveling: None.

Areas susceptible to impact by periods of rain or beaver flooding: A couple of depressions held some moisture over ankle-deep muddy ground, but easy enough to walk through or step/hop on the rocks/tree limbs within the muddy sections for firmer footing (boardwalk partially sunk). April 2010 was a very dry Spring, so conditions were unusually dry.

Landing at Hilliard Lake (upstream)

Co-ordinates of location (optional): N45 31 24.6 W78 35 51.2

Topography of under-water approach: Shallow sandy landing, a number of potentially obstructive logs floating just offshore form a natural wind-break.

Impediments to disembarking from and/or unloading a canoe: None during Spring conditions. Strong south-west winds will push the waves up on shore.

Topography of the ascending grade: A very short rise up from the landing area then mostly downhill for the trip to Cache. L

Impediments to moving gear to portage trail: None, sufficient space for at least 2 canoes in the water and 1 up on shore. Gear storage for 2 groups.

Date visited: April 2010 ... Submitted by: Stephen Molson, May 2010