Sudbury Travel Forum

I'm planning a summer trip to Sudbury in August 2008. We'll be traveling with a 18' bowrider boat on a trailer. We are planning to stop at Sudbury for a few days, but are enroute to a cottage / camp. We are planning to spend a day at Science North. In addition, I'd like to take the boat to a nearby lake to do some cruising, water skiing, picnicking, swimming, etc. We have 2 young children.

I'm not familiar with the off the beaten path areas so I need some suggestions as to where we should go for some boating.

Key factors would be:

<30 minutes from Sudbury
Nice Scenery & water
safe boating
good spots for launching

Looking for some 'insider' tips or suggestions...


Thanks.
Glen

which sudbury theres lots of them

Hi Glen.
Load google earth and look up the following, make sure street names are enabled.
Lake Panache is a great spot for a day of boating but no beaches to speak of, at least that I have found. It's close to town, It's huge and lots of fun to explore. 46 16' 26.37N 81 20' 56.62W access from regional road 55 west of Whitefish.
A further jaunt 1.5 hrs to the launch from Sudbury would be lake Agnew. Great for kids as it is sandy. Lots of islands with sandy beaches on them, some people camp on the islands for a few nights. Also lots of sandy spots where you can just pull up and have a nice private swim. This would be my choice, as this is the lake where my son first drove our little boat and we've spent many hours just wandering a secluded beach. I take Hardwood road north from Mckerrow, follow signs for portage lodge although some folks are getting there from Nairn center, I've never been that way. The boat launch is very good although the road in is a bit rough but not too bad. Watch for rocks as they occur at considerable distance from shore given the shallow lake. Take your time when you are in close. In particular there is one as you are leaving the bay about 2/3 of the way to the main lake on the east side. Also there are quite a few along the south side of the lake just east of where the bay opens into the main lake as you approach the two islands. Boat launch is at 46 20' 29.17"N 81 44' 28.59W a great little beach is at 46 21' 42.28N 81 43' 15.33W although the lake is huge and with your boat you'll be able to find plenty I'm sure.
Given your desire for exploration and some picnicing etc. I would go the extra distance and go to Agnew, you'll have a blast.
By the way if you just want a close in but nice time there is always windy lake just north of Sudbury. There is a proivincial park there and it is popular with families.

Looks like Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

i live in sudbury

Hi Paul - which one do you live in though?

Europe > United Kingdom > Sudbury
Europe > United Kingdom > Sudbury
Europe > United Kingdom > Sudbury
North America > United States of America > Massachusetts > Sudbury
North America > United States of America > Vermont > Sudbury
North America > United States of America > Washington State > Sudbury
North America > Canada > Province of Ontario > Sudbury
Europe > United Kingdom > Sudbury Park
North America > United States of America > Massachusetts > North Sudbury
North America > United States of America > Massachusetts > South Sudbury
North America > United States of America > Massachusetts > East Sudbury Station

Hey 'oldguy',

Thanks for the information. That is great insight. I've checked out the spots on Google Earth. Your description of rocks at Agnew Lk makes me a bit nervous... are the rocks marked with buoys?

Anyway, I'll definitely try out one or more of those spots! Thanks again.

BTW, for the other posters, yes I was talking about Sudbury, Ontario, Canada... Didn't realize there were so many Sudburys.

Regards,
Glen

I'm afraid the rocks I saw were just shadows under the surface and unmarked. There is enough traffic on the lake to kind of map out your plan if you just watch the other boats and go slow on the way out. I don't mean to scare you off because Agnew is definately the more family friendly of the two lakes. Panage is well marked with Bouys as there are a lot of cottages on it. Windy lake doesn't really have a lot of rock.
I suppose it's like any first time you boat on an unfamiliar lake, you take care and watch for changes in color of the water.
You have lots of time so you may want to check and see if a chart of Agnew is avail, I'm not sure.
Bye for now.

ok i could tell it was sudbury, ontario because mention of science north was a give away :-)

we canoed in simon lake, 5 kms west of LIVELY in the Graham township on left side of the highway 17, a small city which is about 30 kms north west of sudbury itself. the closest town to this lake is Naughton.

good launching area, beautiful forests, people canoeing and kayaking (although most of them were from GTA), there was at least one pontoon boat, nice picnic areas, nice tracks around the lake along the highway taking us into the wooded area on the other side of the lake.

we stayed in the motel in LIVELY on highway 17 (stays inn) and used it as a launch pad for excursions along highway 17.

see my sudbury pages off the beaten path for more details.

hope this helps.

regards,