Magnetawan Lake Access Point (#3)

Magnetawan Lake Access Point #3 is a backcountry canoe launch on the lake’s northwestern shore. It’s mainly a place to unload, stage your gear and get onto the water; I’d plan a route from here rather than drive out just to look at the lake.

From Emsdale on Highway 11, take Highway 518 east for 8 km to Kearney, continue 14.4 km, then follow Forestry Tower Road for 24.2 km to the access. The long, winding approach is part of the commitment, so leave time for the drive and check the park’s current advisories before setting out. For overnight backcountry camping, reserve a permit online or by phone; the office serving this access is in Kearney, not at the launch. Parking and a toilet are listed here.

A medium dock sits between two small beach put-ins, each large enough for one canoe. The staging area is compact, so several groups loading at once can bunch up; be ready to unload and clear the dock. From here it’s a short paddle across Magnetawan Lake to a short, flat portage into Hambone Lake, then another relatively flat carry onward to Ralph Bice Lake. It’s a practical start to a multi-lake interior route, not a quick standalone paddle.