Heading to the North Channel, looking for input.

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DUSTCUTTER

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Planning stages for a trip to the North Channel
Lake Huron. Departing from Sandusky, Ohio area. Looking for info on two items. First two weeks of July for catching calm waters, crossing Lake Huron. What dates have worked for you? What favorite stops do you like along the way. Our plan is to head north along the Canadian side, entering Georgian Bay at Tobermory. Then to Killarney, west into the North Channel.9 days of stops and anchoring out. Exit by Meldrum Bay to Presque Isle, Mich. Then down the Mich side heading south. 18 to 19 days of cruising.

Ron
 
The first two weeks are fine for seeing a lot of calm waters on Lake Huron. Just check the weather before heading out.

My favorite stops are Bayfield, Tobermory, Killarney, Baie Fine and The Pool, Little Current, Kagawong, Benjamin Islands, Gore Bay, Meldrum Bay, Drummond, Mackinac Island, A short boat ride under the bridge at the straights of Mackinaw into Lake Michigan. Then down the US side of Lake Huron to Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Alpena, Oscada, Harbor Beach, Port Sanalic or Lexington then down to Port Huron.
Check out the various cruising guides to those areas or ports that I have mentioned to find out the attractions in each situation. That would be my trip. A nice side trip, if you have time, is from Killarney go east through Collins Inlet then south to Bad River. Of course, the weather and your boats fuel range will play an important part of this trip.
 
We haven't spent any time in Georgian Bay but I've heard its nice. Generally we enter the channel from the West through False Detour so this is a little backwards for me but hopefully it will help.

Killarney is a lot of fun. The mountain lodge and sportsman's were both nice. We stayed at Sportsman's. Near Killarney there is covered portage cove. It is a nice anchorage with good holding. We anchored on the inside to the NE side with the bow anchor out and our stern tied to shore in approximately 5.5' of water. If you don't want to stay a night in Killarney, we did take our dinghy from covered portage into Killarney for lunch and a cocktail. There is a little general store here that has essentials. I didn't take on fuel here last year but did at sportsman's 2 years ago.

From Killarney, I would head to Baie Fine. I have seen a lot of boats anchored in Mary Ann Cove, however we opted to anchor further in. You can go all the way to the pool if you would like but the bottom can be a bit weedy and you generally will not be alone back there. We anchored approximately .25nm past the narrows on the south side. From here it is a nice dinghy ride back to the pool where you can either dock or pull the dinghy up on shore and hike up to Topaz Lake. This is well worth the hike. Snug Harbor is another option coming out of Killarney, but I've never tried it.

Heading West, Little Current is a great place to stop for fuel and to provision if needed. The fuel dock can be busy at times. After taking on fuel, we radioed the town docks and they allowed us to tie up for a couple of hours to walk and get lunch and hit a few stores to reprovision (I was getting light on rum).

We spent a few days in South Benjamin. This can get a little crowded. I would suggest showing up here fairly early and as other boats pull up anchor you will be in line to get a well protected spot. We anchored as far into the large bay as we could and rode out a heck of a storm here last summer. The holding is good. There is a lot of fun dinghy riding to do around the Benjamins. It amazed me some of the places people would get their boats into and how they were tied off the rocks. I was puckered on a dinghy much less the big boat.

We haven't spent much time in the northern part of the channel with the exception of running through Little Detroit On our way back to Drummond Island. I have notes at home with suggestions from other cruisers that I can share later this month when I'm back in the midwest near the boat. Overall you'll have a blast. We were a little nervous about making the trip last year as the other boat we were meant to travel with had to cancel 18hrs before departure. I wasn't sure if we should make the trip alone but after getting some reassurance from the GLCC website we decided to go for it. Once up there I found out my fears were unfounded as we met some amazing people at each anchorage and the sense of community up there is awesome. Be sure to listen in to the cruisers net at 9am each morning on VHF 71.

Hope this helps. Feel free to pm me should you have any other questions etc.

max
 
After boating on Huron for more years than I care to mention I find late July and early August to have the best weather, also water temps are higher in August for better swimming. If you get the chance DeTour is a great place to clear customs and they are in the process of getting a brand new marina this year, scheduled to be complete in June. Presque is beautiful but if you draft a lot pay strict attention to the channel markers going in. Also on your way south make a stop at East Tawas, very nice facility and town. We spent two months out last summer and found the best fuel prices to be at Tawas and detour.
 
I've never been there but it's on my bucket list. A group from our Power Squadron has been going up there for 15 years or more. They usually go in mid to late August. Most of themtrailer their boats up there, although there are some of them who sail up there from the Sandusky area. There are printed guides available and if you Google it you will find a lot of information. Sorry, don't have any of them saved.
 
I would also suggest checking out Active Captain if you haven't already...
 
Many thanks to all of you for your input. We have selected approx the same stops. We will have only a few weather days to play with. A bunch of us are still working. Most of the boats have new electronics and radar. The last reports on The Pool, were very weedy conditions, so I think Mary Anne cove would be the choice.
What is the prevaling wind direction on Lake Huron in July and August? If out of the West or North west. Am I better on the Mich Side? Also is there a less chance of fog in late July or August? We estimate 8 to 12 boats going at this time.

Ron
 
Although we've never been, we hope to get there this year.
Water level in our marina was down severly at the end of the summer, as well as on the Bay. We're hoping it comes back next year. If not, access into many areas, and anchorages, will be affected, and this will include the North Channel.
 
Ron,
We did pretty much the North Channel "trip" you are looking at in 2006; 18 days up Canadian side and back down the US side, with points including Tobermory, Killarney, Baie Fine, the Benjamin Islands, and Presque Isle. You can check our our blog/website that may be of interest to you... charts, pics, video.

www.timandgina.net/cruise06_prologue.htm

"Dreaming" that we might make it back 'up there' again in 2013.
 
TickTock

Just finished reviewing your 2006 trip. Great photos and videos. Will you be going back to the same places. Or will you be going to Mill Lake, Bad River and on to the Bustards. How many days this time.

Ron
 
Ron...I have cruised Collins Inlet many times and I have also anchored in Mill lake. It is gorgeous. Bad River is one of the most exciting places to visit with your dinghy. It is the canoe route of the early fur traders on the French River. The Devil's Door Rapids are awesome.
I would highly recommend this side trip on your North Channel Cruise. Also try not to miss Mackinac Island on the west end of your tour.
 
Choices.. choices... choices... So much to see and explore. Jim is right, Bad River is a cool place. Our friends have been there, but last time we opted to go west to make sure we had enough time for the Benjamins. I remember getting advice from Mr. Carter back in 2004 when we made our fist trip up North. Going east to Bad River and Bustards would be nice. AND so would west to Mackinac Island... then as long as you're there it'd be nice to head further down into Lake Michigan, as I have fond memories of Leland, Northport, Petoskey, Charlevoix, etc, when boating as a teenager. Just depends on how much time and what the weather is. It's nice to have an 'itinerary', but for sure be willing to change. Some of it depends if your preference is to stay at Marina's or if on the hook is more to your liking. There are so many places where you can just anchor out, but it's just a short trip to somewhere like Little Current, Killarney, Gore Bay, etc to dock and/or restock provisions.

We love coming into Beaverstone Bay and down Collins Inlet when heading north from Tobermory, and you have to stop and float at Flowerpot Island, very pretty. I personally like the Canadian side of Lake Huron, but you might want to research the price of fuel first to see if it makes more financial sense for you to head up US side.

We'd like to hit the Benjamin Islands again for sure, and maybe Fox Island, thru Little Detroit, and Whalesback Channel. PLENTY of places to explore.
 
Here it snowing like crazy, we got about 8" of snow today. I should be out running the blower. Instead I watch the videos from Tick Tock. Our plan would be to anchor out most of the time once we depart Tobermory. One night in Little Current, then the Benjamines, also a swim under Bridal vail falls in Kagawon. Is Harbor Island worth exploring? Also, I understand that the Okachobee Lodge is back open? Can any one update on this? You folks also talked about the dingy ride up the rapids in the Bad river. Is this really doable? We have a 15 hp on a 9 ft dingy. What is water depth? I have seen photos of people in 14 ft aluminum boats, looks like a blast. How far can you go by dingy?

Ron
 
We stayed at Okeechobee Lodge back in 1971 by boat. It changed hands a few times and is now private owned but last I knew it's for sale (there are several real estate listings on line for it). Would really be nice if opened back up to public, but I doubt it. ANY information to the contrary would be welcome.

Also stayed at Harbor Island (near Clapperton Island) when it was still in operation. It now only consists of dilapidated buildings that are left. What a shame. One of my friends Dad actually was one of previous owners, but couldn't keep it going. A little off the beaten path. I want to visit it again for nostalgia purposes. It also has been for sale off and on.

I haven't personally been up the Bad River, but people in small dinghys with 8-9 hp do just fine I'm told.

I want to somehow monitor water levels and how they may affect some of the anchoring spots. I do know that going into Beaverstone Bay and making the turn into Collins inlet can be shallow even during decent water levels, so if you go that way, try to check out in advance how it might be.
 
Let's talk about water levels. Everything I am reading indicates, winter of 2012 and spring 2013 to be close to the lowest levels in the past 50 years. Lakeland Boating has an artical showing Lake Huron to be even less than 2012. With no increase in levels? What problems did you have with the stops mentioned in these blogs. Any sailboters out there:)(Tom Fexas) Several of the boats in our group draw 5 ft. Anybody in the Georgian Bay, North Chanel area's, please chime in. Should we just go because next year 2014 will be lower?

Ron
 
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