Welcome to the lower Skootamatta River series.
This geocache is the furthest south, and west of the boat launch. Each cache is named after something in nature that has blessed me with some amazingly beautiful photos. This one is called ROCK.
This is a kayak/canoe geocache with a fantastic waterfall at the end of the route. The river is very quiet and peaceful once you get out of earshot of the highway. Best time to visit is in late August, September or early October, as the bugs will have died down, the trees will be changing colour, and there will be no current. The Ministry of Transportation, in recent years, blocks off the picnic and washroom area during the off-season. So, the boat launch is now only easily accessible from May 1 through to November 1. You can still paddle the river in November, but you will need to carry your boat 100 metres past the barrier. However, from May 1 - the end of October, you can drive right to the boat launch, unload, then park your vehicles along the gravel roadside of the picnic area, use the washrooms, and sit at the picnic tables, if you so desire.
The river itself has very little noticeable current, no rapids, and is somewhat sheltered from wind. There are very few lily pads or grass in the river because it flows so quickly in spring (which can also cause a lot of downage along the shorelines, unfortunately). I have tried to place my geocaches in trees that look healthy and are not threatening to fall into the river during the next storm. There are no cottages along the route (yet, though one is being built).
The series was placed keeping kayaking in mind, with no getting out of the boat until the High Falls portage trail at the north end, but there are some that may require a reaching tool of some kind (or a canoeist to accompany you). It's about a 2 kms paddle to High Falls from the picnic area. So the route is 4 kms round trip. It can be done in 2-3 hours or you could take your time and spend half a day. Definitely, take a picnic lunch to eat at High Falls if it's not bug season.
Once at the falls, you will spot the portage trail, just to the left of the rapids, about 50 metres from the bottom of the falls, on the north. Look for the white portage sign just up the trail. There is a small, muddy spot to pull up your boat and the trail goes up from there. High Falls portage trail can get very buggy in spring and early summer. There is a little bit of poison ivy near the portage trail, but it's easy to avoid. Black bears have been spotted along the river (many years ago). The lands surrounding the river and portage trail are private, but canoeists and kayakers have been given permission to use the portage as part of the Skootamatta canoe route (as indicated by the sign at the portage trail). Enjoy !!