Jacques River, Baie-Egmont, PEI

The Jacques River is the closest to our summer home in St. Chrysostome (aka Rocky Point). The Jacques River is also the only river in PEI that I’ve been able to do a loop outing (it only requires a 700m walk).

 

Track, Jacques River loop, 5km

The put-in is at the end of Cimetiere Road on Egmont Bay. The Cimetiere Road is also a place to launch my Va’a Motu outrigger sailing canoe. The put-out is the Arsenault Pond, and then a 700m walk back to the end of Cimetiere Road (and your vehicle). This paddle (as most small rivers in PEI) is best done at high tides. Ideally, for small PEI rivers, you should plan to be heading upriver an hour before high tide and end the paddle 2 to 3 hours after high tide. 

Jacques River estuary into Egmont Bay

The paddle from Cimetiere Road to the mouth of the Jacques River is about one km. On this paddle, I landed on the sandy shore just south of the river’s entrance/estuary. Before I started again, seeing an Osprey circling and fishing over the bay just out from the river was great.

The south creek salt-marsh

The most natural part of the paddle is the first kilometre or so – before you get to the farm fields, homes, and roads. The first kilometre has two side creeks/marshes to explore. The south one (towards McGee Road) is more remote and quite lovely. The east creek goes towards Route 11. I did spot a Muskrat in the east stream, but he disappeared before a photo could be taken. By early July, both creeks were somewhat blocked by marsh grass & cattails. I’ll have to try this paddle early in the spring on a high/spring tide to see how much further it’s possible to paddle on those creeks.

East creek

Blue Flag Lily

After the east creek, it’s not more than 1.5 km to the Arsenault Pond. The river gets narrower and goes under two bridges before reaching the pond. The Route 11 bridge is older and relatively low – it could be trouble when the water level is a bit higher.

The iNaturalist postings for the day can be found by clicking HERE.

An Osprey fishing in Egmont Bay at the mouth of the Jacques River