River Denys Basin

River Denys Basin
Photo 18 of 25: River Denys Basin
Taken 2002 July 19 from the paved section of Marble Mountain Road northeast of Valley Mills
GPS 45°52.5??'N 61°02.5??'W

After reaching the junction with the Southside River Denys Road beyond the bridge from near which the previous photo was taken, the Marble Mountain Road turns left towards Malagawatch and Marble Mountain (turning right at the T junction leads to Valley Mills, a short distance up the River Denys). At points along the way, you will see very fine views of the River Denys Basin, such as the one in this photograph. (This was taken in the days before I started keeping good records of locations, so I’m unable to specify its distance from the junction at the bridge, but it’s clearly northeast of where the road becomes paved again.) Unlike the Trans-Canada Highway, there’s rarely much traffic, so you can pretty much dawdle and enjoy the views to your heart’s content.

Note the ever-present mountains, which are visible on all sides of the Bras d’Or Lakes. In this view to the north and northwest, the mountains in the distance rise on the north side of Whycocomagh Bay, beyond the peninsula which Portage Road crosses, seen in the middle distance; however, if one were to turn around, one would see North Mountain close by on the south side of the road.