Crooked Slide Park, nestled 3 km away from Combermere on Old Barry’s Bay Road, stands as a magnet for photographers, captivating both amateurs and professionals alike. Its allure lies in the resurrection of an original log chute on Byers Creek, an artifact harking back to the early 1900s when loggers relied on it to transport logs from the regions of Hopefield, Brudenell, Rockingham, Wilno, and Barry’s Bay down to the Madawaska River.
The uniqueness of Crooked Slide Park stems from the reconstruction of this historical log chute, a vital piece of the area’s logging history. Byers Creek, winding through three or four bends at the mouth of the chute, posed a challenge to loggers as the narrow bends often caused log jams. To circumvent this issue, the chute was ingeniously constructed, allowing water to be diverted through it by manipulating a control dam. Logs would then travel approximately 220 feet within the chute before plummeting 10 feet back into the creek. From there, it was a smooth journey downstream to Combermere, where the logs would merge with the Madawaska River.
The establishment of Crooked Slide Park owes much to the generosity of the Murray Bros. Lumber Company of Barry’s Bay, which donated the six-and-a-half acres of land crucial for the chute’s construction and the park’s development. The chute itself underwent reconstructions in 1973 and later in 1994, ensuring its preservation for future generations to admire and learn from.
Today, Crooked Slide Park not only serves as a picturesque spot for photography enthusiasts but also as a tangible link to the rich logging heritage of the region, offering visitors a glimpse into the ingenuity and perseverance of those who shaped its history.