Help me plan my first Canadian trip!

[Adk Keith]

I’d like to do a trip in Canada next season and need help in planning.

I have virtually no experience paddling outside of the Adirondacks where I live and have never camped in Canada. Flat water only and I’ll be solo if that makes a difference. I am looking for the solitude and portages of a mile or so are ok. Probably a week would be good this first time.

Judi and I are toying with the idea of both of us driving up and spend a few nights camping together. Then she would find something interesting to do while I tripped for a week. Alternatively, I would just come up and she would enjoy the peace and quiet at home sans me.

Initially Temagami interests me because it’s about an 8 hr, drive from home, but I know nothing so if there is something a little further or a little closer, or anything at all, let me know.

I would be hammocking, but bringing a tent would not kill me.

I know nothing of permits, burn bans, etc. so please clue me in on that as well.

 

[memaquay]

I've driven through Temagami, but never paddled there. This is probably a good place to start for info
http://www.ottertooth.com/
My theory is that when people from Southern Ontario get tired of Algonquin Park, they head up to Temagami to experience something a little more remote. But I'm only guessing. There are lots of good maps and info for Temagami.

There's lot of stuff up my way, but that's considerably further. If you are camping on Crown Land, I think it is 10 bucks a night for non-residents. Let me know if you want to drive another 8 hours or so past Temagami. I'll let you touch the Ripster!

 

[Wyo George]

It's just like paddling in the US, except the beer is stronger, the people are really nice and if asked about Hockey you better have a favorite team.

 

[sweeper]

Here's a start, download the jpeg

http://www.thetemagamimap.com

 

[Odyssey]

There are many places closer than Temagami for you. Many are found in Chrismar or Jeff's Maps.
http://www.jeffstopos.com/

Queen Elizabeth Wildlands Provincial Park. It's a non-operating park, that is it's open to tripping but without any services and facilities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Wildlands_Provincial_Park
http://www.explorethebackcountry.com/#!qewmap/c5c4
http://passionatepaddler.blogspot.ca/2012/07/queen-elizabeth-what.html

Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. However this might provide few routes for you for an entire week.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawartha_Highlands_Provincial_Park
https://eatpedalpaddle.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/canoeing-in-the-kawartha-highlands-provincial-park/
http://www.trailsandtamaracks.ca/205.trl

Then there's The French River P.P. An historic fur trade and explorer's route to Georgian Bay.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_River_(Ontario)
http://www.loonislandoutdoors.com/TripReports/FrenchRiver/FrenchRiverDelta.php

And Massasauga P.P.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwEcb7SDATk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km7GoNNnJz8

There's Algonquin P.P. of course. Well visited by many but a large pretty park.
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/camping/algonquin-park-canoe-routes-network.php
http://www.markinthepark.com/triplogs/

And the beautiful Killarney P.P. The park books up fast.
http://www.out-there.com/killarney_provincial_park.htm
http://www.loonislandoutdoors.com/TripReports/BellLakeKillarney/BellLake.php

My favourite guide to Temagami is Hap Wilson's Temagami A Wilderness Paradise, Canoeing, Kayaking, Hiking (2011)
The Ottertooth website is an excellent place to research Temagami.

Sorry for all the copy and paste ADK Keith. There's a lot to consider.
Algonquin had been a favourite destination for our family over the years, but now I'm just starting to discover Temagami.


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[Canotrouge]

If you don't mind an other 60 hrs of driving, you can come right up here and we won't talk about hockey... But alas, you won't be able to touch the Ripster!!

 

[Robin]

I have done many trips to Reserve LaVerendrye in Quebec. http://www.canot-camping.ca/english/

They get far less visitors than Algonquin so you never have to worry about finding a site. It's easy to get to, just go thru Ottawa and head north. They have many different circuits, lots with all flat water. Fishing is very expensive, and not as great as they think it is. I only buy permits for a day or two of fishing mid trip. They speak English at LeDomaine where you buy your permits and they can give you any current information about the route you will be taking.

I have been to Temagami also, it is also a great tripping destination, I just found it to have alot more people than LaVerendrye.

I also have canoe tripped around LaVerendrye in wilderness areas referred to as ZEC's, I was in ZEC Kipawa, very nice and very few people. http://zeckipawa.reseauzec.com/en/canoe-camping

 

[Adk Keith]

Thanks to the first responders. I knew you folks would add to my options. Keep them coming!
Unfortunately, my meeting with the Ripster may have to wait for another time...

 

[yellowcanoe]

Lots depends on your timetable. I have seven Algonquin solos under my belt and probably a dozen trips there tandem dating back nearly 50 years. I do avoid July and the first weekend in August. I scheduled my solos in June and September and the park was pretty deserted and I could cherry pick my campsites.
I have had eight trips in La V.. all solo. Usually no crowding at all but twice there were issues one night each. La Verendrye has a short canoeing season starting Mid May and ending right after Labour Day.

Temagami is Algonquin on steriods. There are some popular routes described on Ottertooth. But I have never experienced crowding.. Lake Temagami however won't give you a feeling of solitude. There are motorboats and houseboats. Just stay off that one. I have some really funny recollections of paddling a wrecked canoe out. No one to help.. wondering if I would have to activate PLB.

So what is your timeframe and your driving range?

I am trying to think what would allow for basecamping without boredom? Canisbay Lake in Algonquin might meet your needs. Its about an hour from Huntsville..

Or lodging it( your wife). I liked this trip..http://www.myccr.com/canoeroutes/flack-lake-and-mace-lake-side-trip
but its between Sudbury and the Soo near Eliot Lake.

Or Chiniguichi..

 

[Odyssey]

Just an idea. Smoothwater Lodge might be a posh option for your wife while you paddle.
http://smoothwater.com/lodging-meals/lodge-overview/
Or your wife may want to paddle without you.
https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/temagami-canoe/


Huntsville lies just outside Algonquin, and has many options for accommodation.
From swanky http://www.deerhurstresort.com/
to http://www.bartlettlodge.com/
and just plain car camping in the park.
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/camping/drive-to-camping-in-algonquin-park.php
The park has many day hiking trails to choose from as well as cycling.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Perhaps a little out of your driving range ( its two days) is Rock Island Lodge on Lake Superior. You might not want to paddle a long trip on Superior but a portaging loop trip is quite nearby in Lake Superior Provincial Park.

http://www.lakesuperiorpark.ca/index.php/canoe-routes

Most start from ]Mijinemungshing Lake. Rock Island Lodge is about 20 minutes away. There is hiking , painting , photography reading and a beach at Rock Island Lodge/Naturally Superior Adventures. Its just a few km away from Old Woman Bay. 45 minutes to the pictographs on Agawa Rock.

http://www.rockislandlodge.ca/activities.html

What is not obvious on the website is that camping on the beach is allowed in your tent.

 

[Adk Keith]

I'd like to keep the driving to a day or less if possible and around 2 weeks.

I didn't mention I am very experienced in the woods so I don't mind going way off the beaten path.

 

[Peach Canoe]

This is a little out of your day's driving range, but it is spectacular and worth knowing about. It's the Bowron Lake Provincial Park Circuit in British Columbia, just east of the town of Quesnel.

It's a circular route (you finish where you started) of linked lakes and streams inside the mountains (nominal elevation is 3000 ASL). The circuit is approximately 120K with a dozen or so short portages-- the longest is about 2k and the average is perhaps .5k. You may use a canoe cart on the trails. There are designated campsites with pit toilets. The circuit may be paddled in a few days, but 5 or 6 days is probably more common. Your permit is for 14 days.

There are outfitters at the trailhead with a good selection of Kevlar 2-seaters, solo canoes, and kayaks; they have tents, bags, and canoe carts too.

I've been around this circuit 7 times in a variety of group and canoe configurations, and I did one 6-day trip solo. I like it a lot, and we're going again in August.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk/

 

[yellowcanoe]

I'd like to keep the driving to a day or less if possible and around 2 weeks.

I didn't mention I am very experienced in the woods so I don't mind going way off the beaten path.

Timeframe flexible.? I guess the conundrum is what would your wife like to do while you are off galavanting in the woods.

FWIW both Algonquin and Temagami offer way more solitude than the Adirondacks in the summer except if you are like Conk..... Peruse the Algonquin map link posted by Odyssey. The less maintained routes are in black.

Algonquin is about five hours further than the Five Ponds Wilderness to put it in driving perspective. I've not stayed at a lodge in Algonquin.
What puts off some paddlers about Algonquin is the need to plan your route and sometimes ( in July and Aug advisable) reserve it. You have to reserve lake by lake ( not a certain campsite) each day.

If that is too much bureaucracy for you .. head to La Verendrye or Temagami. I am not aware of any lodging in La V..( there is but I do not know if they speak English)except at Le Domaine where there are cabins and anglophones and the food there in the restaurant.. well I dont ever want to eat it again.


I would head to Maple Mountain and the falls on the North and South Lady Evelyn river in Temagami. I know there are lodges if you choose to base camp on something like Red Squirrel with your wife for base camp.. Or even on Lady Evelyn Lake. Its beautiful with multiple campsites and one cartable portage. Put in at Mowats Landing.

Ottertooth.com is indeed your best resource for Temagami.

If you would like to hike some stunning quartzite mountains ( La Cloche) think Killarney. Its got the same sort of reservation system as Algonquin. I have to put in a positive plug as not all sites on a lake are reserved. Allowances are made for illness or weather. No need to rush to your campsite.

 

[Adk Keith]

Thanks to all.The links have been over the top helpful.

I've been looking at maps and trip reports over the weekend. I'm leaning toward Algonquin PP in mid June. I've ordered some maps.

YC, are the black flies and mosquitoes any worse than the Adirondacks in June? If not, I'm good to go.

Judi would stay home for this intro trip.

So, if it's Algonquin (and I'm still accepting other suggestions), where? I like getting to a base camp and doing day trips, but at the same time would like to move some too. I won't be fishing. At this point I would say maybe 10 days out.

I'm not asking for a detailed trip plan, just a region and access points to consider.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[sweeper]

This is our end-o-June trip to Algonquin PP

https://goo.gl/photos/LVexquwhQXhhFDQH7

 

[yellowcanoe]

How much schlepping would you like each day? In reality for ten days you might get a better experience going in to a more remote lake and taking three days to travel , then staying a few days at that lake.

Sweepers route can be modified to go further west.. or start at Smoke lake and make that big loop ( I do like Louisa and Harry particularly.. beach.)
I also like to start at Kiosk.. Kioshkokwi, Club, Big Thunder , over to Maple.. Biggar, Manitou and back..

Or start at Brent, go across Cedar to Catfish, Burntroot, Lac La Muir, Hogan, Radiant back to Cedar..That one could keep you out easily for 10 days. There is a bit of walking.

Blackflies. Yes. Worse? Dunno. I have blackflies at home. I am not a good judge of relative abundance of them.They are part of June. Reminds me that its time soon to make the annual donation to the BlackFly Breeders Association in Machias.

 

[Odyssey]

It's been a few years since our last Algonquin trip, and we've never seen the park in June. I assume the busiest time for park paddlers is July and August. Even if you encounter school groups, kids' camps and other crowds you'll still find quiet places. The highway 60 corridor running through the park brings the greatest number of paddlers, channeling them onto the "main streets" of routes. I've only entered the park from these busier put-ins July - October, and did see some crowds, but also easily found quiet campsites. I'd recommend starting and ending your trip on a weekday to avoid the heaviest tourist traffic. Tourists come and go by the busload, literally. I'd also highly recommend finding a campsite early in the afternoon within a half day travel of the entry. Despite all paddlers having to register their route and daily lake destination ( you reserve by lake, not by campsite #) many seem to ignore this and overpopulate the closest lakes to the first/final entry. For example from the Canoe L entry Joe L, Tom Thompson L, Littledoe L and Burnt Island L all fill up quickly in the afternoon Friday to Sunday. That was our experience anyway. I travelled both south and north from the 60 corridor, and enjoyed all of it. I don't remember any "bad lakes", but there have been perfect campsites ruined by slobs. Thankfully there are others ( and park staff) who clean up. One thing I love about Algonquin is the inter-connectedness ( is that a word?) of the routes. You could put-in anywhere and cross the park several times in many directions, or circle the periphery. Many have gone west-east or south-north return rather than loops. It's all up to you really, there's a variety of natural history from wetland ecology to old growth stands, and human history from pictographs to old lumber camps and farms. And then there are quiet trails and lakes.

 

[Adk Keith]

Thanks everyone, Odyssey, Sweeper and Yellow Canoe. The info and insights are very useful.

I'm waiting for the paper maps to arrive. I'm going cross eyed looking at maps on my computer. I'm checking out Algonquin trip reports and in general, getting excited for the trip.

At this point I think a couple of days to get to a destination, a few days day tripping and then a couple of days back, would be the best option for this trip.

Thanks again.

 

[yellowcanoe]

it seems we all missed giving you this reference map

http://www.algonquinmap.com/

also available in field form.. ie waterproof. No need to wait for the mail!