The Black River empties into Lake Simcoe south of Washago. There is a fun short section from the HWY 169 bridge crossing to the next concession road crossing to the west where the river loops around through many small rapids separated by flat sections. The section ends with an optional more challenging technical chute, followed by a Class 2 rollercoaster ride. This is an ideal spot for budding moving water paddlers to get some experience, and practice ferries and eddy turns. I'm happy do give informal pointers, and we're in no rush. The section of river is short enough that if you get cold or wet, you can quickly paddle out. However, if you want to work the section, you can play all afternoon. As a bonus, we meet at 11:00 so you don't have to haul yourself out of bed early to get there. We'll also finish around 3:00, so plenty of time to get back to the family dinner. Bring a lunch and we'll eat on the river. As the water will still be cold, you will need a dry suit or wet suit. This is a relaxed day of paddling play & practice on a fun, forgiving stretch of river.
In support of health authorities increasingly forceful requests that all of us practice social distancing to minimize the spread of COVID-19, we will be postponing this trip. Since in good years the river can be run up into mid-May, we will continue to evaluate the situation. Let's hope for a wet spring and a speedy resolution to this public health threat.
On a spring day, the Moira River north of Belleville provides a fun paddling trip from Lost Channel to Latta.
The river provides a great opportunity for good novice moving water paddlers to move up to an intermediate level river. We'll meet at Chisholm's Mill at 9:30, do a car shuttle, and then warm up the easier lower section down to Latta. The rapids are not difficult; just a fun rollercoaster ride, with some surfing waves along the way. We'll go back to Chisholm's for lunch at the cars, and then do a shuttle to run the more technical and challenging Lost Channel section. We should finish up around 4:00, and then we traditionally hit the nearby Maple Dale Cheese store along the highway for ice cream and cheese. (Real Canucks can buy cheese curds here for homemade poutine.)
All canoes must have full flotation, and you are required to have a wetsuit or drysuit as the water will be cold. If you arrive without these, you will not be able to participate.
Please note that as at the time of posting the river levels and weather cannot be predicted, the date could be changed if levels are not suitable or the weather is inclement. I like to play, and float along chatting with people. My idea of a fun outing isn't paddling in freezing rain muttering to each other "don't worry, we'll soon be finished if we hurry." So if you sign up, you needn't worry that you are committing to a survival exercise-just a fun day.
Join me on this classic early spring favourite of Toronto area paddlers. We’ll catch the Credit in Streetsville and run down to the mouth at Port Credit. The river is a delightful continuous class 1 to 2 with lots big bouncy wave trains and play spots. There are loads of opportunities to practice easy ferries and eddy turns as we work our way down the river. However, downed trees over the winter can create sweepers, and participants need to be able to manoeuvre a canoe in moving water to avoid them. As well, the water will be cold. You should have solid basic moving water skills, and wear a wetsuit or drysuit. Boats should have air bags in them. We'll have lunch on the river at a park near Dundas Street, so bring something to eat. We usually finish the trip around 3 PM.
If the weather is unfavourable on the Saturday, we'll re-schedule the trip for the Sunday.
Please note that this WCA trip is cancelled due to COVID-19.
Dumoine the BIG sister of the Three sisters, Noire and Coulounge. With a length of 129 km, this spectacular whitewater canoe route is filled with breathtaking views, wildlife and classic class 2 and 3 rapids with portage options. The Dumoine is a remote river located in Western Quebec and flows into the Ottawa River.The river is relatively small and the terrain alternates between Canadian Shield rock and sand. The navigatable rapids are long and the portages are short. (The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association) We will be paddling during 5 days following the current trough swifts and rapids
NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
This very popular annual trip seems to be a great draw for all levels of paddlers. We are now into the 16th year doing this and we’ve enjoyed perfect weather (most times), portage free paddling, and a social barbeque that has followed our outing. This is a wonderful day to enjoy an easy moving water river and to socialize with other WCA’ers. The trip will start in south Cambridge where we will put in and then paddle to Paris. We will pass through scenic farm country, stop at a haunted mill, negotiate some easy grade one water, and stop for lunch along the way. Those interested are welcome to join us back at our house in Cambridge for some food, beverage, and social time.
Its roughly a 375 km route ... 'current assisted' ... not a flat water paddle generally. This river can be paddled most anytime outside of the winter months. We will be going in early August, when the water levels are reasonable. The climate in the area can be wet at this time of the year ... sometimes more days of rain than those without it. Some trip reports highly recommend paddling with a spray skirt.
While the route begins on the higher 'flatlands', where lakes are common, our route quickly becomes a river route through incised topography, where canyons hold the river. This river is often referred to as the Nahanni of the East. It is a challenge. The river is a salmon fishery, and the lower half has plenty of fishing camps. This will not, though, be a 'fishing trip'.
This is a 10-week long canoe trip that will take us from the northern edge of either Manitoba or Saskatchewan north across the height of land into long interconnected waterways ending in Baker Lake, Nunavut. The boreal forest will gradually diminish and the land will transition into tundra full of open vistas, precious plants and animals, excellent lake trout, sandy eskers easy to hike on.
Canoeists can join the whole trip or one or two sections. Different sections require different levels of skill.
The exact route, dates and pace of this trip will be determined by its participants.
French River is the first designated Canadian Heritage River. Its 105 kilometer canoe route connects lakes, gorges and rapids from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, offering breathtaking scenery.
We will start at Restoule Provincial Park, travelling Restoule River to French. We will take the Main Channel and finish at Hartley Bay Marina. There are some rapids along the way and all can be portaged.
The trip will take five days. We will car camping at Restoule PP for the first night and launch the next morning. We will shuttle the cars by ourselves. The plan depends on canoes and people signing up.
I will ask for a deposit to cover the park permits when time gets closer and set up a group chat among those who have confirmed the trip for the preparation.
One member of our team of three canoes had to drop out due to a family illness issue. We would like to keep three complete tandem canoes. Otherwise, we will have one solo boat. Contact me, iori miller, if you wish more details. This is to be 'Part III' of the Northwest Wilderness Challenge by Ontario Parks for myself and some participants on this trip. The majority of our group will be traveling to Red Lake by train (with our own canoes) and shuttle from Washago. We will be traveling east to west, beginning at the Lund Lake access point of the Woodland Caribou Park (WCPP), then we will take 5 days to paddle to Artery Lake on the west side of the park. At that point we will leave WCPP (and Ontario!) and enter Atikaki Provincial Park (APP) and travel the Bloodvein River for 7 to 9 days (a Canadian Heritage River) all the way west to Lake Winnipeg. The entire trip is about 300 km. Participants on this trip need to be experienced in Wilderness canoeing, be fit, and be willing to participate in all aspects of the organization and preparation of the trip. You do not need to be an expert white water paddler, but you need to better than a 'beginner'. We will be returning from Winnipeg afterwards, also by Train. A lot of the planning is complete.
Gameti to Yellowknife includes small and large lake paddling; gentle medium size river paddling with a number of short portages and small rapids. This is a part of the traditional Dene Idaa Trail connecting the Great Bear Lake with the Great Slave Lake.
The pace of the trip is moderate. We are cooking on fires. Fishing is great!
I am an experienced wilderness canoeist. I am paddling the Anderson River from July 4th to August 16th. I will be back in Yellowknife on Aug 16th and hope to stay in that area and paddle some more.
I paddled from the Canol Road last year to Gameti so I want to do a bit more of that route - continue to Yellowknife; and next year keep going east.