canoeing Archives - Hike Bike Travel

Mississagi Provincial Park: A Gem of the North You’ve Never Heard Of

Mississagi Provincial Park, located just 25 kilometres north of the city of Elliot Lake, has been called "one of Ontario's last true natural parks." The park offers visitors a chance to hike, canoe, bike, swim and enjoy nature in a park that aside from 60 front-country campsites, seven backcountry campsites and seven hiking trails is preserved in its natural state. It features one of the best views in Ontario, an incredible fall foliage display (!!!) and the…

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9 the Best Places to Paddle in Alberta

Chances are when you think of Alberta you don't think of the province in terms of a paddling destination. Yet it has its fair share of rivers and lakes in both prairie and mountain settings. All routes and experiences outlined below offer something for the beginner through to the advanced paddler. Here's a list of what I think are 9 of the best places to paddle in Alberta - whether it be in a kayak…

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An Unforgettable Paddling Trip on the Remote Mountain River, NWT

This is a guest post courtesy of Jared Nusinoff. He just launched a new budget focused road-trip experience travel company focused on Canada - OutHereTravel - to help folks venturing to amazing spots in Ontario, Quebec, PEI, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. I’ve spent over 500 nights camping in Canada’s wilderness, but the trip that took me and five buddies to the Northwest Territories this past summer was several levels above anything we'd ever…

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A Once in a Lifetime Keele River Canoeing Experience

“Have you done much paddling?” I casually asked the man beside me as we filed into the dining room at an Edmonton hotel. What else do you say to a fellow paddler you’ve never met before on the eve of a two-week, 400-kilometre canoe trip down the Keele River in the Northwest Territories? He was fit, 50ish and wore the requisite quick-dry clothing. I was stunned when he told me that his paddling was limited…

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How to Plan a Canoe Trip in Quetico Provincial Park

Quetico Provincial Park is huge at 4,760 square kilometres, almost double the size of the country of Luxembourg. Its home to literally thousands of lakes along with over 2,000 backcountry campsites. Because of its size, it's a challenge, at least the first time you visit, to decide where to go. Start by ordering a map of Quetico Provincial Park with all the portages shown. It's available online through the Ontario Parks Store or directly from Chrismar.com.…

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A Week Long Canoeing Trip in Quetico Provincial Park

Quetico Provincial Park is a massive wilderness park in Northwestern Ontario, located a few hour's drive west of Thunder Bay. It is immediately adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. With thousands of lakes, rivers, centuries old portages, waterfalls and campsites you could literally spend a lifetime exploring the region. John and I had a week set aside to paddle in Quetico. In consultation with Shane from Canoe Canada Outfitters in Atikokan…

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A Weekend Canoe Trip on the Red Deer River

If you're looking for an easy, family-friendly summer adventure in Alberta try canoeing or kayaking the Red Deer River. Although it has a good rate of flow, there are very few, if any rapids to deal with. Your biggest problem will likely be running aground on a gravel bar or slipping on a muddy bank getting out of the canoe. There are lots of paddling options on the Red Deer River from a one day…

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3 of the Best Canoe Routes in British Columbia

Transporting a canoe and gear around multiple lakes to complete a circuit or route is both exciting and a huge challenge. Slowly viewing the changing landscape from the canoe and portage trail is also immensely fascinating and the main reason why I love this type of adventure. British Columbia is home to some amazing canoe circuits; here are just three of my favourite canoe routes so far. Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit - 105.6 km paddling,…

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Discover Canada’s Canoeing Culture & History in Peterborough

If you're a paddler of any type of craft, a history buff or a museum goer you will LOVE the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. I visited the museum a few weeks ago and came away awed by the beauty and design of the canoes and kayaks that are on display along with the stories that go with them. The museum contains the largest collection of canoes, kayaks & paddled watercraft in the world! When you enter the…

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Done in a Day: Kayaking the Beautiful Bow River in Banff

If you've ever driven the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff National Park you've seen the Bow River. It's a beautiful ribbon of turquoise-blue that you can't miss. I've wanted to paddle it since moving to Calgary. I finally did. The Bow River starts in the Rockies and flows onto the prairies to meet the Oldman River which then drains into the South Saskatchewan River. In Banff National Park there are three sections of the Bow River that…