Many visitors outside of Canada wish to experience a Canadian canoe trip. And three hours north of the Toronto Airport is one of Ontario’s best wilderness canoeing experiences… Algonquin Park. This is a land of moose, bear, timber wolves and beaver. It has miles of lakes and forest. To the visitor this is the place to be… but the challenge is getting the experience to do a multi-day interior wilderness canoe trip.
In Paris, Ontario the novice canoeist can take a one day full training wilderness canoe trip course. The purpose is to equip the beginning canoeist with the skills to enjoy a multi-day canoe trip in Algonquin Park. The second purpose is to develop a level of competence so that the novice can do a canoe trip without a personal guide.
At the school the novice has access to an experienced canoeist/instructor to answer questions and teach bush smarts on canoe trip planning. The mentor takes the beginner through instructional situations with hands-on practice periods. Even the teaching sites are modeled after Algonquin to assist the novice in experiencing what to expect.
The instructors will help plan the canoe trip into Algonquin to meet the needs and expectations of the beginner. The course teaches how to interpret park maps and set achievable daily paddle distances. Discussions cover how to locate overland crossings (portages) to adjoining lakes and select wilderness campsites within Algonquin Park.
The canoe sessions teach safety techniques and common sense for inclement weather. Beginners learn how to paddle and steer a canoe. Instructors demonstrate different techniques for carrying a canoe overland and how to properly pack a canoe for stability. Camping techniques are taught on firewood and cooking fires, putting up a tent & campsite selection, as well as animal proofing for the unexpected.
The course includes hands-on packing techniques, food & clothing, first aid needs, cooking equipment, sleeping bag and tent selection. The school will even assist the novice in getting rental of packs, canoes and tents from local reputable outfitters at Algonquin Park.
The Algonquin canoe trip course is about 6 hours in length and takes place on the Grand River one hour West of Toronto. The course is offered by the Grand River Rafting Company 7 days a week from April until October. Most teaching sessions are group sessions, but individuals, couples and families can be accommodated if requested.
For the experienced, this learning canoe-trip school would be of little relevance. But for the novice the course develops the needed skills and knowledge to do a safe and enjoyable wilderness canoe trip into the interior of Algonquin Park.
The Algonquin Park Interior is remote… and that remoteness is unfamiliar territory to most people. It is better to canoe into Algonquin knowing what to do… then to pretend and hope for the best.
