Canoeing
Latest Canoeing
What’s In Editor Marissa Trepanier’s Kit For Canoe Camping With A Toddler
When I started planning my one-year-old son Sebastien’s first few canoe camping trips, I knew we were kissing single-carry portaging goodbye. As we upgraded...
Canoe Review: Esquif Prospecteur 16
Sometimes, Paddling Magazine gets one of the very first production boats out of the molds. There are NASA-like logistics to get a still-warm hull...
In Defense Of The Goon Stroke
In recent years,a wave of YouTube videos and articles has declared the goon stroke—or river-J—to be a poor or even so-called “wrong” stroke. Critics...
The Next Adventure
Created In Partnership With
Brenna Kelly is an accomplished paddler. She was a semi-pro creek boater and freestyle competitor and qualified for the Canadian National...
Close Call: How Canoeist Frank Bures Survived An Early-Season Capsize
The sky was still dark on a Sunday morning in late March when I set my new solo canoe on the surface of the...
Inside Justin Barbour’s 4,000KM Journey Across The Hardest Route You’ve Never Heard Of
In late September 2018, Justin Barbour was barely 200 kilometers into a canoe expedition across subarctic Labrador and Quebec when winter arrived far earlier...
The Canoe Confessional
You’d be amazed what people will tell you in a ferry line. I’m leaning against my car on a scorching July day, trying to...
Cliff Jacobson On What’s Changed For Better And Worse In 70 Years Of Canoeing
My friend Cliff Jacobson and I have a lot in common. We both worked as foresters, taught environmental science and led outdoor skills programs...
The Quiet Rise Of Solo Canoe Tripping
Though not a hermit by nature, I do crave solitude, particularly in a canoe. One need look no further than the welter of solo...
Canoe Buying Advice
Best Wenonah Canoes For 2026
Wenonah canoes have maintained a presence in the Midwest for more than 50 years. Owner and founder Mike Cichanowski first fell in love with...
Everything You Need To Know About Buying A Grumman Canoe
If you began paddling before the rise of plastics, chances are you’ve sat in an aluminum Grumman canoe. These iconic canoes have led many...
Best Inflatable Canoes For 2026
Space is at a premium in so many aspects of modern life. Garages fill to the point that vehicles are relegated to the driveway....
Read This Before Purchasing A Mad River Canoe
Mad River has been building canoes for almost 50 years. The company was born shortly after the founder, Jim Henry, won the 1971 U.S....
Everything You Need To Know About Old Town Canoes
Old Town is one of America’s original canoe manufacturers. Their Maine factory has shipped tens of thousands of boats out of its doors. The...
Best Coleman Canoes For 2026
A 1982 article in the Washington Post describes Coleman canoes as “good starter boats.” Thanks to their durability, it’s a description that still rings true...
Best Aluminum Canoes For 2026
Aluminum canoes were once ubiquitous in campgrounds and parks across the continent. Thanks to their durability, many of those canoes may still be on...
Best Pelican Ram-X Kayaks For 2026
Pelican’s Ram-X is a time-tested, ultra-durable material used in the construction of recreational kayaks and canoes. This reinforced polyethylene plastic is used exclusively in...
Review: Rheaume Canoes’ Explorer 16
Rhéaume Canoes Explorer 16 Specs
Length: 16’
Width: 38”
Depth: 14.5”
Weight: 40–42 lbs
Capacity: 1,000 lbs
MSRP: $4,418 CAD
rheaumecanoes.com
For nearly 40 years, Quebec manufacturer Rhéaume has carved a niche...
Canoe Review: The Radisson By BW Marine Products
Known as the Radisson in the U.S. and Sportspal in Canada, this aluminum canoe crafted by BW Marine Products in North Bay, Ontario, has...
Review: Nova Craft Canoe Prospector 14
New for 2024, the Prospector 14 (P14) from Nova Craft Canoe is the first solo offering in the brand’s bestselling Prospector series. And this...
New Nova Craft Canoe Prospector 14 Walk-Through (Video)
This might be Nova Craft's most versatile solo canoe yet. The new Prospector 14 is a scaled-down version of Nova Craft's popular Prospector and...
First Look: Esquif Huron 17 (Video)
If you’re going to roll out some new boat-building tech, there is no more fitting way to do so than slapping it on a...
Canoe Review: Old Town Saranac 146
Designed for affordable family fun on calm waters, the Old Town Saranac 146 is a great choice if you are looking for a beginner-...
Canoe Review: Stellar Kayaks Dragonfly
There’s something a little magical about dragonflies. Canoeists welcome visits from these voracious aerial predators, rooting for them as they nab mosquitos, horseflies and...
Solo Canoe Review: Old Town Discovery 119
Maine-based Old Town Canoe Company has been building canoes since 1900. It’s reasonable to view Old Town’s Discovery 119 solo canoe as a descendent...
What’s Inside The Hudson Bay Girls’ Expedition Kit
An expedition team calling themselves the Hudson Bay Girls is canoeing from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay this summer. The 1,200-mile route will take...
Best Life Jackets For 2025
Personal flotation devices are the most crucial safety gear on the water. Each year, close to 200 paddlers die in the United States, and...
Not Quite Roughin’ It: 12 Essentials For Wilderness Campers Who Crave Comfort
Some campers are content with a bivy sack and a bag of oatmeal. If that’s not your style, you're in the right place! From...
3 Pieces Of Gear Martin Trahan Won’t Canoe Camp Without
I’ve canoed over 20,000 kilometers across North America, both in my native country Canada and in the U.S. Recently I made my first long-distance...
What’s Best? Bent Vs. Straight Shaft Canoe Paddles
Much debate and conjecture have surrounded the argument for straight shaft versus bent shaft canoe paddles, and vice versa. We asked two of lakewater...
4 Best Canoe Seats For Comfort
Comfort was of utmost concern on a backcountry trip with my 70-year-old mother-in-law two summers ago. It was her very first wilderness trip and,...
9 Non-Essentials You Must Bring On Your Next Canoe Trip
When Elena Wood and Karam Nwilati set off on a three-week trip in a rental canoe nicknamed Truffle, it was their first big trip,...
Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Shoes For Canoeing
Much fuss is made by hikers about the demands placed on their feet, while canoeists tend to focus more on their boats. But before...
More Canoeing Stories
Skills
In Defense Of The Goon Stroke
In recent years,a wave of YouTube videos and articles has declared the goon stroke—or river-J—to be a poor or even so-called “wrong” stroke. Critics...
How To Line Rapids In A Canoe
After you line a canoe the first time around that usual portage, your watch and back will thank you for the discovery. Using guide...
Expert Canoeing Advice: How To Do The J-Stroke
Whether paddling your canoe tandem or solo, there is a universally necessary, yet elusive goal we all set out to accomplish: going in a...
Why You’re Not Winning The River Permit Lottery
Permits for the United States’ most iconic river trips are difficult to secure, and it’s no surprise why. Data from the U.S. Forest Service...
The Beginner’s Guide To Canoeing
There is no better way to get on the water and get away from it all than in a canoe. Canoeing is simple, efficient...
How To Score A John Day River Permit And Plan The Ultimate Trip
Standing on river left at Clarno Rapid, I watched the water tumble over a wide ledge, forming a hole that stretched from bank to...
Need For Speed: How Racing Changed Canoeing For The Better
Our everyday lives are filled with inventions that have come out of the world of racing. We drive cars with antilock brakes. We ride...
The Bear Canoe: A Risky Way To Store Food Overnight
Canoeists love to debate camping techniques. Single blade or double. Stuffing your tent or rolling it. Ground cloth inside or outside. One of the...
Trips
Guide to Canoe Tripping in Québec’s Kipawa Region
Created In Partnership With Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Just across the Ottawa River lies a sprawling labyrinth of deep bays, wild islands, hidden passages, interconnected lakes and spectacular...
The Best Places To Paddle Near You
Whether you're an expert or a beginner, there's almost always somewhere to go kayaking, canoeing, rafting or paddleboarding near you. Finding that perfect location...
6 Paddling Expeditions To Watch This Summer
Summer is expedition season for paddlers in the Northern Hemisphere, and many of this year’s biggest journeys take advantage of the long daylight hours...
Paddle To The Sea
For as long as he can remember, Robert Lester has been fascinated by water. As a child growing up in Butte, Montana, Lester would...
The 7 Best All-Inclusive Canoe Trips In Minnesota
Minnesota’s more than 10,000 beautiful lakes and abundance of wild rivers make this a place seemingly purpose-built for canoe tripping. With so many tempting...
14 Magical Places To Paddle & See The Northern Lights
According to Expedia, 71 percent of Canadians haven’t seen the northern lights—but they definitely want to. In fact, the travel hub’s survey indicated that...
10 Best Paddling Trips For Summer 2025
Sometimes headlines can be deceiving. Rather than highlighting specific trips, our list of best paddling “trips” for this year showcases regions with multiple world-class...
Guide To Canoe Tripping In Voyageurs National Park
Once a thoroughfare for French fur traders who traveled thousands of miles by canoe each summer, the interior of Voyageurs National Park in northernmost...
News & Opinions
Stranded BWCA Canoeists Rescued In Nighttime Helicopter Mission (Video)
Dramatic video from the Minnesota Air Rescue Team shows a nighttime helicopter mission that extracted a pair of paddlers from the Boundary Waters Canoe...
1,000 Miles to Tuk: Inside the Best Canoeing Film of 2026
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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—or, in this case, a single paddle stroke. Niki Choo and Jared Gentz...
What’s In Editor Marissa Trepanier’s Kit For Canoe Camping With A Toddler
When I started planning my one-year-old son Sebastien’s first few canoe camping trips, I knew we were kissing single-carry portaging goodbye. As we upgraded...
The Next Adventure
Created In Partnership With
Brenna Kelly is an accomplished paddler. She was a semi-pro creek boater and freestyle competitor and qualified for the Canadian National...
Close Call: How Canoeist Frank Bures Survived An Early-Season Capsize
The sky was still dark on a Sunday morning in late March when I set my new solo canoe on the surface of the...
Inside Justin Barbour’s 4,000KM Journey Across The Hardest Route You’ve Never Heard Of
In late September 2018, Justin Barbour was barely 200 kilometers into a canoe expedition across subarctic Labrador and Quebec when winter arrived far earlier...
The Canoe Confessional
You’d be amazed what people will tell you in a ferry line. I’m leaning against my car on a scorching July day, trying to...
Cliff Jacobson On What’s Changed For Better And Worse In 70 Years Of Canoeing
My friend Cliff Jacobson and I have a lot in common. We both worked as foresters, taught environmental science and led outdoor skills programs...
