If planning the next family vacation makes you sweat, settle in for a 3400km, three-month family canoe journey from Jasper, Alberta, to the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. The Clark family left their jobs, home and community behind for a 100-day northern adventure.
Have Kids, Will Paddle won the Best Canoeing Film award at the 2014 Paddling Film Festival. “We go on wilderness trips to escape our civilized world, to strengthen our family bonds, and to get grounded in nature,” explains a wild-blooded and gentle-mannered Clark.
“We appreciate the opportunity to live in the moment, enjoying a simple existence as a family.”
The film captures the essence of a family vacation, except the disappointments include the shock of a savaged landscape near the tar sands along the Athabasca River, and the discovery that 1500 river km of the trip had very little current. The lows are eclipsed by the highs of a 4 a.m. paddle on the mirror of Great Slave Lake, the kids asleep in their cockpit, and 100km river days on the Mackenzie.
I don’t where the river mouth is, I don’t know what f***ing town this is… I got a broken toe, a chafe to the left arm and right nipple, and these shorts are starting to stink.”
In 2007, Beau Miles attempted to paddle 4000km from one side of Africa to the other. Starting in Mozambique and continuing along the South African coast, Beau allowed five months to complete the voyage. With him for over half the journey was Jared Sharples of New Zealand.
Together the pair experienced the magnificent coast until Jared, who was very ill, left the expedition. Beau paddled alone for six weeks, experiencing for the first time in his life, a truly nomadic, solo existence. Battling huge surf, Beau completed 2000km of the original plan after realizing that his trip wasn’t about kilometers gained but rather the quality of the experience.
Africa By Kayak is one of Miles’ first kayaking films and a fan favorite. Miles is a jack of many trades—sea kayaker, educator, ultra-runner and craftsman. His frank and quirky humor have turned many of his films into award-winners. Bass By Kayak and Junk Paddle won awards at Paddling Magazine’s annual Paddling Film Festival. Watch them below.
In this video, YouTuber Advoko Makes shows how to build a quick and easy bushcraft kayak. The idea is simple: you can build a fully functional survival kayak in the wilderness if you have a knife, fir tree branches, plastic wrap and scotch tape.
Even though we don’t typically carry yards of plastic wrap or scotch tape in our survival kit, this fully functional kayak is pretty cool. It weighs less than 10 pounds, is waterproof, and only takes a day to make. Because the vessel is transparent, you can see the bottom and fish swimming under you—fishing, in particular, is an exceptional experience, according to Advoko Makes.
Sure, we’re a little skeptical about its long-term durability—but for just a couple of dollars and a single day of work, what do you expect?
If building your own kayak thrills you, find out how to build your own transparent, fiberglass light-up kayak here.
In this video published by National Geographic, the seal follows a kayaker in Scotland’s Forth Estuary, an arm of the North Sea near Edinburgh. After tailing kayaker Alistair Forrest and his companion for about a mile, the seal took advantage of a break in the paddling to hop aboard Forrest’s kayak. There, the sleek marine mammal sprawled out as if ready to come along. Forrest and his companion voice their amazement at the unplanned wildlife encounter.
According to the accompanying National Geographic article, “Instances of seals hauling out onto kayaks aren’t common, but neither are they entirely unheard of. And sea lions, which are often mistaken for seals, are also known to hitch a ride. This particular seal—likely a juvenile, judging by its size and especially brazen interest—showed no signs of fear or aggression, instead seeming to enjoy a novel adventure.”
So what should you do in situations like the one in this video? According to the article, “Splashing a hand in the water or reaching out to touch the seal are definitely not the actions to take. In the United States, the Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits people from approaching seals and other marine mammals. In the rare scenario a seal tries to hop onto your kayak, it’s best to paddle away calmly.”
A kayaker exploring a section of a North Carolina river found more than he expected when an alligator slammed into his boat.
According to CNN, Pete Joyce was paddling in a swampy section of the Waccamaw River on Sunday when the alligator charged at him. The impact tipped him over into the water. He was able to grab some tree branches to right himself. Joyce was wearing a video camera on his chest, which caught the whole encounter.
“When it was about three feet from the side of the boat is when I actually got a good look at the head,” he said. “Not enough time to really react, anyway.”
Joyce didn’t see the alligator after the collision but could feel it brush against the bottom of his boat as it swam by. Once he righted himself, he hit the side of his kayak three times, hoping that might scare the reptile away. He took some long deep breaths and then grabbed his paddle and paddled the heck out of there.
If serenity isn’t your thing, power up your next adventure with two jet engines and a whole lot of speed.
YouTuber the Hacksmith demonstrates how to build the world’s fastest jet engine canoe. As it may be the only jet-powered canoe, there wasn’t a lot of competition for the title. The jet engines used for this canoe build, Hacksmith tells us, are the same ones he fitted onto a homemade jetpack. They had sat unused since, so the jetpack was disassembled and put to better use.
To make the jet canoe, the engines are tied together to propel the canoe in whichever direction the operator wants it to go, and they’re mounted high enough as to not blow exhaust onto the hull.
Thanks to movie magic, the build is completed in no time. The result can generate a total thrust of 143 lbs, and travel at 50km an hour. The engines are so powerful the stern is almost submerged under the pressure. That proved to be a problem for Hacksmith, who wanted to go faster but couldn’t, because the canoe would have completely dipped its engines into the water. However, any good voyageur would have just moved a barrel of whiskey forward in the boat.
Watch the video to find out how you can make the fastest canoe on the water.
Not every paddling retailer has a love-hate relationship with demo days. For some, it’s all hate.
So when the COVID-19 pandemic burst onto the scene last spring, closing stores and dropping a cloud of uncertainty over every aspect of the paddlesports business, there was a silver lining of sorts. Nobody had to run a demo all season.
Later, as an unexpected Covid boom improved bottom lines and retailers experimented with smaller-scale alternatives, some began to wonder whether full-blown demos will become a thing of the past. Others have no doubt.
[ Discover the best canoes and kayaks of the year in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]
“We’re done with big demos,” said Dave Slover, owner of Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe in Portland, Ore. Even before the pandemic struck last spring, Alder Creek had decided to cancel its 2020 Spring Paddle Festival, which was still popular with paddlers but wasn’t generating the sales boost it had in years past. Such events come with plenty of overhead for retailers and participating manufacturers, all to sell boats at a discount. “A two-day demo costs $20,000 or $30,000,” Slover said. “Until you put a hundred thousand bucks in the bank, that event isn’t paying for itself.”
A demo is essentially a sale, used not only to show new paddlers the ropes but also to move product, usually at a discount. That doesn’t pencil out in the current environment, with retailers selling everything they can get their hands on at full price and full volume. Next year looks like more of the same, with retailers across North America desperate to restock and vendors limiting orders for 2021, even as their factories run full-tilt.
“Our inventory is about 70 percent of where it should be going into spring and we are pre-selling all sorts of items,” Slover said. A sale of any kind doesn’t make sense in such times, especially one that costs money to put on and leaves staff sweaty and grumbling.
“For every show we rent two 40-foot Penske trucks and load them with 50 or 60 kayaks every morning,” said Juan Carlos Andreu, general manager at Austin Canoe Kayak. “It’s just a lot of sweat and tears to put these shows together.”
In exchange for that investment in money and hard labor, retailers gain the chance to cultivate relationships that just don’t grow under fluorescent shop lights. Demos set specialty shops apart from the box stores, bring new blood into the sport and foster a kind of customer interaction you can’t get anywhere but on the water.
“There’s no comparison because when I’m on demos, I’m educating people on paddling.”
“There’s no comparison because when I’m on demos, I’m educating people on paddling,” said Steve Cheers, owner of Mountain Sports Ltd., in Bristol, Va. “It makes you look like the expert. You get a connection you don’t normally get in the store, and there are people I’ve met at demos who continue to this day to be friends.”
Mountain Sports is an outdoor-sports institution in southern Virginia, a family-owned operation celebrating 40 years in business. As recently as a decade ago, it hosted six demos per season at a city park in Bristol, but as the municipal red tape mounted Cheers transitioned to less-frequent demos at a lake 40 minutes out of town. Last season he scheduled two, both canceled due to COVID-19.
Cheers says that about 20 percent of his paddlesports sales come from demos in normal times, and he expects to resume them eventually. How soon depends on the pandemic and his suppliers. “As soon as we can get some boats, we’ll probably do something for ’21,” he said.
Austin Canoe and Kayak, a powerhouse retailer with five locations in central and east Texas, also has taken a wait-and-see approach to demos, Andreu said. In recent years, ACK has hosted four demo weekends, one each spring and fall in both the Austin-San Antonio and Houston areas. The events have been a key part of the retailer’s customer outreach efforts, and Andreu is eager to return to them. Just not quite yet.
With no excess inventory and almost everything he can get into the shop flying straight off the shelves, there’s no immediate need for full-scale demos. Instead, ACK has focused on more targeted outreach. Last summer, the retailer offered reservation-only on-water tests of its 10 most popular fishing kayaks, in what Andreu calls a boutique experience for customers considering boats that retail from $1,500 to more than $3,000. “It was one-on-one, and we were able to keep it safe,” he said, adding that a $100 refundable deposit ensured participating customers were serious.
The approach is a far cry from the festival vibe of ACK’s regular demos, which feature live music and draw hundreds of people, from kitted-out enthusiasts to folks who just happen by. Still, the scaled-down demo served one of the most important functions of a paddling demo—building community around the sport, and helping customers find the boat that’s right for them.
Slover believes smaller-scale demo opportunities may be the wave of the future. While Alder Creek may never throw another weekend-long Paddle Festival with SUP yoga classes, kayak fishing clinics and dozens of brands, Slover is pursuing opportunities for small demos keyed to individual brands.
Rather than putting on a big show at great cost to the retailer—and inviting brands to send reps at great cost to them—Slover envisions more personal events coinciding with brand reps’ regular rounds.
“If they can double up on their tour, it makes sense for them to promote their products to not only the retailer but also to the consumer,” he said. “Come spend an evening with the rep. I think that’s the target.”
Algonquin Park is just a few hours’ drive from Ontario’s largest urban centres, yet this staycation destination feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto and Ottawa. You don’t have to be a rugged outdoors person to experience the majestic lakes, serene forests and abundant wildlife of this iconic park—a selection of comfortable and affordable hotels is located within minutes of the park’s west, east and southern access points or within the park itself.
[ Paddling Trip Guide: View all paddling trips in Algonquin ]
Base yourself at an Algonquin inn or a hotel within or near Algonquin Provincial Park for easy access to the park’s diverse hiking trails, canoe routes, guided canoe day trips, visitor attractions and cycling opportunities. Plus, many hotels offer the convenience of a room or fully equipped suite that is steps from the shops and restaurants of the region’s welcoming communities.
An Algonquin Park landmark since 1917, Bartlett Lodge is an oasis of luxury and fascinating history set amid the wild beauty of Algonquin’s Cache Lake. Whether your idea of the perfect vacation is a lakeside deck and a comfy reading chair or an ambitious paddle-and-portage adventure to a remote lake, Bartlett’s artist studio suites ensure you’ll end each day in total comfort. And the lodge’s gourmet, five-star meal plan guarantees you’ll be well fuelled for each new experience. Located near the mid-point of the Highway 60 corridor, this Algonquin inn-in-the-park is a short freighter canoe ride across Cache Lake from the guest parking area, making it a bit more difficult to slip away. But once you are here, we guarantee you won’t want to leave.
For upscale accommodation in south Algonquin, look no further than Nomi Resort on Benoir Lake. Just a 3 km walk or drive to Algonquin Park’s Kingscote Lake access point, and a short paddle or hike to High Falls, this boutique hotel also boasts over 30 kilometers of private trails with on-site fat bike rentals. Nomi’s main lodge houses spacious guest rooms; a wellness center with sauna, massage rooms and mindfulness room; and the top-rated Lands850 Restaurant, Bar and Lounge.
Located in the village of Dwight and just 15 minutes from Algonquin’s West Gate, Spring Lake Resort offers a cheap and convenient home base with easy on-site amenities including a restaurant, complimentary canoes and kayaks for exploring tranquil Spring Lake and 52 wooded acres with hiking trails. The resort’s tidy, motel-style rooms feature lake views and are steps to a sandy beach and canoe dock. Head into Dwight for a tasty baked treat or a fresh bottle of red to enjoy by the lake.
Nestled among tall pines with a private beach on the sandy shores of Dwight Bay, the Lake of Bays Lodge offers a variety of affordable accommodations, ranging from modern lakeview suites with en-suite Jacuzzi tubs to traditional rustic cottages. All suites feature a private balcony or deck overlooking Lake of Bays. Dine in at the lodge’s restaurant, or sample local take-out steps away in the village of Dwight. Centrally located within a 20-minute drive of Algonquin Park’s West Gate, downtown Huntsville and the picturesque, waterfront hamlet of Dorset.
It’s a great alternative to camping. | Photo courtesy of: Destination Ontario
Dwight Riverside Inn
Families rave about the clean rooms, immaculate grounds and friendly service at this hidden gem midway between Algonquin Park’s West Gate and the amenities of Huntsville. Newly renovated family and luxury suites feature warm cedar accents and well-equipped kitchenettes for longer stays. If you’re on a budget and looking for affordable Algonquin Park hotel deals, the Dwight Riverside Inn’s cozy rooms and suites have everything you need—plus, the 10-acre motel property adds a ton of value with beautiful gardens, free BBQs and firewood, children’s playground and a gorgeous swimming hole on the Oxtongue River. Rent canoes and inner tubes on-site to experience a lazy river ride, Algonquin-style.
If you’re planning to paddle Canoe Lake or hike popular trails near Algonquin’s West Gate, this charming lakeside motel and cottage resort offers comfortable studios and suites with fireplaces and great views of Oxtongue Lake. Add to that the resort’s superb sandy beach and on-site trail network for hiking or cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and you have an idyllic home base for an Algonquin couple’s getaway or a family vacation. Blue Spruce Resort guests enjoy use of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards to tour the lake or make the half-day trip to spectacular Ragged Falls on the Oxtongue River. Algonquin Outfitters is just next-door if you need to rent equipment for a longer paddling adventure in the park.
Choose from classic, comfortable rooms and suites at this modest lakeside hotel right on Highway 60, minutes from the park’s West Gate. Enjoy hot breakfast and dinner with Algonquin Lakeside Inn’s lodge-and-dine packages, and then head down to the resort’s sandy beach and borrow a canoe or kayak to paddle Oxtongue Lake or journey to Ragged Falls.
Situated on the picturesque shore of Little Hawk Lake in the Haliburton area of the Algonquin Highlands, Oakview Lodge is a convenient option if you’re looking to explore both the park’s West Gate area and southern panhandle. This cozy Algonquin inn offers rooms, suites and cottage accommodation, lakeside dining and use of canoes, kayaks and SUP boards for exploring the lake. Oakview Lodge is also on the doorstep of the Haliburton Forest, a year-round destination for paddling, hiking, wildlife viewing and winter activities.
Another fine option for stays in the Haliburton area is Little Hawk Resort and Marina. Set on five wooded acres on the shores of Halls Lake, kids and adults love the lodge’s family-oriented atmosphere and sandy swimming beach. Choose from pet-friendly suites or cottage accommodation, and enjoy the complimentary canoes, water trampoline, playground, hot tub and an on-site restaurant.
This couples-only, five-star luxury resort is situated on the shores of Galeairy Lake and the Madawaska River with direct access to the east side of Algonquin Park and walking distance to the village of Whitney. Both the lake (most of which lies within the park) and river offer superb canoeing and kayaking, but it’s the Couples Resort’s opulent rooms—all of which feature an outdoor hot tub and in-room Jacuzzi next to a wood-burning fireplace—and gourmet dining experiences that make a stay here truly one-of-a-kind. This all-season resort is also home to an organic spa so you can pamper weary muscles after a day of paddling, hiking, biking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing the nearby trails.
With a hip, sociable vibe and cheerful Algonquin Park-themed rooms in a classic log chalet, the hostel-style lodge at Camp Bongopix offers a fun (and sometimes rowdy) atmosphere for younger adults and lovers of folk music. The lodge and a handful of rustic rental cabins are pet-friendly so you can bring your pooch (or adventure cat) to Algonquin Park. Meet like-minded park visitors while chilling in the book- and guitar-filled common room, playing retro video games (there’s no wifi) or grilling dinner over the lodge’s BBQs. Grab a complimentary canoe to paddle across Galeairy Lake into Algonquin Park, and don’t miss the free campfire jam every Saturday night. Located on the Madawaska River in the village of Whitney, Camp Bongopix is a 5-minute drive from the East Gate of Algonquin Park and close to the park’s superb visitor center, logging museum and popular hiking trails.
More Old World mountain lodge than modern hotel, the Algonquin Eco-Lodge offers a truly unique, off-grid experience for wilderness enthusiasts. Located on the southern border of the park, this award-winning eco-lodge creates its own alternative energy from an onsite waterfall so guests can enjoy the finer comforts, including a carbon-neutral hot tub. This is one of the most secluded places you can stay in Algonquin—walk, cycle, horseback ride or ski a 2.3-km trail to reach the lodge (don’t worry, they’ll transfer your luggage). Guests stay in 17 private bedrooms, share dining and social areas, and enjoy an extensive trail network (over 40 km) right out the door. Canoe to secluded beaver lodges and meandering creeks, then relax in this unusual inn’s lakeside sauna.
Planning a canoe trip to the breathtaking Barron Canyon, mighty Petawawa River or Grand Lake area on the east side of Algonquin Park? Algonquin Portage is located right on your route into the park, just 15 minutes from Sand Lake Gate, making this comprehensive outfitting service and motel-style lodge a convenient one-stop shop. Book one of their simple, cozy rooms and get an early start on your Algonquin Park adventures. Additional services include: canoe, kayak and SUP rentals, equipment rental, trip planning, vehicle shuttles, canoe delivery/pick-up and a camper’s store.
Registration is open for the 36th annual Wilderness & Canoe Symposium, taking place February 17, 2021, from 6 pm to 9 pm via Zoom.
“We remain committed to nurture our passion and love for paddling and to keep our symposium community safe. For this reason, we will be delivering the 2021 event live and online only,” says organizer Aleks Gusev. Traditionally held in a high school auditorium in Toronto, for the first time the WCS is easily accessible to paddlers around the world.
“You will be able to join from the ease, comfort and safety of your pajamas, sitting on your couch, with your various pets. Bonuses include access to the bathroom with no line-ups, your favorite snacks at your disposal, and no restrictions to bringing a glass of wine to the event this year,” Gusev adds. Click here to register.
The evening will feature five presenters. Continuing with the tradition George Luste started many years ago, there will be a short wilderness music interlude halfway thru the evening. Presenters include:
The Enduring Ice Project
Diana Kushner and Stephen Smith on their kayaking expedition to Nares Strait and forthcoming film, Albedo: in search of a frozen ocean. Their journey to assess climate change in the North had to switch gears when their scientific team became trapped by the sea ice it had come to study. With the Arctic Ocean collapsing all around them, they escaped the chaos by traversing the North’s most remote and formidable passage.
Wally Schaber
In 1969, Wally Schaber was part of a team of guides who tried to reestablish the Ottawa YMCA Boys Camp On-Da-Da Waks at the headwaters of the Dumoine River. Working in conjunction with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Ottawa Valley Chapter, CPAWS-OV, and Friends of Rivière du Moine, this is the story of how the larger Three Rivers Project came to establish the Dumoine, Coulonge and Noire as an interconnected and protected wild river preserve.
Paul Burbidge
In 2017, Paul spent three weeks exploring rivers in the Mackenzie Mountains of NWT. The team started on the Little Nahanni River near the NWT/Yukon border and finished in the town of Tulita on the Mackenzie River. Paul’s group paddled 10 rivers with three significant portages—the longest portage 100km in length. Find out how to plan for remote unrun river trips, as well as gear selection for long whitewater packraft trips.
James Raffan
Loves canoes and canoeing and is a longtime friend of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. But it is storytelling that is JR’s real passion, and he’s one of the best. Over the years he has written and edited 24 books on topics ranging from canoes to biography, with the common thread running through them the connections between people and place. He is a frequent public presenter, speaking about risk, adventure, environment, reconciliation, education and the simple joys of self-imposed suffering.
Wilderness Concert by Jerry Vandiver
With over 40 years paddling whitewater and flatwater in the US, Mexico and Canada, and more canoes and kayaks than his wife thinks he should have, Jerry is an established singer/songwriter from Nashville, TN and has had his songs recorded on over 15 million records, two of which are hanging on the walls of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Be ready to laugh, dance and sing in your pyjamas from your own home in this fun virtual WCS presentation.
Breakout Sessions
Five simultaneous breakout sessions, following the Wilderness Concert by Jerry Vandiver, will take place half-way through the evening.
Look-at-me-Wilderness-Super-Hero – Hosted by Bob Henderson
Paddle or not to paddle in the territories in summer of 2021?Hosted by Iva Kinclova
Fitting your Canoe Pack to carry heavy loads lightly – Hosted by Bill Ostrom
A sharing session of how we connected with nature during COVID-19 – Hosted by Brian Johnston
General Breakout session for any other topics and/or socializing.
The WCS is looking for a dozen or so volunteers familiar with Zoom meetings platform to help facilitate breakout sessions. Virtual pizza included. Use Subject Line “2021 WCS Volunteer” in your email to sign up with Aleks at aleks.gusev@gmail.com
The Ottawa Valley is an outdoor adventurer's dream destination. | Photo courtesy of: Destination Ontario
The adventurous heart of the Ottawa Valley is just an hour’s drive from Parliament Hill, yet this exciting outdoor recreation destination feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Ottawa.
Stretching from the forest-cloaked highlands of Algonquin Park to the roaring rapids of the Ottawa River, this diverse and beautiful region encompasses some 900 lakes and four major river systems. Can you say paddling adventures? The Ottawa Valley is home to not only Canada’s finest whitewater rafting and paddling centers, but also serene canoe routes, paddleboarding and calm-water kayaking on crystal-clear lakes.
Whenever you choose to visit, each season offers something special in the Ottawa Valley. In spring, the Valley’s patchwork of fields and forests turns emerald green and hikers, mountain bikers and road cyclists will find a wealth of outstanding trails and quiet backroads. Summer is peak paddling, rafting and cottage season in the Ottawa Valley, while fall colors provide a spectacular backdrop to all your favorite outdoor activities. Winter brings a whole new host of outdoor adventures, from downhill and cross-country skiing in the highlands, to ice fishing and snowshoeing on frozen lakes.
The Ottawa Valley is an outdoor adventurer’s dream destination. | Photo courtesy of: Destination Ontario
With a wonderful range of accommodations—including four-season cottage rentals, family resorts and rustic campgrounds—the Ottawa Valley is a perfect staycation destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Things to do in Ottawa
Camping in Ottawa
Campgrounds near Ottawa provide a budget-friendly, back-to-nature way to extend your stay in the Ottawa Valley. Many campgrounds are family-focused, with fun kid-friendly amenities like swimming beaches, playgrounds and outdoor games areas.
Fitzroy Provincial Park Campgrounds
Situated along the Ottawa River, Fitzroy Provincial Park is just under an hour away from the Capital, but it’s quiet and secluded enough to make you feel like you’re in a whole new world. The park is a popular family camping destination, with large campsites, two beaches, picnic areas and canoe/kayak rentals. Fitzroy has over 200 campsites in two campgrounds—Pine Grove and Two Rivers. Waterfront campsites are available on the Carp and Ottawa rivers, which bisect the park.
Bonnechere Provincial Park Campground
Bonnechere Provincial Park is best known for its spectacular sand beach on clear and clean Round Lake. The park offers three campgrounds, all located within a five- to 10-minute walk from the swimming beach. Choose from campsites set among the splendour of towering white pines or private sites situated right on the Bonnechere River, providing direct access to paddling, fishing and wildlife viewing. The park is located near the charming village of Killaloe and the southern edge of Algonquin Park.
Golden Lake Park Campground
Golden Lake Park Campground is situated in the heart of Ottawa Valley cottage country, two hours west of Ottawa and halfway between Algonquin Park and the Ottawa River. This fun family campground boasts 4,200 feet of scenic beachfront on Golden Lake with picturesque swimming, paddling, hiking, fishing and more. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent. A wide variety of camping options include tent and RV sites, RV rentals and cozy housekeeping cottages. Choose from shady wooded sites or camp right next to the beach.
If you’ve never heard of Bon Echo Provincial Park, it is well worth the two-hour drive from Ottawa. The park is best known for Mazinaw Rock, a 1.5-km-long sheer rock face that rises 100 meters out of Mazinaw Lake and features over 260 Indigenous pictographs—the largest visible collection in Canada. Campers can join an interpretive boat tour to the cliffs and climb to a lookout atop the Rock, or rent canoes and kayaks for self-propelled explorations of Upper and Lower Mazinaw lakes. Families love the park’s three sandy beaches and two scenic campgrounds—Mazinaw Lake and Hardwood Hill.
White Lake Campgrounds
Nestled south of the Madawaska River near the historic hamlet of Burnstown, White Lake boasts clean, clear waters and an intricate labyrinth of inlets, arms, islands and narrows—perfect for paddling adventures. Even better, if you’re looking for camping in the Ottawa area, the lake is just a 45-minute drive from the west side of the city. The north end of White Lake is more developed, with a selection of campgrounds, RV parks and cottage rentals for overnight visitors. For a laidback family resort experience with loads of amenities, check out Cedar Cove Resort at the south end of White Lake.
Driftwood Provincial Park Campgrounds
If you don’t mind a bit of traveling, this provincial park 220 km northwest of Ottawa boasts road trip-worthy beaches, riverfront campsites, spectacular sunsets, gorgeous Canadian Shield shoreline and outstanding paddling on the Ottawa River. Enjoy the refreshingly cool, clear waters of the river from the sandy camper’s beach—which stretches the entire length of the park’s Ottawa Campground, adjacent to the many waterfront campsites. Canoe/kayak rentals are available for exploring Driftwood Provincial Park’s secluded shoreline.
Best hikes near Ottawa
When it comes to accessible outdoor activities in Ottawa, it doesn’t get any simpler than going for a hike. Hikes in the Ottawa Valley run the gamut from easy rambles for first-time hikers to challenging treks to remote summits. Whatever trail you choose, hiking is a great way to escape the rush and reconnect with nature. Don’t miss these top trails.
Barron Canyon Trail
Breathtaking doesn’t begin to describe the view from the top of the Barron Canyon. Located amid pine forests on the east side of Algonquin Park, this moderate, 1.5-km trail runs along the north rim of the spectacular 100-meter-deep Barron Canyon. Find the trailhead on Barron Canyon Road, one hour west of Pembroke.
Almost too easy for such a beautiful view, this popular 3-km (return) trail near Calabogie Peaks Resort climbs gradually along an old logging road to a lookout atop a 120-m-high cliff. The trailhead is located about 2 km past Calabogie Lake on Highway 508. If you’re looking for a longer hike, continue along the more challenging Manitou Mountain Trail (9 km) for more lofty lookouts.
Shaw Woods Trails
For a relaxing and educational ramble, the scenic walking trails at Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre explore old growth forest, bird-filled wetlands, interpretive exhibits and riverside ecology along the meandering Snake River. The centre is located 10 minutes north of Eganville on Bulger Road.
Egan Chutes Trail
This under-the-radar gem is found 15 km east of Bancroft off Highway 28. Egan Chutes is a non-operating provincial park, which means there are no visitor facilities. There’s a small parking area at the end of the unmaintained, narrow road that leads to the trailhead, but you may need to park on the highway if the lot is full or you drive a low-clearance vehicle. This short walk on the western side of the York River rewards with views of the first chute, and leads down to a picturesque pool of water. For a longer hike, take the trail on the east side of the river and keep an eye out for side trails to lookouts at all three of the chutes, for which the park is named.
Canoeing and kayaking in the Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley is home to some of the most exciting whitewater rivers in the country—but did you know that the area also boasts more than 900 beautiful lakes? From the pristine, clear lakes of the Algonquin and Madawaska highlands to the gentle reaches and roaring rapids of the mighty Ottawa River, the Valley offers something for every paddler to enjoy.
World-renowned as a whitewater playground, the Ottawa River is famous for huge waves, thrilling rapids, pristine scenery and warm water—the perfect combination for exhilarating Ottawa River rafting.
The action centers on a 10-km-long stretch of river known as Rocher Fendu (Split Rock), located in the Ottawa Valley just 90 minutes west of Ottawa. Plunge down the rollercoaster rapids of the Middle Channel, or dig deep in the challenging Main Channel—home to some of the largest commercially run, white-knuckle whitewater in North America!
The acclaimed whitewater resorts of the Ottawa Valley make it easy for first-time river rafters to experience everything this outstanding river has to offer. In addition to Ottawa River rafting day trips, most companies offer riverside accommodations, meal plans, multi-day packages and other adventure activities.
Visit the Ottawa Valley for some of the region’s best adventures on two wheels. Recreational cyclists will enjoy relaxing rides on lightly traveled country roads or rail trails, while avid road riders can challenge themselves on some of Ontario’s toughest climbs (and thrilling descents!) in the hilly highlands. Many routes include interesting stops at heritage sites, charming communities or local swimming areas.
Prefer fat-tire adventures? Ottawa’s enthusiastic grassroots mountain bike community has created a wealth of fantastic trail networks, with something for every off-road rider.
Beginning at Burnstown Park on the Madawaska River, this 21-km route loops down to Stewartville, taking in both sides of the river between these two towns. This moderate ride travels on paved and gravel roads and offers everything from the quaint cafés and artists’ studios of Burnstown to the farmland of McNab Township. Top off your tour with a dip at Burnstown Park’s popular swimming beach.
K&P Rail Trail
This 23-km section of multi-use trail between Renfrew and Calabogie is mostly flat and follows a scenic abandoned railway bed built in the mid-1800s. Combine it with the 4-km Millennium Trail through the heart of historic Renfrew for a great day trip that includes lunch and a swim at Calabogie Lake.
Bonnechere Valley Road Ride
For an easy and scenic ride on paved roads that is suitable for all types of cyclists, try this pretty 32-km (return) tour from Eganville through the Bonnechere Valley. The route provides many views of the Bonnechere River, visits the staircase falls and gorge at Fourth Chute and passes by the Bonnechere Caves before reaching the village of Douglas. This ride departs from Eganville’s visitor information booth on Highway 60.
Experienced road riders love this supremely hilly tour in the Madawaska Highlands. The 47-km loop follows quiet, paved roads between the communities of Quadeville, Letterkenny and Brudenell, taking in some truly spectacular views. Not for the faint of heart (or weak of legs), this route may have you pushing your bike up some of the steepest climbs.
Beachburg Off Road Cycling Association Trails
BORCA creates purpose-built single-track for all levels of mountain bikers, with detailed maps available to members ($25/year). Trails are located adjacent to the Ottawa River on a mix of crown land, county forest and private land in the vicinity of Beachburg and Foresters Falls. Find more info on these awesome trails here.
Forest Lea Trails
Embedded in 600 acres of crown land west of Pembroke, the Forest Lea Trails offer 30 km of volunteer-built, rocky and root-strewn single-track in a stacked loop system. Visit their blog for trail map and updates.
Discover more Ottawa Valley cycling routes at Ontario By Bike.
Swimming in the Ottawa Valley
Summer days are made for the beach. Fortunately, it’s easy for Ottawa beachgoers to escape the city and find a tranquil stretch of sand for sunbathing, swimming and launching canoes, kayaks or SUPs. Ottawa Valley beaches are also perfect for sandcastle building or simply relaxing with a good book. Even better, these beaches are just an hour or two drive from the Capital.
Four major river systems—the Ottawa, Madawaska, Bonnechere and Petawawa—provide outstanding fishing opportunities, with countless smaller streams and lakes offering plenty of under-the-radar rewards for anglers. Prime big lake fishing is found on Kamaniskeg and Bark lakes near the town of Barry’s Bay, Round and Golden lakes near Killaloe, and Calabogie and White lakes near Renfrew.
Common catches include: lake trout, whitefish, pickerel/walleye, large- and smallmouth bass, rock bass, northern pike, catfish and perch. Lucky Ottawa River anglers may even haul up an armor-plated sturgeon—a living dinosaur that makes its home in the river’s depths.
Winter is a special time of year for Ottawa travel, when frosty temperatures and sparkling snows create spectacular winter vistas. This is the perfect time to visit Ottawa if you enjoy classic winter activities like ice skating, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing/snowboarding and snowshoeing—or if you want to try something new and exciting like winter fat biking. Four-season resorts and cottage rentals make it easy to plan a winter vacation in the Ottawa Valley.
Ice skating
Skating on frozen lakes is an Ottawa Valley specialty—when the conditions are just right, you can enjoy a game of pond hockey with friends, or a longer skating tour along the lakeshore. The town of Pembroke creates its own outdoor ice skating trail—the Laurentian Valley Skating Trail winds over 1.5 km through a scenic wooded area. After dark, the ice trail is lit with thousands of twinkling lights for an absolutely magical experience.
Cross-country skiing
Nordic skiers are spoiled for choice in Ottawa. Some of our favorite cross-country ski destinations include the 20 km of classic and skate-set trails at Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club in Brudenell (bonus: warm up après ski in their cozy yurt); Pembroke’s excellent Forest Lea Trails; and the Madawaska Nordic ski trails, located across from Calabogie Peaks Resort.
Snowshoeing enthusiasts can explore virtually any hiking or multi-use trail. Try one of the Ottawa Valley’s many short and scenic lookout trails, like Calabogie’s Eagle’s Nest or Combermere’s Gun Mountain.
Fat biking
Don’t stop riding just because it’s winter—join the Ottawa Valley’s passionate fat biking community for some serious snow-season, fat-tire fun. Mountain biking hotspots like Petawawa and the BORCA Trails at Beachburg offer groomed winter single-track for fat ‘n’ frosty riding!
Downhill skiing & snowboarding
If you’re looking for the best ski resort in Ottawa, then look no further than Calabogie Peaks, located just one hour from the city. Calabogie boasts a 780-ft vertical drop, making it the tallest ski area in Eastern Ontario. Enjoy breathtaking views of Calabogie Lake and the surrounding hills from the Peaks’ 24 trails and two quad chairlifts. With the longest beginner run in the province, diverse intermediate terrain and slopes for expert skiers and riders, Calabogie has something for everyone.
Looking for an unusual and exciting Ottawa travel experience? The Bonnechere Caves are not to be missed. This natural underground wonder is located in Eganville beside the impressive Fourth Chute of the Bonnechere River. Join a one-hour guided tour through the caves’ limestone passages to explore subterranean chambers filled with fossils, stalactites and—in late September and October—bats. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Boardwalks and electric lighting make these caverns accessible to first-time spelunkers.
Pakenham Five Span Stone Bridge
There’s no shortage of Pinterest-worthy places to visit in Ottawa, but this historic landmark is deserving of the drive. Located in the cute little village of Pakenham, 45 minutes from Ottawa, the bridge crosses a scenic set of cascades on the Mississippi River. Built in 1903 by Scottish stone masons and restored in 1984, the breathtaking five-arch stone bridge is unique in North America and is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world outside Russia. Pick up picnic supplies in Pakenham and enjoy the view from Five Span Bridge Park.
North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve
Located two hours away from the bright lights of Ottawa, the Dark Sky Preserve in North Frontenac is one of the best places for stargazing in Southern Ontario. Astronomers and amateur stargazers alike marvel at the countless stars, constellations and Milky Way visible to the naked eye on a cloudless and moonless night. Bring along binoculars to reveal even more wonders of the universe. The viewing area is found on County Road 506, south of Plevna.
Larger towns in the Ottawa Valley offer a selection of comfortable and affordable hotels with convenient access to amenities and outdoor activities. The towns of Pembroke, Petawawa, Renfrew and Arnprior are your best bets if you are looking for a familiar hotel chain like Best Western, Holiday Inn or Quality Inn & Suites.
Boutique inns offer a more upscale stay, often with some fascinating history or unique luxury to enhance your stay. In Pembroke, the opulent Grey Gables Inn and Spa offers seven refined rooms in a stunning 1911 mansion, plus a genteel tearoom and massages.
Located in a heritage building perched on the edge of the Bonnechere River in downtown Eganville, the Fifth Chute Inn offers four unique rooms above a coffee shop and bakery. Awake to the murmur of the river and the tantalizing aromas of freshly brewed espresso and fresh-baked sourdough.
Ottawa cottage & cabin rentals
Rent a cozy lakeside cabin or waterfront beach house for a family staycation in Ottawa that everyone will love. Whether you’re after an off-grid escape, deluxe lakefront retreat or pet-friendly cottage rental, these amazing properties make inviting and convenient bases for exploring the Ottawa Valley’s breathtaking natural beauty.
Staying at a lodge or resort in the Ottawa Valley offers flexibility for couples, friends, families and solo travellers. Book an all-inclusive package where every detail of your experience is carefully crafted. Or go independent—exploring the scores of trails, lakes and attractions just a short drive from your doorstep, and then returning to your peaceful refuge to recharge for the next adventure.
If you want to participate in the thrilling outdoor activities that have made the Ottawa Valley a world-renowned adventure destination, base yourself in the Whitewater Region at Wilderness Tours Raft & Kayak Resort or OWL Rafting Resort.
Just 50 minutes from Ottawa, the Calabogie Highlands are a hotspot for four-season fun. Calabogie Peaks Resort offers a blend of country warmth and luxury with limitless mountain or lake adventures right out your door.
Just about everywhere you travel in the Ottawa Valley, you’ll find cozy cottage resorts that are perfect for an affordable, laidback family vacation. Most offer lakeside accommodation and beautiful beaches with onsite games and activities for kids and adults. Find out which cottage resorts made our Top 20 Cottage Rentals Near Ottawa.
Ottawa weather
Weather in the Ottawa Valley varies greatly depending on which season you are planning to visit. During peak summer season (late June through early September), Ottawa enjoys warm days, pleasant nights and plenty of sunshine. The average daily high is 20–30°C along the Ottawa River corridor, with temperatures often a few degrees cooler in the Highlands.
Spring (May through June) is generally cooler and wetter, while fall (mid-September through October) offers a mix of bright sunshine, chilly rains and crisp nights. These shoulder seasons can be a great time to visit the Valley as attractions will be less crowded and many places offer discounted rates during these months.
If you are planning to swim, paddle or whitewater raft during your visit, water temperature is just as important a consideration as air temperature. In summer, the Ottawa River and area lakes warm up to 20°C or more, making for a comfortable swimming temperature. In spring, water temperature hovers around a bone-chilling 5°C—enticing only the bravest (and most warmly dressed) whitewater rafters and paddlers.
Winter (December through March) can be a magical time to visit the Ottawa Valley—for those equipped for frigid weather. In January, the coldest month in the region, the average daily high is just -10°C and overnight temperatures can drop to -20°C. Snowfall in the Ottawa Valley often arrives in the form of major winter storms, with Highland locations like Calabogie accumulating over 200 cm (80 in) of annual snowfall.
Ottawa 14-day, 7-day and hourly weather forecast
Get hourly, weekend, seven-day and 14-day weather forecasts for locations throughout the Ottawa Valley at The Weather Network.
Abundant natural areas, intact forests and wetlands and light population density mean the Ottawa Valley is home to a wonderful diversity of wildlife. Deer, beaver, fox and porcupine are a common sight while hiking, paddling or driving on country roads. If you’re really fortunate, you may even catch sight of the Valley’s more elusive residents, including moose, wolf and bear.
Although black bears are reasonably common in the Ottawa Valley, bears are normally shy of humans and you will have to be very lucky to see one. However, careless food storage or improper disposal of garbage may attract bears looking for an easy meal, leading to “problem” bears that can become persistent and destructive nuisances. As a visitor to bear country, you have a responsibility to follow black bear safety rules and to know what to do if you encounter a bear.
Birding in the Ottawa Valley
The diverse habitats of the Ottawa Valley—from hardwood and mixed coniferous forest to open fields, lakes, rivers and wetlands—make this region a haven for birding near Ottawa. Over 300 bird species have been recorded in the Ottawa Valley, with some 160 species breeding here. For those wishing to learn more, the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club is a great starting point. Field-naturalist and birding enthusiast John Sankey maintains a fabulously detailed web resource for Ottawa Valley birders complete with popular locations and species checklists.
The Ottawa Valley is an outdoor adventurer’s dream destination. | Photo courtesy of: Destination Ontario
