Kayak attack
May 3, 2011 7:28 PM Subscribe
Looking for suggestions for a kayaking trip in eastern Ontario or Quebec.
My wife and I would like to take a kayaking trip for three to five days or so. We've been noodling around on Lake Ontario and in the lakes of Frontenac Park, but would like to do a multi-day river trip. Looking for a river with a bit of excitement but nothing too hair raising, as we have sea kayaks, not whitewater kayaks, and are fairly new at it. We'll probably go later in the season when the water is a bit tamer. Looking to camp and get away from other people, so no guides or amenities needed or wanted. We live in Kingston, and would prefer to drive as little as possible from here.
Suggestions?
My wife and I would like to take a kayaking trip for three to five days or so. We've been noodling around on Lake Ontario and in the lakes of Frontenac Park, but would like to do a multi-day river trip. Looking for a river with a bit of excitement but nothing too hair raising, as we have sea kayaks, not whitewater kayaks, and are fairly new at it. We'll probably go later in the season when the water is a bit tamer. Looking to camp and get away from other people, so no guides or amenities needed or wanted. We live in Kingston, and would prefer to drive as little as possible from here.
Suggestions?
If you want wilderness camping, check out La Verendrye. It's in Quebec, about 3 hrs north of Ottawa, so pretty drivable from Kingston. It's also twice the size of Algonquin, and less well known.
I did one weekend canoe trip in that park 2 summers ago, and I loved it. Peaceful and remote. We put in at La Domaine, and did a 2 night trip around some islands. Talk about dark sky up there! There is plenty of terrain to cover, putting together a 5 day trip would be quite doable.
Anyways, just my 2 cents.
posted by marmIrite? at 7:52 PM on May 3, 2011
I did one weekend canoe trip in that park 2 summers ago, and I loved it. Peaceful and remote. We put in at La Domaine, and did a 2 night trip around some islands. Talk about dark sky up there! There is plenty of terrain to cover, putting together a 5 day trip would be quite doable.
Anyways, just my 2 cents.
posted by marmIrite? at 7:52 PM on May 3, 2011
The Dumoine River from Lac Laforge is pretty, and the float plane trip there is fun. There are a half dozen rapids which you can portage around, the longest being 1.5 km, which might not be so fun with a Kayak.
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:16 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:16 PM on May 3, 2011
This may be too far west for you, but my husband and I have really enjoyed canoeing the lower delta of the French River, where it feeds into Georgian bay (between Perry Sound and Sudbury). The up-stream part is white water canoeing/kayaking, but the lower part where the provincial park docks are is wide and calm - we don't do white water, we just go here.
The river breaks up into many different channels to explore, and you could kayak out into Georgian bay and explore along the shore there. The camping is good - though there are motor boats and some cottages (grandfathered in) in the park, there are many camp sites where you are truly away from all that and alone - they have fire pits and latrines set up. these are the "amenities". It's Canadian shield country, so you need an air-mattress and a tent that can be set up on solid rock.
posted by jb at 9:05 PM on May 3, 2011
The river breaks up into many different channels to explore, and you could kayak out into Georgian bay and explore along the shore there. The camping is good - though there are motor boats and some cottages (grandfathered in) in the park, there are many camp sites where you are truly away from all that and alone - they have fire pits and latrines set up. these are the "amenities". It's Canadian shield country, so you need an air-mattress and a tent that can be set up on solid rock.
posted by jb at 9:05 PM on May 3, 2011
oh - and our love of French River is partly based on the fact that there are very few portages. We did one trip with none, another trip with one of about 500 metres.
posted by jb at 9:07 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by jb at 9:07 PM on May 3, 2011
I have no recommendations for an exact place, but your conditions of Little Driving and Far Away immediately reminded me of the unscheduled stop my VIA train made in the middle of beautiful nowhere to unload two canoes and their respective paddlers, who began their portage right under my sleeper window.
Apparently, they regularly do this for folks who ask, and you can arrange pickup in advance for when you're done.
posted by Sallyfur at 1:19 AM on May 4, 2011
Apparently, they regularly do this for folks who ask, and you can arrange pickup in advance for when you're done.
posted by Sallyfur at 1:19 AM on May 4, 2011
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posted by bonehead at 7:39 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]