The Story
Canadians are generally a cautious lot, yet every summer it is a tradition to send their children into the wilds, for weeks on end, to navigate the rugged ‘back country’ of the Canadian Shield in canoes. It’s an exploration in grit and fellowship and connection to something bigger. They come home just a little bit different, as if the aperture on the world had widened.
How lucky they are. There is something deeply restorative about paddling across cool, glassy lakes, listening to the loon’s call echo off the water, and sitting around the fire under a big, starry sky. Everyone should experience this vast beauty, and we have just the place.
Our tour through the renowned Temagami wilderness area brings together the best of classic Canadiana in one trip; picturesque rock cliffs, turquoise lagoons and towering stands of centuries-old red and white pine. You’ll paddle ancient indigenous routes, fly in a bush plane, and be treated to hearty home cooked meals at a classic log cabin lodge.
The kids shouldn’t have all the fun.
Book Recommendations
Some of our Favourite Things
The Best
Time takes on a different meaning in the backcountry. You wake to the ghostly mist rising off the lake and end your day with the gods painting a spectacular sunset across the evening sky. This is where you truly disconnect.
Wolf Lake
One of the most striking lakes in the region, its deep blue water is ringed by granite and quartzite cliffs and towering old growth red pines. This is the world’s largest remaining ancient red pine forest, and is critically endangered, covering just 1.2% of its original range. While protected from logging, citizens’ groups are still fighting to ban mining exploration.
Hearty Lodge Hospitality
When not “out on trip” we will be hosted at a classic, family-owned backcountry lodge and treated to delicious home cooked meals. The owners grew up canoe tripping every summer and now want to share that transportive experience with fellow travelers.
A paddler’s paradise
The Temagami wilderness region is renowned for its rugged beauty, and our route boasts some of the best flat water paddling, bar none. It beats Algonquin Park any day, and without the crowds. This is true Canadian Shield, and the fishing is amazing.
Sauna time
Northern Ontarians love their saunas, and for good reason. Jumping into a cool lake after a steamy, cedar-wood sauna, and you are guaranteed to sleep like a baby. Add in a few days of paddling first, and it’s a near transcendental experience.
Itinerary
The heart of the trip is an exclusive karibu curated, 3.5 day, 50-kilometre canoe trip through the most spectacular highlights of the Chiniguchi Waterway, an unmanaged provincial park in the greater Temagami wilderness region. You’ll take a classic Canadian-made Beaver bush plane to the beginning of your trip due north. Each day you and your guide will paddle 15 kilometres, portaging where necessary 100-500 metres, and setting up camp at each new destination. You’ll stop for midday picnics along beautiful rocky shores, swim in clear cool lakes and relax around the campfire.
The trip is book-ended by a stay at a traditional backcountry lodge that began life as a logging camp in the late 1800s. You’ll spend your first night here, arriving in time for apps, drinks and a sumptuous meal before heading out the next morning, belly full of fresh brewed coffee and blueberry pancakes. You’ll glide back into the lodge three and a half days later, hair smelling of campfire and feeling like you could conquer the world.
Activity Level: Participants should be moderately fit and comfortable canoeing 2-3 hours at a stretch (with breaks and lunch) and 5-6 hours a day, as well as portaging equipment. Canoes will be carried by the guides (unless you like carrying canoes - which some guests do!). No prior paddling experience is required. Appropriate for kids 12+
Accommodation
Guests spend the first and last night of our tour at our friends’ classic backcountry lodge. A former logging camp turned hunting and fishing camp that has been lovingly restored, the lodge combines rustic charm with newly updated amenities.
Lodge features include cozy log cabins that sleep 2-5 guests; new, central bathrooms; a “Great Room” where guests can relax in front of the fire with a glass of wine and a delicious charcuterie board; and a hand-built cedar sauna with wood burning stove with seating for 10.
The other three nights we are camping, staying at a different campsite each night. These sites offer amazing views and are well-maintained by the Friends of Temagami, a grassroots conservation group, with firepits and thunderboxes.
Our Guides
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Mike
A nature and backcountry enthusiast, Mike has done close to two dozen 40+ day canoe trips across Ontario and can portage a canoe and cook up a great meal better than anyone.
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Laramie
A personal trainer and graduate of Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Program, Laramie’s joyous spirit and attention to detail deliver the perfect combination of fun and a well-run trip.
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Nico
A long-time canoe tripper and guide, Nico spent every summer on the water leading backcountry tripping for a well-known Ontario canoe camp before deciding to make Temagami his canoeing home.
FAQs
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The Temagami Wilderness Area is a vast 15,000 km2 area encompassing 16 provincial parks and 26 conservation reserves in northeastern Ontario. Its boundaries are loosely defined by the town of Sudbury to the southwest, the town of North Bay to the southeast, the Ottawa River to the east, the Montreal River and the hamlet of Matchewan to the north, and the Wanipitei River to the west
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We begin our tour in Maskinonge Lake, located in the southwestern side of the Temagami, and canoe through the Chiniguchi Waterway, an unmanaged provincial park. The closest town is Hagar, and the closest city is Sudbury.
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The pickup point is 430 km north of Toronto and 90 km east of Sudbury. You can either drive, or if you fly into Sudbury, karibu can arrange a pickup. Detailed driving instructions are included in your booking confirmation.
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We have cabins that sleep from 2 to 6 people. We have cabins for couples and that can accommodate families. Single guests are generally grouped together; ie three woman in one cabin. If it sounds a bit like adult summer camp, that’s because it is a bit.
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We provide tents, paddle and Personal Flotation Devices. We recommend people bring their own sleeping bag (three season) and Therm-A-Rest/sleeping pad whenever possible. In the event that you don’t have a sleeping bag or sleeping pad, one can be provided.
We recommend bringing a 30-litre dry bag for storing your personal affects.
A full packing list is provided with your booking confirmation.
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No. The majority of bugs are gone by late July/early August. It’s always good to have some bug juice on hand in case there a few holdovers, but it’s relatively pretty bug-free.
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The days can be pretty warm, hovering between 20-25C, and then dipping down at night to about 13C.
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It’s always better to feel comfortable in the water, however you do not need to know how to swim. Every guest is given a life jacket, and we have two trained guides on all trips. Ultimately it depends on your comfort level.
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Moderate. Trails range from 100-400 metres and are fairly well-maintained. Guests are expected to carry equipment (backpacks, barrels, paddles) but the guides portage the canoes – unless guests want to (we provide a mini how-to class for those interested).
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In principle, yes. We are dog-friendly folks. It will depend on whether your dog can sit still in a canoe, is well-behaved, and the other guests on the trip are comfortable with dogs on the trip.
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The great thing about our Temagami trip is that parents, grandparents and kids can share that special summer experience of being out on the lake and communing around the campfire. We recommend for kids 12+.
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karibu does not provide alcohol on the trip. However you are welcome to bring your own. If you like wine, we recommend bringing boxed wine as it is lighter and non-breakable, which is ideal for moving while on trip.
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We generally use three-man Swift canoes. It helps distribute the paddling among guests, the canoes are faster and they allow us to portage more easily. Two-man canoes are available for those that expressly want one and if logistically it works with group numbers and bush plane drop off.
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Much of where we paddle is in unmanaged provincial parks. The campsites are maintained by local guides and the Friends of Temagami, a local not-for-profit organization. Campsites are generally equipped with what are known as “thunderboxes” – a wood, boxlike lavatory seat that can be placed over a hole in the ground – and are well maintained. There may be times however, depending on the campsite, when a thunderbox may not be available and visitors may need to use “the woods.”
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This is an additional service outside the tour. The cost is approximately $250-$300 each way. As the drive is remote and requires the driver to drive both ways each time (3 hours each way) it is a bit costly. However it does save guests on driving or from having to rent a car.
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You need two pairs of shoes; a pair of water shoes for canoeing and portaging. Ideally these can be closed toed water shows like keens, or old running shoes, plus a dry pair of shoes for camp.
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