Canoeing Archives - Page 2 of 2

Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive: lifejacket lending program keeps park visitors safe

Swimming, boating, fishing or just plain splashing around is part of the fun of visiting Ontario Parks and our PARKsmart Lifejacket Lending Program helps keep it that way.

Through the generous support of our sponsors, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), BOATsmart and The Canadian Red Cross and Swim Guide thousands of park visitors are exposed to water safety messaging and are able to borrow lifejackets every year and stay safe while enjoying our beautiful lakes, waterways, rivers and streams. Continue reading Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive: lifejacket lending program keeps park visitors safe

What are we doing this weekend?

Guest Blogger: Matt Olsen from Paddle In

“What are we doing this weekend?”

A question posed to me by my three year old daughter on a cold and blustery January afternoon. It’s a simple enough question but at the time, for the life of me, I had no answer. I don’t quite remember what I ended up answering her but I believe it was along the lines of, “we’ll see.” That question stuck with me and I promised myself that for the rest of the year I’d have an answer for her. So as 2013 progressed, it became a year full of preparing, learning and most importantly, a year full of camping under the stars in some of Ontario’s most beautiful provincial parks.

Paddle In_ Samuel de Champlain — Out on the trails at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park (Photo Credit: Paddle In).

Continue reading What are we doing this weekend?

Waiting for Spring – why you can’t trust groundhogs

We all make mistakes. No one is right all the time. But what makes this particular error hard to swallow is that it has resulted in a delayed paddling season. The lesson might be to not plan an ice-out canoe trip on a prediction made by an albino groundhog, despite the fact that he gave us hope. Hope that has remained frozen in the lake as winter is only recently beginning to release its grip. Continue reading Waiting for Spring – why you can’t trust groundhogs

Trip planning tips for Ontario Parks

Looking for adventure? Ontario Parks has you covered. 7,000 backcountry campsites only accessible by canoe or on foot are tucked away in 21 different provincial parks across Ontario. Backcountry campsites are basic- typically a pit privy, a few tent sites and a fire ring. The paddling and hiking are second to none. Trip planning is essential. Continue reading Trip planning tips for Ontario Parks

Canoe Woodland Caribou Provincial Park

Are you an experienced canoeist looking for a new challenge? Woodland Caribou Ontario Parks’ fifth largest provincial park, is one of those few places in the world where you feel like you’re the first to experience its beauty. That’s because this park has low use. Continue reading Canoe Woodland Caribou Provincial Park

Paddlers’ Paradise

Paddling and summer go hand-in-hand at Ontario Parks. But as this post demonstrates, you don’t need to be an expert to have a paddle-themed visit! Continue reading Paddlers’ Paradise

Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park Now Accepting Reservations

Starting May 2, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park will start accepting camping reservations for its 108 backcountry campsites. These sites are only accessible by canoe and most sites have three tent pads, fire ring, picnic table and a privy toilet. Continue reading Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park Now Accepting Reservations

Algonquin Ice Out Conditions

Algonquin Park is open this weekend for backcountry camping and fishing, some lakes and Access Points are still impassable. Before you travel to Algonquin check the website (www.algonquinpark.on.ca) for current updates for each Access Point ice out conditions are highly variable and changing daily.”