Fall is the perfect time to paddle.
As the temperatures cool there are no bugs and the lakes become less crowded. Plus you can catch some of our beautiful fall colours!
But fall weather can be fickle. Hitting the lake too late, failing to respect weather conditions, or paddling beyond your skill level isn’t just risky — it’s downright dangerous.
We chatted with Paul Smith, Superintendent of Kawartha Highlands Signature Site, to get some top do’s and don’ts for fall paddling safety:
Imagine.
You put your canoe or kayak into the lake. The water is smooth and reflective. The sky’s a deep, dark blue, and the clouds are brilliant white. The day is sunny, cool and crisp, and the trees that cover the hills around you…well, they’re a stunning display of red, orange, and yellow.
There’s something special about paddling in Ontario’s provincial parks in the fall, particularly secluded Restoule Provincial Park.
Today’s blog comes from Danny and Tiffany of Venturing Two.
Last weekend, we headed north to Bon Echo Provincial Park to document our first backcountry experience.
The park was buzzing with activity! There were BBQs at family and pet friendly beaches, people fishing, kids canoeing and kayaking, friends hiking to scenic lookout points, families observing pictographs, and fellow campers unwinding at lakeside campsites.
Continue reading Backcountry camping and paddling at Bon Echo
Today’s post comes from year-round multispecies angler and writer, Ashley Rae, of SheLovesToFish.com.
Located just north of Parry Sound in Point au Baril, Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park is nestled on the picturesque shores of Georgian Bay.
A large bay on Lake Huron, Georgian Bay is well known for its granite backdrops, but also for the great fishing opportunities found here. Sturgeon Bay is the perfect place to hang your hat while exploring these scenic waters.
Continue reading Exploring fishing opportunities at Sturgeon Bay
Today’s post comes from Joanie McGuffin (paddler, author, and executive director of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy (LSWC)), and Holly Drew (LSWC Marketing and Communications Coordinator).
For thousands of years, people paddled birchbark canoes along the shores of Lake Superior to get from place to place. Travelling and trading, hunting and fishing; these were the activities of the historic Lake Superior Water Trail, now being celebrated as part of The Great Trail by Trans Canada Trail.
Continue reading The Lake Superior Water Trail: the greatest of trails
Set in the lush boreal forest with wide-open skies, there’s a definite “northern feel” to Fushimi Lake Provincial Park.
During the day, Fushimi Lake’s horizons look like prairie skies because they seem so wide. At night, the stars are so bright and so numerous that you feel like you’re in a snow globe.
This post comes from Laurel Finney, a Learning and Education Specialist with Ontario Parks.
They say everything changes when you have a baby.
Although that is mostly true, there are some things which do not. For me, one of these is my passion for canoeing and wild places.
My partner and I are avid backcountry campers, and when our babe came along, it was only natural for us to adapt our trips to accommodate our growing family.
The following is a list of tips and tricks meant for experienced campers interested in exploring the backcountry with their little ones.
Continue reading Tips for backcountry camping with young children
The deep green boreal forest of Kettle Lakes Provincial Park contains 22 beautiful little lakes. Of these lakes, 20 are called actually “kettle lakes” by geographers.
So what is a “kettle lake?”
To answer that question, we first must look at how kettles are formed.
We all know how important it is to wear a PFD when heading out on the water, but do we all know how to choose the right size?
We chatted with our friends at Stearns to get the inside scoop on how to select a properly fitting PFD for you and your family.
We all want to get out and experience the natural wonder Ontario has to offer, but sometimes organizing your own trip can seem a bit daunting.
That’s where The Trip Shed comes in!
Continue reading Enhance your wilderness experience with The Trip Shed
