Whitewater

Dumoine River (New start date)

Outing Type → 

The Dumoine River is a popular wilderness canoe river, known for its reliable water levels and Class I to III rapids, making it a great option for intermediate paddlers. It is the last free-flowing, undammed tributary of the Ottawa River.  I did the river back in fall of Oct 2020 and 2024 and the colours were great.  Water and air temperature was getting cold and most of us wore dry suits.   We did not see anybody else on the river,   No bugs.

 

The Basics
Event Location

Dumoine River

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
5 days
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
Oct 6, 2025
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Everyone with Intermediate white water skills and fall camping experience
Maximum Group Size
10
Minimum Group Size
6
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Still working out the details with the shuttle outfitter.  This will depend on group size.

Start at shuttle drivers place on the Ottawa river. Leave cars their (free parking).  Shuttle 2.5 hours to Lake Benoit.  Start at Lake Benoit ~63km 

Paddle 5-10 km camp

Paddle around 20 km /day

Paddle back to shuttle outfitters place on the Ottawa River.

Drive back home Oct  17 or 18 .

 

 

Required Items to Bring

We plan to have a Google Drive Planning Spreadsheet for the trip

Recommended Items to Bring

We plan to have a Google Drive Planning Spreadsheet for the trip

How to Get There
Event Directions

We plan to have a Google Drive Planning Spreadsheet for the trip

Carpool Info

We plan to have a Google Drive Planning Spreadsheet for the trip

Other
Notes

We plan to have a Google Drive Planning Spreadsheet for the trip

Cancellation Policy
Only sign up if you plan to come.

Ottawa River Middle Channel

Outing Type → 

Replacing the previous Ottawa River posting (I have lost most of my edit privileges with the website upgrade).

We will run the river on Saturday, camp at Wilderness Tours Saturday night, then do a second run on Sunday.

We will likely do the Middle Channel - the tamer of the two channels.  There are a number of rapids ranging from class 2 to 4, with easy scouting and portage trails.  The Ottawa River is pool drop, so easy to pick up swimmers at the bottom of most rapids. 

Please call Wilderness Tours (1888 723 8669) and book your own camping at Kayakers Takeout Camping)- let them know that you are in my party. 

 

The Basics
Event Location

Ottawa River near Beachburg Ontario

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
2 days - Saturday and Sunday
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
1 week before
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Canoers or kayakers
Maximum Group Size
None
Minimum Group Size
2 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Meet 11:30 Saturday at Owl Rafting Put in.  We will run a very quick shuttle to Wilderness Tours.  Lunch will be on the river.  We should be at Wilderness Tours by dinner time. 

Car camping will be at Wilderness Tours Kayakers Take-out Camping. I will be cooking meals at the campsite, but Wilderness Tours meal plan is also an option. 

Sunday - aim to be on the river by 9, off by 3. 

 

 

Required Items to Bring

Mandatory: 

  • Helmet
  • Bow/stern boat flotation
  • Bow/stern painters
  • Extra large bailing device 
Recommended Items to Bring

Throw bag

Spare paddle

Recommend bringing a center canoe flotation bag if you can - there are some big waves on the Ottawa that can swamp open canoes

Car camping gear and meals

 

How to Get There
Event Directions

Put in is Owl Rafting put in : 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3G6QVwnjjQwVvbGM8

Takeout and camping is at Wilderness Tours: 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zDz4DXguMVaDHv1B9

 

Please call Wilderness Tours (1888 723 8669) and book your own camping at Kayakers Takeout Camping)- let them know that you are in my party. 

 

Carpool Info

I am driving from Toronto - let me know if you would like to carpool

Riviere Noire - Aug 16-20th - FULL

Outing Type → 

This spectacular whitewater canoe route is filled with breathtaking views, wildlife and classic class 2 and 3 rapids with portage options. The Noire is a remote river located in Western Quebec and flows into the Ottawa River.The river is relatively small and the terrain alternates between Canadian Shield rock and sand. The navigatable rapids are long and the portages are short. (The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association)

There is  only 1 manadatory 60 meter portage, but that's it for the trip!

We will be paddling during 4/5 days following the current trough swifts and rapids and amazing sand beaches where we will be camping every night.

We will be screening interested paddlers to ensure it's a good fit for this trip.

The Basics
Event Location

Waltham, Quebec

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
4-5 days
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
Aug 1st 2025
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Anyone with river tripping experience
Maximum Group Size
4 boats, 8 people
Minimum Group Size
3 boats, 6 people
Itinerary
Itinerary description

August 16th 
Drive up to Waltham, Quebec
(TBC) 3:00PM - 1h30min shuttle from Aventures Rivieres Sauvages (previously where the Black River Inn was)
4:30PM - Put in at Rapides de l'Islet (near Campsite 21)

Aug 17-20th - paddle days

Aug 20th - take out at Aventures Rivieres Sauvages

In total, this is a 60 Km trip and we will be paddling around 15-20km per day.
We paddle slow but longer days. 

Required Items to Bring

Helmet
PFD
Extra paddles
Painters (front AND back of boat)
Throw bag
Rescue Equipment
Bailer
Drybags / barrel
Water filtration system

Breakfast & Lunch
1 dinner for the group

You will not be allowed on the trip without these

Recommended Items to Bring

Tent
Sleep System
Camp Chair
Personal cup / bowl for food

Clothing & Personal Items

How to Get There
Other
Notes

Shuttle is $550 for 4 boats ($140 per boat if trip is full)

Canoes can be rented from Esprit (whitewater.ca) for $275 for 5 days (they are also running our shuttle)

Food
Breakfast & Lunch on your own
Dinner to be split amongst the group

About the Paddlers
Currently 4 paddlers in their late 20s/early 30s - we've previously paddled the Kootenay together. 

Palmer Rapids and Lower Mad

Outing Type → 

A few laps down Palmer Rapids starting Saturday noon and the Lower Mad on Sunday.  

Happy to team up with a tandem canoe partner, or else I will bring the kayak  

The Basics
Event Location

Paddler co op

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
2 days
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
June 25
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Anyone
Maximum Group Size
10 boats
Minimum Group Size
2 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Meet paddler co op dock Saturday noon for an afternoon of paddling.

Camp at Paddler Co Op (pls make your own reservations).

Depart Paddler Co Op Sunday morning 8:30 am for Lower Mad shuttle or meet at put in 9:00 (Aumond Bay).  Take out at Buck Bay.  Expect about 5 hours on the water.  

Required Items to Bring

Boat with flotation, bow and stern painters, helmet.

Recommended Items to Bring

Pin kit, spare paddle, throw bag, first aid

Camping gear and food

How to Get There
Event Directions

Paddler Co Op Palmer Rapids On

Madawaska put in is Buck Bay. 

Great Slave Lk, Bailie, Back, Meadowbank Rivers 2026

Outing Type → 

This is a long trip into some of the wildest and most remote areas of the Canadian Arctic.

You can join for 1 or all parts of this trip if you have the time and sufficient experience. This will allow us to get a food drop.

It is a self-organized and co-led trip. Each participant is expected to contribute to the organization and leadership of the trip. We all have various gifts to contribute. Some are physically stronger, some are better fishermen, some have more financial resources some have more time for food packing. I am looking to create an inclusive group of paddlers of various ages.

The pace is medium fast and allows for the enjoyment of the land and fishing. However, at times we might have to push hard (in case of windy weather, late ice melt or other challenges).

Below are some resources to study.

Please contact me with questions or if you need more information.

We will need about 5 months to do a thorough preparation. So please apply early!

 

Resources:

 

https://jackpinepaddle.com/expedition/east-arm-great-slave-lake/

 

Robert Perkins "Into the Great Solitude”. A book inspired by his trip to the Baillie River.

Robert Perkin’s video “Into the Great Solitude” a 72-day solo journey into the Arctic

 

Back -Meadowbank 1999 Ray Dejardins Back River Odyssey 

 

2016 trip report/video Baillie, Back,Thelon to Baker Lake 

 

Carsten Iwer’s pictures from the Back River and Great Slave Lake and Beyond

 

Alan Jacobs trip report from the Back 2005

 

Jennifer Kingsley book Paddle North about her trip to the Back

 

John and Kate trips Yellowknife to Chantrey Inlet via the Back River

 

Back River references from John (see John and Kate trips above):

 

Anderson, J. 1855: Journal of Chief Factor Anderson of the H. B. Co., of a journey from Fort Simpson, McKenzie River to the mouth of the Great Fish River, via Great Slave Lake etc. The Canadian Field Naturalist 1940, (54) Nos 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12 and ibid 1941, (55) Nos 1, 2 & 3.

Back, G. 1836: Narrative of the Arctic Land Expedition to the mouth of the Great Fish River and Along the Shores of the Arctic Ocean in the years 1833, 1834 and 1835. John Murray, London

Galaburri, R. W. 1991: The Rat Lodge Revisited. Arctic (44) 3, 257-258.
PDF copy here:

Hanbury, D. T. 1904: Sport and Travel in the Northland of Canada. Edward Arnold, London

Harmuth, H. F. 1985: Great Slave Lake to Baker Lake. Nastawgan (12) 4 pp 12-13
PDF copy here

Kingsley, J. 2012: Father Joseph Buliard – He Came and Dwelt Among Us. Up Here Magazine July/August
PDF copy here

Pike, W. 1917: The Barren Ground of Northern Canada. E. P. Dutton & Company, New York

Seton, E. T. 1911: The Arctic Prairies – A canoe-journey of 2000 miles in search of the caribou; being the account of a voyage to the region north of Aylmer Lake. William Briggs, Toronto

The Basics
Event Location

NWT and Nunavut

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
4 to 11 weeks
Difficulty Rating
Advanced
Registration Cut Off
Dec 31st, 2025
Participant Info
Who's Invited
flat-water and white-water paddlers who have done several 1 - 2 week long self-organized trips; you must be able to carry all your packs and portage a canoe
Maximum Group Size
3 canoes
Minimum Group Size
2 canoes
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Part 1 

 

Yellowknife, Great Slave Lk-Artillery Lk – Devils Lk-start of Bailie R 

 

650km_4weeks_mostly lake paddle and portages June 10-July 10

 

Some white-water experience is required for part 1. Great Slave Lake is a very large body of water and we can encounter some large waves at times.

 

Part 2  

 

Bailie R- Back R- upstream on Meadowbank R and through lakes to Thelon R- Baker Lk

 

1000km_7 weeks_white water, lake, portages_July 11- Aug 28

 

For part 2, you MUST be confident paddling class 3 rapids.

 

A map of a route

Description automatically generated

lower mad whitewater day trip

Outing Type → 

We will be paddling the lower mad on the Tuesday and a separate Wednesday paddle of the middle Madawaska River.

Please contact Larry or Jonas trip leaders.

We will be at paddlers coop Monday night through Wednesday night. We can plan some joint meals as well.

We assume you have your own canoe, whitewater paddles and PFD.

Please contact larry mchenry  trip lead  larry.mchenry@sympatico.ca  M 613-621-0533 Please advise the trip lead your WW experience level.

We assume swimming ability is good to strong, helmets mandatory, as its july dry suits wet suits not mandatory.

Min group size 3 boats with max 10 craft.

The Basics
Event Location

based out of paddlers coop or arrive for the day

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
1 day
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
June 30th 2025
Participant Info
Who's Invited
we may have several tandem boats where a novice paddler or two can join us
Maximum Group Size
10
Minimum Group Size
3
Itinerary
Itinerary description

We will start shuttle at 9:30 Tuesday and the river trip starts down the section of the lower Madawaska River snake rapids section from Aumonds bay to buck bay take out. Usually 4-5 hours on river with lunch break at Rifle Chute. Bring some Bug Spray Deer and Horse flies will be out.

Required Items to Bring

Helmet , PFD, paddle WW, lunch in dry bag, you canoe 

Recommended Items to Bring

Make a booking at paddlers and state your with WCA as a discount of 10% applies to WCA members

How to Get There
Carpool Info

getting there your on your own unless some folks join forces.

Other
Cancellation Policy
you are responsible for your paddlers bookings

Black River Washago Paddle and Camp

Outing Type → 

Come for the day or the weekend. Class I-II learning river. Great for beginners to learn basic white water skills with a couple more challenging sections which can be skipped. My paddle partner and I will be camping on the river at Black River Wilderness reserve.  We will be at Island 2 - Site 1 if you'd like to book a nearby or adjacent site.

The weather looks amazing and water levels still good.

 

The Basics
Event Location

Black River Washago

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
1-2 days
Difficulty Rating
Novice
Participant Info
Maximum Group Size
8 Boats
Minimum Group Size
2 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description

We will meet at the put-in at 10 am Saturday, unload and shuttle vehicles (2min shuttle). We will take our time playing and practicing.  We can stop at Bell Ringer or our campsite for lunch and be off the water by 3.  

For those camping we will go check in and set up camp. Relax, swim or throw your boat back in the water if you didn't get enough followed by dinner, drinks and a camp fire.

Camp  sites are a little pricey but you can't beat the convenience. Two day minimum so book Saturday and Sunday nights so even if your heading back Sunday you can stay as long as you want and don't have to check out at 12.  

If there are folks interested in coming Sunday only we may organize another full run but otherwise I'd prefer to keep it open and relaxed. Perhaps exploring more of the river beyond the whitewater section or just relaxing and playing near camp.

Link to our May 3rd visit

https://youtu.be/l7jRN1jl11g?si=-SpZYCkI_G_dh3AE

Paddle Maps link

https://paddlingmaps.com/trip/Ontario/171-highway-169-to-mcmillan-side-…

 

Required Items to Bring

Canoe (Royalex or T-Formex) or play boat, canoe flotation bags, painter lines, throw bag, spare paddle play boat, paddle board. Life jacket and helmet. Bug spray (its that time of year)

Please note you may not wear bug netting over your face on the water!

Can be done on a paddle board if you have the skills.

 

Recommended Items to Bring

Dry or wet suit (water temps should be OK now though), lunch, water or filter, snacks.

For campers, 2 lunch, dinner, breakfast, snacks. Two smaller tents per site (max 6ppl). Additional bug or dining shelter ok if there is room. I will have a 9x9.

How to Get There
Event Directions

Put in at the bridge on Hwy 169

44.714210,-79.281570

Takeout 

44.718661,-79.302220

Lower Credit (Steetsville to Erindale)

Outing Type → 

Quick run from Streetsville to Erindale Park. Levels should be good with continued rain in the forecast.

The Basics
Event Location

Vic Johnson Community Center, Mississauga

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
3 hours
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
Friday night
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Canoers and kayakers
Maximum Group Size
8 boats
Minimum Group Size
2 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Meet at Vic Johnson community center 2 pm. Run shuttle to Erindale Park. On the river 3-5.

Required Items to Bring

Mandatory boat flotation, bow & stern painters and helmet.

Recommended Items to Bring

Throw bag and other safety gear.
Drysuit or wetsuits very highly recommended. Swims are very likely.
Appreciated if a couple people bring roofracks to facilitate easier shuttle

How to Get There
Event Directions

Vic Johnson Community Centre, Mississauga
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CDPyJ2w179MrhEUy5

Other
Notes

If someone needs a tandem canoe partner, happy to team up.

Room for one more! COURSE OFFERING - Intro to Tandem Whitewater Canoeing (Fees Apply)

Outing Type → 

Paddle Canada: Introduction to Tandem Moving Water Canoeing Location: Palmer Rapids, Ontario Course Dates: June 21–22, 2025 Meet-Up: 8:00 PM, Friday, June 20 at Paddler Co-op Cost to WCA members is $399, which includes camping fees at Paddler Co-op and a full set of rental equipment. Discounts apply if you bring your own gear. $100 off the price to the public. Course Overview: Learn the skills and confidence to paddle tandem canoes in whitewater! This Paddle Canada-certified course is ideal for paddlers transitioning from flatwater to moving water. Held on the scenic Lower Madawaska River, the course covers: • River reading and hazard identification • Eddy turns, ferries, and S-turns • Tandem boat control and communication • Throw bag use, rescue techniques, and safety awareness Who it’s For: This course is ideal for paddlers with some existing flatwater experience who are tired of portaging around every feature! Not sure? Contact me to check your readiness. What’s Included: Canoe and gear rental (2 days) Campsite at Paddler Co-op (Friday and Saturday) Two full days of instruction Small group sizes for personal feedback Paddle Canada course certification (upon completion) What to Bring: Personal paddling gear (if you have it) Clothing suitable for river paddling and immersion Meals, snacks, and water Camping supplies Willingness to learn and get wet! Limited Spots Available – Register Early!

The Basics
Event Location

Palmer Rapids, ON

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
2 days
Difficulty Rating
Beginner
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Everyone
Maximum Group Size
8 students (4 boats)
Minimum Group Size
3 students
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Details provided via email.

Required Items to Bring

Personal paddling gear (if you have it) Clothing suitable for river paddling and immersion Meals, snacks, and water Camping supplies Willingness to learn and get wet!

Sunday Paddle (Nith if enough rain, Glen Moris to Paris is alternate)

Outing Type → 

Going to paddle the nith if the flows are right, otherwise Glen Morris to Paris on the Grand should be some good flow through there.

The Basics
Event Location

Canning Road. 43.19632300, -80.46862300

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
4 hours
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
4/26/2025
Participant Info
Who's Invited
Anyone that woud like to join, dry suits are a must. Challenges: Sweepers, cold and fast moving water, some whitewater sections class ii or lower
Maximum Group Size
8 boats
Minimum Group Size
2 boats
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Start off the day by Shuttling canoes. Paddle, stop for lunch, finish paddling. We can always go for more lunch afterwards

Required Items to Bring

Dry Suit, Paddle, PFD, Food, Whatever you need to paddle.

Recommended Items to Bring

Canoe, rope, bailer

How to Get There
Event Directions

If Canning: Load these coordinates into your GPS, we are on the side of the road after the bridge. 43.196220, -80.468068.
Ending at Lions Park :43.193276064792364, -80.3886380277478
Otherwise: For the Alternate Glen Moris: We meet here: 43.27656333215492, -80.34553083147593
And exit here: 43.19800231239222, -80.38130141537714

Other
Cancellation Policy
Let me know if you aren't coming.