Canoe-camping in the Canadian wilderness

What is Canoe-Camping

Sleeping under the stars to the sound of the environment and canyoning in crystal-clear waters overlooking magnificent trees, how perfect is that? That's what some people will say when describing their favorite activity. After all, canoe-camping is an adventure like no other!

A more detailed description of the activity would be to rent a canoe to navigate on lakes or rivers during the day and paddle to land for overnight camping. While navigating on a lake is a more tranquil experience, rivers are more of a challenge because of the current and the faster speed of the river. Both options are perfect to discover your surroundings, to watch out for the beautiful nature and to keep an eye out for the wildlife as you will probably spot a variety of animals. This experience will appeal to everyone, as you can do it alone, with friends or even as a family, with children over the age of 5, depending on the itinerary.

Its history

To tell the story of canoe-camping's beginnings, we first need to retrace the history of the canoe. This water vessel was built by the Indigenous people of Canada, now known as First Nations. They perfected this craft, creating their canoes mainly from birch bark, in the eastern part of the country. Indeed, before being used by Europeans, this means of water transportation has been used for centuries in North America, for a variety of purposes, for fur trade, for example, or as an aid to fishing and hunting.

It was in the 1880s that European explorers and cartographers mainly used canoes to explore the land and map the territory. After the end of the First World War, the vessel was used less and less, with only the daring venturing out into the wilderness.

Then, in a radical change, the activity was revived in 1945 with the birth of canoe-camping. The first club dedicated to this practice was even created in 1963 in Quebec. It's now an adventure that people love to embark on, and one that has seen an increase in participation over the years.

Where you can do it

When choosing a destination, you need to think about a number of things, including your level of expertise, the length of your stay, and whether the site provides all the necessary equipment or not. Don't worry, most park websites provide this kind of information and suggest possible itineraries for all audiences.

You're sure to find what you're looking for in one of Quebec's 24 national parks and in the 65 regional parks of the region. National parks not only allow the public to immerse themselves in a majestic site while enjoying its exceptional beauty, it also has the mission of protecting the flora and fauna of these areas. As a result, their main objectives of conserving sites and educating the public about the environment are more than important for the country's biodiversity.

1- Poisson-Blanc Regional Park, Laurentides

This regional park is located on the Poisson-Blanc lake in the Laurentides and is perfect for canoe-camping, as they have made this activity one of their predilections. The park's many islands make it an ideal place to set up camp and enjoy the magnificent scenery. If you are looking for peace and privacy as you wish to cherish this moment with friends or family only, this is the place for you.

2- La Mauricie National Park, Mauricie

The Mauricie National Park, located in southern Canada, is a vast Canadian national park in the Mauricie region, just north of Montréal. With a total of over 150 lakes and some rivers, it's a great place for adventure and wilderness exploration. You may even catch a glimpse of a brown bear. Don't be afraid, if it comes near you, just make as much noise as possible and it will go away.

3- Mont-Tremblant National Park

Mont-Tremblant, not far from Montreal, is known as a beautiful city and a ski station but it is also a National park located in both Laurentides and Lanaudière regions. Here you can take on a challenge as there are fairly vigorous rivers, the two main ones are "Rivière du Diable" (Devil’s river) and "Rivière de l'Assomption". The rivers are adapted to offer both long and short rides, depending on what you're looking for. There are also a number of lakes you can visit if you prefer.

Practical information

Equipment: Before rushing to this adventurous journey, you need to make sure you have all the equipment that you need. You'll need safety equipment such as a life jacket, as well as all the camping gear such as a tent, a sleeping bag, a mattress and a flashlight. In case the weather turns cold at night, which is likely, take a fleece jacket (you’ll thank us for it!). As you'll be near water most of the time, we encourage you to take a can to hold all your valuable items, and don’t forget to wear waterproof clothing.

If you want to go during the hottest days, it's always a good idea to bring sun cream, a cap, sunglasses and some water. The hardest thing is to be prepared for the mosquitoes, as there are quite a few of them, especially in June, so don’t forget your mosquito repellent creams.

Don't forget to choose biodegradable and eco-friendly products, as it's very important not to damage the environment during your stay. Canadians take great pride in preserving their parks, so be sure to respect their ways and clean up after yourself, as this is the best way to keep this majestic place intact.

Finally, the most important element is yet to come: the canoe itself! Unless you're an avid canoe user and take it everywhere with you, you'll be pleased to know that most canoes can be rented on site.

When to do this activity

If you’re familiar with Canada, you probably already know that it can get quite cold, and by that we mean that most of the year the lands are covered by snow and the lakes and rivers are usually frozen. Thus, it's a good idea to know which months are best for this activity.

Depending on the year and weather conditions, you can embark on this journey from mid-May to early September. Each season has its own particularities: spring can be a good time for adventurers, as the melting ice makes the rivers more turbulent. Summer is ideal for warmer, sunnier days, and early autumn, also known as "Indian summer", offers cooler days and incredible landscapes filled with orange and red leaves.