Arguably the greatest camping in Ontario. Those who have been to the vast wilderness of Temagami know just how special it is. It's hard to do justice to this area that will redefine your sense of the word wild. Seemingly unending forest, an incomprehensible number of lakes and incredible sights around every corner... you'll feel like you had never really been camping before you visit Temagami.
This 5 day, 60km route will take you through some of the areas greatest landmarks. You'll visit the endangered old-growth forests of Wolf Lake, swim in the waters of a secret lagoon, climb a mountain with an unbelievable lookout and even discover some ancient indigenous pictographs. It's not an easy trip with over 4km of total portaging and about 15km of paddling a day but with the help of our incredible guides, it's a trip that any enthusiastic and fit amateur can manage and prove what they're capable of.
There are very few trips organized to this special place and where they are offered, they typically cost well over a thousand dollars. We're pleased to be able to offer Wilderness Union members another unique trip at an unheard of price - another benefit of your membership!
Adventure details
We'll be covering between 7-16km a day with 13 portages over the 5 days. While that might seem intimidating, many of the portages are relatively short and under 500m. The longest is just under 1km long but with our lightweight canoes, even that will be manageable.
The paddling will be on a mixture of large lakes and smaller waterways. You can expect to be paddling for about 6 hours a day with a very conservative average pace of 2.5km/hour.
Each night, we'll set up camp on crown land, sleeping under incredible night skies. It should go without saying that we'll be completely off grid so no toilets, no running water and no cell-phone reception. Rest assured that we'll teach you how to remain comfortable and healthy throughout your trip.
As with all our trips, this is an opportunity to learn camp, paddling and wilderness skills and we'll all be contributing to make the trip a success.
On the final day, if we have time we'll stop for a final celebratory meal to mark the end of the adventure of a lifetime.
We're going to be aiming for a 60km loop of the park. This will be a huge adventure and, in case it wasn't already clear, a significant challenge. While some of our trips are about relaxing on campsites, this is about the accomplishment and enjoyment of powering yourself in the wild like our ancestors did.
We'll have several portages each day, some of which are a short hop between lakes, others are practically a full blown hike with a canoe on our backs.
You'll be led by Rory and Sarah, both very experienced canoe trippers with extensive medical experience to keep everyone safe and having fun.
Camping
We're travelling on Crown Land and where possible, will be setting up on informal but established existing campsites. Everyone will be assigned a different responsibility at camp and together, we'll set up our home for the night each day. This involves:
Sleeping Arrangements
There's limited space on campsites so we're sharing WU provided tents separated by gender. If you'd like to bring your own hammock to sleep in, please let us know on Discord asap. You should be very comfortable setting it up, working with tarps and have tested your sleep system in advance
Backcountry considerations and using the toilet
This being remote backcountry, you'll have no phone reception, there's no electricity or running water. We'll be digging catholes to go to the toilet. This is a great guide to pooping in the woods!
Water
There's a risk of water contamination with viruses like Giardia (beaver fever!) and bacteria so we'll be purifying water on site. We'll be providing all necessary equipment for water purification but feel free to bring your chosen method in addition.
Fire
There's no fire ban so we'll be able to have a campfire at night.
Campsite responsibilities
This trip is an opportunity to build your skills so we'll all be mucking in to make the trip a success. We'll divide up responsibilities on the campsite so you learn how to set up a tent, do a bear hang, purify water etc. We'll also share in the work to cook and keep things clean. Is there something you really want to learn while we're out? Do you have skills you could share with the group? PM us on Discord and let's work it in.
Maps
We'll be uploading final maps closer to the time. Please check back the day before we head off to download the most recent version!
Prep Meeting
We're hoping to have an info session on Tuesday at 18:30 to go over the plan and answer any of your questions. Keep the time free and we'll share an invite shortly.
29th August 2024
05:20 - Meet at the Petrocanada at Keele and Bloor to load your gear into the van. We'll be stopping to pick up additional gear en route. There'll be a short toilet break.
12:35 - Meet self drivers at the Matagamasi boat launch. Please note that this is down a long dirt road, self-drivers should feel comfortable with replacing a blown tire and check their vehicle is in good working order in advance
13:30 - Hit the water
Day 2-4 will see us attempting a 60km loop of the area that may vary slightly according to conditions and how everyone's getting on. There are a lot of beautiful spots to take in along the way.
2nd August 2024
We'll aim to be out of the water by about 1pm on the Monday. With holiday traffic we may not be back in Toronto until late so don't make any plans that evening. The backcountry is unpredictable and precise timings are impossible.
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Keep an eye on how the weather is developing here and pack appropriately!
Clothing:
It looks like we've got good weather and travelling by canoe means you can pack a little more for comfort than you would on a hike in trip. This is a suggested list:
Gear:
Camping Gear/Sleep system
We'll be providing tents for everybody but you will need to bring the following:
Personal Stuff:
Period Products
Wondering how to handle camping on your period? Here's a great resource with everything you could need to know. If you still have questions, Chrissy has offered to be our resident outdoorsy Period Professor and you can message her privately on Discord.
Random Stuff:
Got light-weight games? Bring em!
We'll be providing most meals (either vegan or meaty according to your dietary requirements) for this adventure along with tea and coffee but no milk.
You should pack plenty of snacks to tide you over between meals.
You're responsible for your own breakfast (before we meet) and a packed lunch on day 1. On the way out, we may stop at a restaurant on the way back if there's time which would be additional. Otherwise here's what a sample backcountry day of meals looks like:
Breakfast - Oatmeal with fancy additions
Lunch - Tortilla wraps with Cheese and Meat for carnivores, hummus and vegetables for vegans
Dinner - Campfire Chilli
We'll provide the following:
Ticks - Black legged ticks are in the area. You should wear pants rather than shorts to prevent them latching on and lighter colours make it easier to spot them and keep you more cool. There's no need to worry about ticks if we take a few precautions and we'll talk about doing a tick check after the hike just to confirm we haven't picked any up. You can learn more here
Water danger - Only swim in places where you've been told it's safe to do so and only under the supervision of one of our guides. If you can't swim, keep out of the water.
Drowning - You must wear your PFD (life jacket) at all times in the canoe and only canoe under the supervision of one of our guides
Getting lost - This is a wilderness location, away from help so it's important that we stay together at all times. If you get separated from the group, stop and blow your whistle/shout for help if there's no phone reception. It's unlikely that you'll have reception during this adventure. No breaking off without first discussing it with the hike leader!
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles. Any injuries? Let us know in advance of the hike.
Wildlife - Bears are active in the area. We'll give you a full briefing on bear safety but rest assured that they pose very little threat to us. Want to learn more about wildlife safety? Watch the recording from our session with Ontario Park's bear expert. We'll provide all equipment necessary for a bear hang.
It's extremely important that no food is left unattended at the campsite (we've had meals stolen by raccoons before!) and at night, we'll take everything smelly out of bags and hang them in a tree, safe from wildlife.
Temagami has a rich history of Indigenous habitation, primarily by the Anishinaabe people. The Anishinaabe in Temagami are often specifically referred to as the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, which translates to "Deep Water People." This term is a reflection of their deep connection to the land and waters of the Temagami region.
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai have a long-standing relationship with this area, which is known for its vast old-growth forests, crystal-clear lakes, and intricate network of waterways. This region has been an important site for fishing, hunting, trapping, and gathering for thousands of years, and it continues to hold significant cultural and spiritual value for the Indigenous people who live there.
In more recent history, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai have been involved in land rights disputes and negotiations to protect their traditional territories and to recognize their rights to manage and benefit from these lands. These efforts are part of a broader movement among Indigenous groups in Canada to reclaim and manage traditional lands according to their ancestral laws and governance structures.
Arguably the greatest camping in Ontario. Those who have been to the vast wilderness of Temagami know just how special it is. It's hard to do justice to this area that will redefine your sense of the word wild. Seemingly unending forest, an incomprehensible number of lakes and incredible sights around every corner... you'll feel like you had never really been camping before you visit Temagami.
This 5 day, 60km route will take you through some of the areas greatest landmarks. You'll visit the endangered old-growth forests of Wolf Lake, swim in the waters of a secret lagoon, climb a mountain with an unbelievable lookout and even discover some ancient indigenous pictographs. It's not an easy trip with over 4km of total portaging and about 15km of paddling a day but with the help of our incredible guides, it's a trip that any enthusiastic and fit amateur can manage and prove what they're capable of.
There are very few trips organized to this special place and where they are offered, they typically cost well over a thousand dollars. We're pleased to be able to offer Wilderness Union members another unique trip at an unheard of price - another benefit of your membership!
Adventure details
We'll be covering between 7-16km a day with 13 portages over the 5 days. While that might seem intimidating, many of the portages are relatively short and under 500m. The longest is just under 1km long but with our lightweight canoes, even that will be manageable.
The paddling will be on a mixture of large lakes and smaller waterways. You can expect to be paddling for about 6 hours a day with a very conservative average pace of 2.5km/hour.
Each night, we'll set up camp on crown land, sleeping under incredible night skies. It should go without saying that we'll be completely off grid so no toilets, no running water and no cell-phone reception. Rest assured that we'll teach you how to remain comfortable and healthy throughout your trip.
As with all our trips, this is an opportunity to learn camp, paddling and wilderness skills and we'll all be contributing to make the trip a success.
On the final day, if we have time we'll stop for a final celebratory meal to mark the end of the adventure of a lifetime.
We're going to be aiming for a 60km loop of the park. This will be a huge adventure and, in case it wasn't already clear, a significant challenge. While some of our trips are about relaxing on campsites, this is about the accomplishment and enjoyment of powering yourself in the wild like our ancestors did.
We'll have several portages each day, some of which are a short hop between lakes, others are practically a full blown hike with a canoe on our backs.
You'll be led by Rory and Sarah, both very experienced canoe trippers with extensive medical experience to keep everyone safe and having fun.
Camping
We're travelling on Crown Land and where possible, will be setting up on informal but established existing campsites. Everyone will be assigned a different responsibility at camp and together, we'll set up our home for the night each day. This involves:
Sleeping Arrangements
There's limited space on campsites so we're sharing WU provided tents separated by gender. If you'd like to bring your own hammock to sleep in, please let us know on Discord asap. You should be very comfortable setting it up, working with tarps and have tested your sleep system in advance
Backcountry considerations and using the toilet
This being remote backcountry, you'll have no phone reception, there's no electricity or running water. We'll be digging catholes to go to the toilet. This is a great guide to pooping in the woods!
Water
There's a risk of water contamination with viruses like Giardia (beaver fever!) and bacteria so we'll be purifying water on site. We'll be providing all necessary equipment for water purification but feel free to bring your chosen method in addition.
Fire
There's no fire ban so we'll be able to have a campfire at night.
Campsite responsibilities
This trip is an opportunity to build your skills so we'll all be mucking in to make the trip a success. We'll divide up responsibilities on the campsite so you learn how to set up a tent, do a bear hang, purify water etc. We'll also share in the work to cook and keep things clean. Is there something you really want to learn while we're out? Do you have skills you could share with the group? PM us on Discord and let's work it in.
Maps
We'll be uploading final maps closer to the time. Please check back the day before we head off to download the most recent version!
Prep Meeting
We're hoping to have an info session on Tuesday at 18:30 to go over the plan and answer any of your questions. Keep the time free and we'll share an invite shortly.
29th August 2024
05:20 - Meet at the Petrocanada at Keele and Bloor to load your gear into the van. We'll be stopping to pick up additional gear en route. There'll be a short toilet break.
12:35 - Meet self drivers at the Matagamasi boat launch. Please note that this is down a long dirt road, self-drivers should feel comfortable with replacing a blown tire and check their vehicle is in good working order in advance
13:30 - Hit the water
Day 2-4 will see us attempting a 60km loop of the area that may vary slightly according to conditions and how everyone's getting on. There are a lot of beautiful spots to take in along the way.
2nd August 2024
We'll aim to be out of the water by about 1pm on the Monday. With holiday traffic we may not be back in Toronto until late so don't make any plans that evening. The backcountry is unpredictable and precise timings are impossible.
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Keep an eye on how the weather is developing here and pack appropriately!
Clothing:
It looks like we've got good weather and travelling by canoe means you can pack a little more for comfort than you would on a hike in trip. This is a suggested list:
Gear:
Camping Gear/Sleep system
We'll be providing tents for everybody but you will need to bring the following:
Personal Stuff:
Period Products
Wondering how to handle camping on your period? Here's a great resource with everything you could need to know. If you still have questions, Chrissy has offered to be our resident outdoorsy Period Professor and you can message her privately on Discord.
Random Stuff:
Got light-weight games? Bring em!
We'll be providing most meals (either vegan or meaty according to your dietary requirements) for this adventure along with tea and coffee but no milk.
You should pack plenty of snacks to tide you over between meals.
You're responsible for your own breakfast (before we meet) and a packed lunch on day 1. On the way out, we may stop at a restaurant on the way back if there's time which would be additional. Otherwise here's what a sample backcountry day of meals looks like:
Breakfast - Oatmeal with fancy additions
Lunch - Tortilla wraps with Cheese and Meat for carnivores, hummus and vegetables for vegans
Dinner - Campfire Chilli
We'll provide the following:
Ticks - Black legged ticks are in the area. You should wear pants rather than shorts to prevent them latching on and lighter colours make it easier to spot them and keep you more cool. There's no need to worry about ticks if we take a few precautions and we'll talk about doing a tick check after the hike just to confirm we haven't picked any up. You can learn more here
Water danger - Only swim in places where you've been told it's safe to do so and only under the supervision of one of our guides. If you can't swim, keep out of the water.
Drowning - You must wear your PFD (life jacket) at all times in the canoe and only canoe under the supervision of one of our guides
Getting lost - This is a wilderness location, away from help so it's important that we stay together at all times. If you get separated from the group, stop and blow your whistle/shout for help if there's no phone reception. It's unlikely that you'll have reception during this adventure. No breaking off without first discussing it with the hike leader!
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles. Any injuries? Let us know in advance of the hike.
Wildlife - Bears are active in the area. We'll give you a full briefing on bear safety but rest assured that they pose very little threat to us. Want to learn more about wildlife safety? Watch the recording from our session with Ontario Park's bear expert. We'll provide all equipment necessary for a bear hang.
It's extremely important that no food is left unattended at the campsite (we've had meals stolen by raccoons before!) and at night, we'll take everything smelly out of bags and hang them in a tree, safe from wildlife.
Temagami has a rich history of Indigenous habitation, primarily by the Anishinaabe people. The Anishinaabe in Temagami are often specifically referred to as the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, which translates to "Deep Water People." This term is a reflection of their deep connection to the land and waters of the Temagami region.
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai have a long-standing relationship with this area, which is known for its vast old-growth forests, crystal-clear lakes, and intricate network of waterways. This region has been an important site for fishing, hunting, trapping, and gathering for thousands of years, and it continues to hold significant cultural and spiritual value for the Indigenous people who live there.
In more recent history, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai have been involved in land rights disputes and negotiations to protect their traditional territories and to recognize their rights to manage and benefit from these lands. These efforts are part of a broader movement among Indigenous groups in Canada to reclaim and manage traditional lands according to their ancestral laws and governance structures.
.webp)
