Seven portages. Four lakes. One very full day.
St. Nora Lake sits at the edge of the Frost Centre Crown lands, a stretch of Algonquin Highlands backcountry that stays quiet even when the rest of cottage country is packed. We spend the day working a loop through four connected lakes, portaging between each one and finishing where we started. Fourteen kilometres of paddling. Seven portages. Three kilometres of carries.
Interested in joining this year’s Epics? Completing this and other relevant courses will support your approval process for advanced adventures.
This trip has a specific purpose. It is the strongest single-day preparation we offer for members who are working toward WU's multi-day canoe epics. The portage load is real, the distances are meaningful, and by the time you reach Orlay and turn around, you will have a clear-eyed sense of your paddling fitness and your portaging form. That information is genuinely useful. The Epics ask a lot more of you over multiple days, and knowing where you stand before day one of a multi-day trip is better than finding out on the water.
These are not casual lakes. The Canadian Shield terrain means the portages have character: rooted trails, rocky footing, the occasional steep pull. Come with footwear that can handle both wet landings and uneven ground. We will be on the water most of the day, and you should pack for it.
Included: This trip includes canoe rentals, PFDs, paddles and safety kits.
Who It’s For: Intermediate and advanced paddlers who want to further develop their skills and endurance.
Seven portages. Four lakes. One very full day.
St. Nora Lake sits at the edge of the Frost Centre Crown lands, a stretch of Algonquin Highlands backcountry that stays quiet even when the rest of cottage country is packed. We spend the day working a loop through four connected lakes, portaging between each one and finishing where we started. Fourteen kilometres of paddling. Seven portages. Three kilometres of carries.
Interested in joining this year’s Epics? Completing this and other relevant courses will support your approval process for advanced adventures.
This trip has a specific purpose. It is the strongest single-day preparation we offer for members who are working toward WU's multi-day canoe epics. The portage load is real, the distances are meaningful, and by the time you reach Orlay and turn around, you will have a clear-eyed sense of your paddling fitness and your portaging form. That information is genuinely useful. The Epics ask a lot more of you over multiple days, and knowing where you stand before day one of a multi-day trip is better than finding out on the water.
These are not casual lakes. The Canadian Shield terrain means the portages have character: rooted trails, rocky footing, the occasional steep pull. Come with footwear that can handle both wet landings and uneven ground. We will be on the water most of the day, and you should pack for it.
Included: This trip includes canoe rentals, PFDs, paddles and safety kits.
Who It’s For: Intermediate and advanced paddlers who want to further develop their skills and endurance.
3km of Portages. Rooted trails and rocky footing make this one of the most physically demanding day paddles in WU's lineup.
Quiet lakes. St. Nora, Sherbourne, Little Avery, and Orlay sit within Algonquin Highlands Crown land, quiet in a way that cottage-country lakes simply don't manage.
Epics Preparation. Fourteen kilometers of paddling plus a full portage load will tell you exactly where you stand before you commit to a multi-day expedition.
06:00 - Shuttle leaves from near Keele Station
9:30 - Meet at access point and collect canoes
10:00 - Start paddle
16:30 - Anticipated end of paddle
20:30 - Anticipated return to Toronto
Carbon Offsetting
Wilderness Union offsets the estimated carbon emissions of every trip by investing in a global portfolio of verified carbon reduction projects.
Please read and understand this before registering
Cancellations made:
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Weather or emergency cancellations: If an event is canceled due to severe weather or other uncontrollable factors, members can receive a full credit to their account.
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Where can I find important updates about this paddling trip in the days leading up to it?
Please follow the Discord thread for this adventure under the ‘Upcoming Adventures’ channel, and reach out to us if you are having any issues.
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