It’s always struck me that Toronto should be more famous for its access to the outdoors. We're a few hours from some of the most pristine, extraordinary wilderness found anywhere on earth, and we barely talk about it.
The routes we're announcing today deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the Tour du Mont Blanc or the West Coast Trail. They pass through landscapes that would stop you cold if you stumbled across them anywhere else in the world. Ancient forests that have never been logged, ridgelines formed over a billion years ago, lakes so remote that the only way to reach them is to earn them. And yet most Ontarians have never heard of them.
At a time when it feels like there's nothing left to discover, these places are still out there. They're practically on our doorstep. And this summer, we're going to all five of them.
If you missed our launch party at MEC, you can watch a recording of the whole video belowotherwise, read on to learn everything you need to know about 2026’s Epics!
The TLDR? Registration opens 8am on Friday March 27. Spots fill up fast. You can join the interest list for any trip right now - this helps us gauge demand before registration opens and is how we decide whether to run a second date. Details below.
Every year, the Wilderness Union calendar builds toward this series. The Epics are the hardest things we do - remote, multi-day expeditions into Ontario's most extraordinary wilderness, led by our most experienced guides, and limited to small groups of people who've earned their place.
These aren't trips you show up to unprepared. Every single participant is individually vetted before they set foot on the water or the trail. But for those who are ready, or who are willing to get ready, they're the kind of experience you'll be talking about for the rest of your life.
This year we're running five. Three canoe expeditions, two on foot. Summer through early fall. Each one a route that very few people have ever done.
If you take one thing away from this post, it should be that registration opens on Friday March 27th at 8am - be ready!
The most legendary canoe challenge in Ontario. Nearly a hundred years ago, guides in Algonquin began trying to complete a gruelling 160km round trip to the remote Brent Store and back in under 24 hours. Few have succeeded and the legend lives on to this day.
Our version takes that historic route in one direction and stretches it over five days. Don't let that fool you into thinking it'll be relaxed. You'll travel from Cedar Lake at the remote northern tip of Algonquin all the way down to Highway 60, covering roughly 80km and 11km of portaging. You'll be up early and putting in long hours every day, navigating everything from choppy open lakes to twisting narrow channels, without once coming into contact with civilization.
As this is a one-way route, self-driving isn't possible. Transport from Toronto is included.
Kitchitwaa Shkwaandem - Heaven's Gate - is a protected ridgeline trail running through the La Cloche Mountains just north of Manitoulin Island. It's one of the most spectacular and least-known trails in the province, connecting La Cloche Provincial Park and Killarney through 40km of ancient white quartzite terrain.
We enter from the western end at Sagamok and head east along the ridgeline. Large stretches of this route have no trail markings and the terrain is unforgiving - you'll be scrambling at times, setting and breaking camp on open land each day, and carrying everything on your back. The payoff is unparalleled views, turquoise interior lakes tucked into deep valleys, and the knowledge that very few people have done this trail properly. You'll be among them.
This is home to bald eagles, Algonquin wolves, moose and bears. Your trip includes a donation to the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, who own and manage the land to support their conservation work.
Transport from Toronto is included.
If you ask anyone who's been to Temagami, they'll tell you it's on a different level. Seemingly unending forest, an incomprehensible number of lakes, and a stillness that makes Algonquin feel like a busy park. The Teme-Augama Anishnabai First Nation have called this land home for over 9,000 years. You can feel that history everywhere.
Our 5-day, 60km loop takes you through some of the area's most extraordinary landmarks. You'll paddle through the endangered old-growth pine forests of Wolf Lake - trees that are 200 to 400 years old, standing as towering monuments to Ontario's natural history. You'll swim in a secret lagoon, climb a mountain with an unbelievable lookout, and find ancient pictographs painted directly onto cliff faces.
Because we're on Crown Land, the portages are more rugged and the navigation more technical than anything you'd find in a managed park. There are no formal campsites. We set up and break camp each day. 13 portages over 5 days, with about 6 hours of paddling a day. Raw, genuine backcountry.
Similar guided trips to Temagami typically cost $2,000 or more. This is what your membership is for.
This one's different. No canoe, no paddle - just a full pack on your back and 45km of Algonquin's most demanding trail ahead of you.
We're hiking the northernmost loop, entering at the beautiful Rain Lake access point. It starts with a flat stretch along an old logging railway bed before climbing into the rugged heart of the park's western highlands. Day two is our biggest at 18km, pushing through a world of total silence, dark skies and the kind of wilderness that very few Algonquin visitors ever reach. There is no bailout option mid-route. You move together as a crew and you finish it.
The rewards are real - moose signs everywhere, deep clear lakes perfect for a mid-hike swim, and a sense of accomplishment that shorter trails simply can't match. Our shortest Epic, but it packs a serious punch.
The hardest thing Wilderness Union has ever done. We saved this one for last for good reason.
The Meanest Link is a 420km canoe circuit created in honour of Algonquin Outfitters founder Bill Swift Sr. Very few people have completed it. We've carved out the most spectacular 100km section - from the massive waters of Lake Opeongo, along the winding Crow River, and into the remote reaches of Lake Lavieille before heading back down to Opeongo.
In the second half of the journey, you'll face the Dickson-Bonfield portage. At over 5km it's the longest single portage in Algonquin Park. It's relatively flat but the sheer distance with a canoe on your shoulders is a challenge unlike anything else on this list. Once you set that canoe down at Bonfield Lake, you'll have earned your place among the most dedicated paddlers in the province.
September means the bugs are gone, the weather is ideal, and the wildlife is active. Algonquin at its absolute best.
We've been asking how we can do better, and there's a lot to report. Our gear has been upgraded so we're now able to single portage even the most demanding routes, which makes a real difference on the longer carries. We've also upgraded the food significantly - this year we're partnering with Wanderlust Kitchen to bring gourmet dehydrated meals to the backcountry, alongside updated recipes across the board. Eating well in the wilderness is something we take seriously, and we think you'll notice the difference.
Membership
All five Epics are exclusive to Wilderness Union members. If you're not a member yet, you'll need to join before you can register. Start with a free one-month trial - head here to get started. It's the best way to get a feel for the community before committing, and it puts you in a position to register the moment spots open.
When registration opens
Registration opens at 8am on Friday March 27. Each trip is capped at 16 participants and based on last year's experience, we expect them to sell out quickly. Be ready at 8am.
The interest list
This year we're introducing something new: the interest list.
Before registration even opens, you can join the interest list for any trip you're interested in by putting down $10 now. This does three things. It signals genuine intent rather than idle curiosity, it gives us a clear picture of total demand across all five trips before a single spot is sold and it covers the cost of patches. If interest for a particular trip is high enough, we'll schedule a second run before registration day - so more people get a fair shot.
If a trip sells out and you didn't get a spot, you can join the interest list then too. The same logic applies: enough demand and we run it again.
If the trip doesn't run again, or if you miss out, it becomes a WU credit towards your next adventure.
One thing to be clear about: joining the interest list doesn't secure your spot on the trip. When a date is confirmed - whether that's the original run or a second one - you'll need to register properly at that point. The interest list is how we figure out whether and when to open that registration.
Vetting and approval
The Epics demand a real level of fitness, experience and mental toughness. Participation isn't automatically guaranteed when you register.
If you haven't previously completed an Epic with us, you'll be asked to fill out a short questionnaire after booking so we can assess your readiness together. We may also reach out individually to talk through your experience. If you're genuinely excited by these trips, you're probably the right candidate - the people who thrive on Epics are the ones who are drawn to the challenge. But if we don't think you're ready yet, we'll issue a full refund and be honest with you about what to work on. That's not a rejection, it's us doing our job and protecting the experience for everyone on the trip.
Mostly we’ll be looking for your tolerance for “Type 2 Fun” - things that might not always be fun at the time but you’re glad you did afterwards. We believe this is what leads to the greatest experiences and you’ll be getting plenty of that in these Epics.
Pay in instalments with Klarna
We know these trips are a significant investment. You have the option to pay in interest free instalments using Klarna at checkout. Just select Klarna when you check out and follow the prompts to set up your payment schedule. It won't impact your credit score as it will only perform a soft credit check.
The path to an Epic
Not ready for an Epic yet? That's the right mindset, and the progression path is part of what makes finally doing one so rewarding.
The following adventures give you the skills and experience that will prepare you for Epic-level expeditions. They're also what we look at when assessing applications:
The goal is to build you from wherever you are now to the point where you can genuinely take on a multi-day backcountry expedition and thrive. This is the beginner to backcountry journey, and the Epics are where it leads. If you have questions about which trips are the right next step for you, come and ask us on Discord.
The patch
Every person who completes an Epic this year will receive a custom commemorative patch, designed specifically for their trip. It's a small thing, but after five days in the backcountry earning every kilometre of it, it means something. A different design for each of the five Epics - collect them all if you're ambitious enough.
One last thing
Ontario is extraordinary, these routes prove it. We hope to see you out there this summer.
Registration opens 8am, Friday March 27. Membership required.
