About us
PADDLE CAMPING -
Some campers enjoy sharing their camping experience with 1000 other campers in crowded car campgrounds that have more rules than a downtown hi-rise condo.
We paddle across lakes, and portage our canoes into remote forests where most people do not go, and we can do things our way. Often we are the only group of campers on a lake.
If you need a break from the crowd, join us on beautiful lakes that you want to spend your vacation by. We find quiet, serene locations where our paddlers create the fun. Our paddlers are the best people you could meet. Come and add your talents to our backcountry camping groups.
POST YOUR EVENT WITH OUR GROUP - Paddling, hiking, camping, skiing, or any social event. We have 900 members, and some of them will share your interests, and want to join you in your activities. If our hikes and canoe trips that are listed are too short, challenge our super stars to join your extreme adventures.
PADDLE WITH US - This group does canoe trips. We plan a back country canoe trip about every two weeks or on long weekends. The average paddler can do these trips; most will be two nights and three days, with an average paddle of 15 km. per day. We look for Crown Land and beautiful, remote, lakes that you want to go to. There will be short trips for beginners to practice, and advanced trips for explorers. Join our winter activities to meet people who have canoes and cars, and who are looking for other groups to go tripping with.
ANNUAL REPORT -
The third week of October is a good time for a year end because the lakes start to cool and paddling becomes dangerous. We do our last canoe trip at Thanksgiving.
2022
In 2022 we did 8 canoe trips with 74 attendees consisting of 46 individuals.
Thank you to everyone for a great summer.
2021
From Oct. 31, 2020, to Oct. 29, 2021, we did:
Canoe trips: 7, attendees 52, consisting of, 35 individuals.
Hikes: 11 attendees 114 consisting of, 42 individuals
More important, everyone at these events reported that they had a good time, and we brought them all back alive.
This group is to connect people so they can enjoy canoe trips together. The purpose of the group is to find like minded people who want to go on canoe trips, but might not have a group to go with. Enjoy the natural beauty that Ontario has to offer and meet some new friends in the process!
Upcoming events
3
PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL, WED.,MAR. 25, 7:00 PM. HAMILTON
Playhouse Cinema, 177 Sherman Ave N, Hamilton, ON, CARenee has invited us to join her to watch the worlds best paddling
films in Hamilton.Be inspired to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push extremes, appreciate wild places and fully embrace the paddling lifestyle. Then, go paddling. We're pretty sure you will want to. Join us at this |
2026 Paddling Film Festival World Tour Screening |Playhouse Cinema 177 Sherman Avenue North Hamilton, ON, L8L 6M8
Wed. Mar. 25, 2026, Show Time: 7:00 PM
Ticket Price: $22.00
Tickets are being sold online or at the door, but I recommend
buying tickets early because the Expo Adventure Film sold out.
2026 Paddling Film Festival World Tour - 20th Anniversary! | Playhouse CinemaThe venue is an historic movie theatre that has not fallen down yet.
Parking: A Municipal parking lot across the street from the theatre: 43.25696209187335, -79.835660082921
Distance from Toronto: QEW/427: 55 km. 1 hourIf you want to meet for dinner before the show Renee recommends
The Ottawa Street Local Pub, a great variety of food, at 4:30 PM.
226 Ottawa St N, Hamilton, ON L8H 3Z6
2.1 km. from the theatre.
905-312-1734
https://www.ottawastreetlocal.ca/ .Contact me to arrange when and where you want to meet.
There are no reserved seats so we have to meet outside
the theatre to sit together.4 attendees
MARSH MASH, BRADFORD, SAT. MAY 9, 2026, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
Sovereign Grace Church, 1466 5th Side Road, Ontario, ON, CAThis is a great opportunity to meet hundreds of serious paddlers and watch them cruise across the water with the grace of a ballet dancer.
We will see the most beautiful boats that ever sailed, and canoes so fast you have to tie them to a dock to keep them from running away.Marsh Mash is a canoe race held on the canal in the Holland Marsh near Bradford.
We can join the races or watch the fun for free.There are races of 5 km., 9 km., 18 km., and 28 km., for canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards, for kids, novice paddlers, recreational paddlers, and competitive World Team Qualifiers.
To join a race we must register before Apr. 22 (Early Bird), or May 6, 2026, (Regular). Cost: $38.00/43.00.
Marsh Mash is sanctioned by The Ontario Marathon Canoe Kayak Racing Association (OMCKRA)
For details and registration:
Race Website:
Marsh Mash - Town of Bradford West GwillimburyFor exciting YouTube videos;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMMcRz0ywIk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZvODk6UfYEDistance from Toronto: Vaughan Metropolitan Center: 21 minutes, 32 km.
44.04468651887476, -79.62488298252832
There are lots of good places for dinner in the area after the event.
Message me to make arrangements.1 attendee
CANOE TRIP 1/26 McCRAE LAKE, VICTORIA DAY, SAT. MAY 16- MON. MAY 18
Location not specified yetOne of our favourite locations for our first trip of 2026, McCrae Lake is in in the south, and will have warmer weather than the more northern lakes.
This is an easy trip, good for novice paddlers, to test your new kit, or get back into shape.
McCrae Lake is a large lake divided into several bays, on crown land, close to Toronto. The water quality is excellent, and there is good fishing. The backcountry campsites are large, quiet, have a steel grill and thunder box, and are free.
More information on McCrae Lake:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/mccrae-lake-conservation-reserve-management-statementThe water may be warm enough to swim, and the bugs will not be out yet.
Fun activities include hiking on wilderness trails, paddling up and down rapids, swimming with rattle snakes, diving off of cliffs into the lake, and dragging out the bodies of people who tried to do all of those things.
Watch for the Five-Lined Skink.
Or, you can relax in a hammock.McCrae Lake is very popular. We may have to wait for room in the parking lot, and empty campsites.
If anyone in our group can go into McCrae Lake on Thursday or Friday to secure a campsite, it would be appreciated.Arrive early Sat. AM. to get a parking spot or after 3:00 PM when day hikers go home.
We are not required to go home on Monday night. You can continue to camp for as long as you wish.
Carpooling is recommended to reduce the number of parking spaces required.
Most areas of the lake have cell service sufficient for text messages and data.
One portage, 150 metres, well used trail, over a high granite ridge.
Paddle distance: 5 km.Canoe rentals should be available if you reserve one in advance:
Swift Canoe Georgian Bay
https://swiftoutside.com/georgian-bay/
Wawautosa Marina https://www.wawautosa.ca/Driving Distance:
From Hwy 7 and Hwy 400, Vaughan Metropolitan Center:
142 km., 1 hour 30 mins.ACTUAL LOCATION:
McCrae Lake Parking Lot Muskoka District Municipality, ON
44.92206400775243, -79.7772977860336Please fill in the Spread Sheet below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V1iupkEzye3zj5O8Sagri1FZyVLGOeM1EDy4ZkgcABo/edit?usp=sharing17 attendees
Past events
79
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