What we’re about
Wilderness Union makes it easy to get into the wild and find your outdoor crew. We plan regular, unique trips with great people each weekend, and arrange the transport along with all the gear you'll need. All you need do is show up.
We plan wilderness adventures to show you more of Ontario than you thought possible, and feel reset after the weekend. All of our trips are professionally guided and we do a huge variety of activities with regular hikes, camping, paddling, skiing, snowboarding and other special adventures.
We're obsessed with creating the most unique, professionally run, wilderness experiences that you'll find. Many of our trips are unique to Wilderness Union and you'll often visit places with nobody else around. It's just us and nature.
Join us to explore more of the incredible wilderness around our city, find your people and live your weekends to their fullest.
Our community
Our community of members is the heart of Wilderness Union and we carefully manage new applications to the group so you can feel confident that you'll be safe and surrounded by people you'll enjoy exploring with.
Members get access to all of our adventures, discounted pricing and other benefits including:
- Regular socials
- Discounts at outdoor retailers like MEC, Teva, Algonquin Outfitters and more
- Free, member led clubs like Run, Climb, Bike and Book Club
We'd love to have you join! Learn more here.
Most of our members are between the ages of 18-40 and live in the GTA.
Public Adventures
We offer a selection of Public adventures that are also open to non-members. Filter by adventure type on our website to find what's right for you.
Wondering why the RSVP count for events is low?
Members sign up for trips at www.wildernessunion.com - we just use Meetup to alert everybody to new adventures. We limit attendance to 18 people for our adventures and many more at our socials!
Want to figure out if Wilderness Union is right for you?
We host a regular new member intro session as an opportunity to learn more about the community, meet other members and get prepared for upcoming adventures. New members have a one month free trial and $25 in trip credit so you can try us out, risk free!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Algonquin Park Canoe and HikeKeele Station, Toronto, ON
Spend a day discovering the best of Algonquin Park—by canoe and on foot.
This guided day trip packs a lot into a relaxed pace, giving you a true taste of why Algonquin is one of Canada’s most iconic wilderness areas.
We begin with a gentle paddle on Canoe Lake, one of the park’s most historic and scenic bodies of water. After a short paddling lesson, we’ll set off for a two-hour loop that winds past quiet bays, spruce-lined shores, and the same routes once travelled by famed artist Tom Thomson. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled—loons, otters, and even moose are often spotted in the early morning calm.
Back on land, we’ll head to the Hemlock Bluff Trail for an easy 3.5 km hike through shady old-growth forest. This loop brings you to a scenic lookout perched high above Jack Lake, where you’ll take in sweeping views of unbroken forest and glimmering water. Interpretive signs along the way offer insight into the ecology and research history of this remarkable landscape.
After a relaxed lunch, we finish the day with a visit to Ragged Falls, one of the park’s most beautiful and accessible waterfalls. A short trail leads us right to the thundering cascades, where you’ll have time to explore, take photos, or just sit and enjoy the sound of rushing water.
Throughout the day, our friendly wilderness guides will share stories about the land, help spot wildlife, and make sure you’re comfortable and confident—whether it’s your first time in a canoe or your fiftieth.
What’s included
This trip is professionally guided by qualified, friendly wilderness guides and includes transportation from Toronto, canoe rental, paddles, life jackets, and all safety equipment. You’ll just need comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and your sense of adventure.Itinerary
06:30 – Leave from close to Keele Station
10:00 – 12:00 – Pick up canoes and hit the water for a paddle
12:30 – 13:00 – Packed lunch break
13:00 – 14:30 – Hike the Hemlock Bluffs Trail
15:00 – 16:00 – Check out Ragged Rapids Falls
19:00 – Anticipated return to TorontoPlease note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and complete registration there for this activity. We offer a one month risk-free trial and $25 trip credit to new members to figure out if the group is right for you.
About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community of people like you who will become your new friend group. Members range from 20-40 years old and are a mix of people who've grown up here but their friends are in a different place, newcomers to Canada, and folks from out West who want that lifestyle in Toronto
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming!
Want to learn more? Come to our next info session! - Wilderness Lake PaddleKeele Station, Toronto, ON
This beginner friendly trip begins with a ride in our comfortable van for those without their own transport. Arriving at the lake, you'll collect your lifejacket and paddle then get familiar with your canoe with an introductory lesson from Wilderness Union's friendly, expert instructors.
Then, the real fun begins. We'll paddle along a quiet lake before reaching a small waterfall where you'll learn how to portage a canoe, lifting it over your head to get to a nearby river and get deeper into the backcountry. From there, we traverse a winding river that leads to a huge lake that feels a million miles from civilization.
We'll explore the shoreline, looking out for the wildlife that calls this special place home. This is the land of beavers, loons and bears - if you're lucky you might even see the family of otters that call the lake home.
We stop at a truly memorable island picnic spot on the lake where you'll have the opportunity to cool off in the crystal clear water. We end the day, paddling back to the start point where we'll say goodbye to each other and head back to Toronto in time for dinner.Itinerary
08:00 - Rides leave from close to Keele Station
10:00 - Grab canoes, begin lesson and make our way to put-in
10:00 - 15:00 - Paddle, stopping for lunch on an island
17:30 - Anticipated return to TorontoPlease note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and complete registration there for this activity. We offer a one month risk-free trial and $25 trip credit to new members to figure out if the group is right for you.
About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community of people like you who will become your new friend group. Members range from 20-40 years old and are a mix of people who've grown up here but their friends are in a different place, newcomers to Canada, and folks from out West who want that lifestyle in Toronto
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! - Weekly New Member Intro and Upcoming Trip InfoLink visible for attendees
Join us for a Zoom and learn more about Wilderness Union. In this short info session you'll have the chance to:
- Meet other members
- Learn about the huge variety of activities we offer
- Find out about our upcoming adventures and socials
It's a great opportunity to get a feel for the group and understand why WU is much more than a meetup!
Register for this session below or at this link. - The Brent Run Canoe TripKeele Station, Toronto, ON
Tackle one of the greatest Algonquin canoeing challenges, canoeing the length of Algonquin in the legendary Brent Run.
You'll travel from the top of Algonquin Park all the way down to Highway 60 in this incredible test of endurance and determination. Covering roughly 80 km with 11km of portages, this journey takes you through the heart of Algonquin Park’s rugged wilderness, combining long paddling stretches with challenging portages that require strength, patience, and planning.
Traditionally, the Brent Run involves travelling the 160km from Canoe Lake to Cedar Lake, right at the top of the park then back down again in less that 24 hours. This is a superhuman feat that very few have accomplished - to put into perspective just how challenging that is, we'll be doing half of the run over 5 days. Don't let that fool you into thinking this will be more relaxed...
We'll be getting up early each day and putting in long hours (up to 12 hours a day!) to make it to our next campsite each night. Along the way, you'll begin to understand how special Algonquin is - covering huge distances without once coming into contact with civilization.
Expect to navigate a mix of serene lakes and winding rivers, each with its own character and obstacles, from choppy open waters to twisting, narrow channels. Portages along the route can range from manageable to gruelling, with some stretches featuring steep climbs, uneven terrain, and slippery rocks that will test both your body and your gear.
Wildlife sightings are common, with the possibility of encountering moose, beavers, and even black bears along the way. Weather conditions can shift quickly, bringing wind or rain that adds another layer of difficulty to the paddle. It’s a challenge for those seeking to push their limits while soaking in the raw, untouched landscapes of one of Ontario’s most iconic wilderness areas.
Epic canoe trips have a way of making you feel truly alive. Your WU trip mates will feel like family by the end of this trip, having conquered real obstacles and banked so many incredible experiences together. Like all of our Epics, this is a trip you'll never forget.A Special Trip
It's no exaggeration to say that you'll be among a very small number of people who've tackled this route. We've never seen an organized trip here and that's for good reason - it's incredibly hard to pull off and will be the hardest canoe trip Wilderness Union has tackled yet. You'll be shuttled up to the top of the park with all of your gear for the week making this a hard logistical challenge. Beyond the new muscles and friendships you've acquired, you'll also have bragging rights for a long time to come.What's Included
You can't cut corners on a trip like this and we've thought of everything. Among other things your trip registration includes:- Return transport from Toronto to Algonquin and back again
- 2 experienced guides with advanced medical qualifications
- Lightweight canoe rental, PFDs and all safety equipment
- Shuttling of the canoes to allow for a one way trip
- All camp meals, cooking equipment and mess kits
- Spacious tents and all the camping equipment you'll need (sleeping bags and pads are available for rent)
- All permits and campsite bookings for the 5 days
- A preparatory information session to ensure you're prepared
- Detailed trip plan with packing lists, maps and the indigenous history of the route we're following
Meals
We'll have vegan/veg and meat options for meals with everything from dinner on the first night until lunch of the last morning fully catered. Please note, we may stop for a celebratory meal at a restaurant on our return that will be additional.
Sample menu
Breakfast - Fancy oatmeal, topped with nuts, dried fruits and cinnamon flakes
Lunch - Tortilla wraps with hummus, pepper, cheese and dried meat for carnivores
Dinner - Thai curry with chicken or tofuItinerary
Thursday July 31st
05:00 - Early start as we leave from Keele Station towards Algonquin Park
Afternoon - Hit the water, and begin our journey
Distance covered - 6km paddle, 1km portage
Friday August 1st
Our longest day with 8 portages
Distance covered - 18km paddle, 4.4km portage
Saturday August 2nd
Our day with the most paddling but least portaging
Distance covered - 21km paddle, .5km portage
Sunday August 3rd
6 portages over our second longest day
Distance covered - 17km paddle, 2.5km portage
Monday August 4th
Racing to the finish line
Distance covered - 13km paddle, .8km portage
21:00 - Anticipated return to TorontoPlease note that you will first need to become a member at www.wildernessunion.com and complete registration there for this activity. We offer a one month risk-free trial and $25 trip credit to new members to figure out if the group is right for you.
About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community of people like you who will become your new friend group. Members range from 20-40 years old and are a mix of people who've grown up here but their friends are in a different place, newcomers to Canada, and folks from out West who want that lifestyle in Toronto
Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming!
