Moon Island Backcountry Canoe Camping

Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on our website.

The Massasauga is one of the only provincial parks in Ontario you can only reach by water. That changes the feel of everything.

The Massasauga sits nestled into the eastern shores of Georgian Bay. Upon arrival at the park, we paddle 9km through beautiful lakes and bays to reach Moon Island, a water-access-only backcountry camp that will be our home for the weekend.

Friday starts with a canoe orientation on flat water, then the crossing. By evening you'll know how to set up a tent, hang a bear hang, and cook over a camp stove. Saturday morning brings the Moon Island Trail, a loop through varied terrain with lookouts over the bay. The afternoon is yours: swim from the island's rocky shoreline, take a canoe out to explore the surrounding channels, or sit and watch the water.

Sunday we pack up and paddle home.

This trip is built for people who want the real backcountry experience. We bring the boats, the gear, the food, and the guides.

What's included

• Professional & certified guides
• ‍All camp meals, cooking equipment and mess kits
• ‍Tents
• Canoes

Sleeping bags and sleep pads can be rented from WU for a small fee.

This trip is slightly more challenging than our introduction to backcountry adventures. You should have a decent fitness level and a sense of adventure!

Highlights
The 9km crossing: Nine kilometres of open Georgian Bay water is a real paddle. Finishing it with a backcountry campsite on the other side is a genuinely good feeling.
Moon Island Trail: A loop through mixed forest and exposed Canadian Shield granite, with lookouts over the bay, a heron rookery, and a beaver pond. Moose, deer, bear, and grouse all share the island.
True backcountry: Water-access only means no roads, no car campers, no neighbours unless they paddled in too.

Event cost: $455+HST for explorer members. Optional transport available. Register here.

About Wilderness Union
Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people.

Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad.

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!

Learn more at our website www.wildernessunion.com