maple Trippin' Down Ontario's Rivers - whitewater maple

Ontario and Québec offer some of the best canoeing in the world. Here we have gathered some of our favourite whitewater river trips. Each whitewater package includes all the topograhical maps required (scale: 1:50 000), and when possible, any other additional information such as campsite locations, phone numbers for fly-in services, suggested reading material, directions and addresses. Most of these river trips are between 100 - 150 miles, and can be run within a week.
You might want to pull out your road maps to help locate some of the small northern towns referenced here.
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Wanapitei Take the train from Sudbury to Sinker Creek and start the slow paddle through beautiful marshland -- keep an eye open for moose. Quickly the river picks up and offers some challenging whitewater and a rocky landscape. Camping near old lumber roads and quiet bridges. Finish up at the south end of Wanapitei Lake.
Fishing: bass, whitefish & pickerel.
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This is a nice, but potentially busy, weekend trip. It offers a bit of everything, rapids, flat water, fishing and maybe even a portage should you so choose. Great trip to test out rookies. Be sure to spend some time polishing up your whitewater skills at Pig Pen Shoot.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Mississagua

Spanish This river is one of our favourites. Located just north of Espanola off hwy 17, you'll find yourself immersed in railways, cold springs and wildlife. Paddling through fast chutes, deep channels and swirling eddies, you'll find that the rapids are spaced just right with no serious portages. You have the option of starting from either Tenth Lake or Biscotasing. Bisco is the more common choice as the seekers of that frothy white stuff shy away from the ten lake trip to join the west branch of the Spanish. For a fee, Agnew will provide a shuttle, with your vehicle, to Biscotasing or to the Sudbury train station ... or you could always fly in.
Fishing: bass, pike & pickerel.
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Just north of Whitney, this weekend river flows from Latchford Bridge on hwy 515, through the Lower Madawaska Provincial Park to Griffith on hwy 41. This is a very popular river often shared with the Madawaska Canoe School.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Madawaska

Temagami Located north of Sturgeon Falls along hwy 64. Depending on how high or low the water is this can be a very challenging river with lots of rapids. Finish up where the Temagami meets the Sturgeon River.
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There are 2 possible starting points for this trip. Either a mile north of Groundhog Lake where the railway cross the river or at the junction where hwy 101 crosses the river. Both finish at Fauquier on hwy 11. This river offers long stretches of both fast water and flat water. Approximately, 18 miles of the 104 mile paddle are rapids most of which are runnable, depending on water levels and experience.
Fishing: sturgeon ... if you're extremely lucky.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Groundhog

French Used regularly by French fur traders and Indians in the 1600s and 1700s, this river tumbles down from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay. This is an easy access river with most of its rapids in its upper half. Winding through gentle valleys and fast canyons, one can expect plenty of wildlife and plenty of campsites. For a weekend trip, try Lake Nipissing to the train tracks just west of hwy 69.
Fishing: pike, muskie, and pickerel.
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This is a beautiful stretch of river, however, its accessibility has greatly increased its popularity in the last five years. The Petawawa's week trip can be launched from Brent or from Wendigo Lake. The May long weekend brings eager canoeists out from hibernation to the high shores of Lake Traverse where they begin their trek down roaring rapids and fast currents to McManus Lake. Located in Algonquin Park interior, wildlife abounds with moose and the occasional troublesome bear.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Petawawa

Opeongo This river can be found north of hwy 11 between Barry's Bay and Whitney. Rolling through the Opeongo Provincial Park, this is an excellent spring river for expert whitewater canoers. There are no portage trails available and steep wooded banks make scouting difficult. The 20 km stretch between Victoria Lake and the town of Madawaska starts with a 5 km canyon run with class 3-4 rapids almost constantly. It could be a long cold swim, but no falls or keepers. After that, the river calms down to class 2-3 and flows consistantly for another 10 km. You'll need wet suits for the river's top section. Recommended for weekend day tripping.
Fishing: pike and lake trout.
- submitted by Ben Angevaare, Peterborough, ON
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Take the train from Oba to Peterbell, and then paddle and back ferry your way down roaring rapids and untainted wilderness to Mattice on hwy 11. With names like Wavy Rapids, Glassy Falls, and Split Rock Falls you can expect lots of fun, freedom and froth.
Fishing: pickerel, whitefish, and pike.
View the road map: Missinaibi River.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Missinaibi

Mississagi Flowing through the Mississagi Provincial Park, this trip circles a series of lakes surrounded by beautiful hardwood and coniferous forest. Other than the odd scattering of cottages on Ten Mile and Dunlop Lakes, this river winds through untainted wilderness. Expect to see moose and the odd sign of black bear.
Fishing: brook trout, smallmouth bass, and pickerel.
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The Sturgeon River flows just north of Sudbury through Sturgeon Provincial Park. ...and yes, if you're lucky, you may catch yourself one of those prehistoric fish we call sturgeon.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Sturgeon

maple Trippin' Down Québec's Rivers - whitewater maple

Coulonge The Coulonge plunges 700 ft through deep-channel runs and rocky ledges. There is definitely no shortage of excitement on this trip. The river is easily accessible by car and float plane. This trip can be run from a number of starting locations: Lac Ward (245 km, 10-12 days), Lac Pomponne (233 km, 10-11 days), Lac Bryson (140 km, 6-7 days), Lac Wright (125 km, 5-6 days), and Lac Jim (100 km, 4-5 days). than its neighbours the Dumoine and the Coulonge.
Note: All distances are measured to Grande Chute. If you decide to finish at the Black River Inn, drop 25 km and a day off the trip.
Fishing: bass, and pickerel.
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The Dumoine River runs approximately 90 km (60 miles) from the mouth of Lac Dumoine to the Ottawa River. With 39 sets of rapids dropping some 500 ft., the Dumoine offers both beauty and excitement. Compared with its neighbours, the Coulonge and the Noire, this river has the greater rapids classifications, as it drops quicker, and more campsites per kilometre. It also has the greater flow of traffic as canoeists flock from both near and far to take its challenge. Canoeists can fly-in to a number of starting points from the Rapides des Joachims airbase and finish up at either Driftwood Provincial Park or Pine Valley Campground. Be extra careful crossing the Ottawa in windy weather.
Fishing: bass, and pickerel.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Dumoine

Noire This trip can be run from a number of starting locations: Coughlin Creek (245 km, 10-12 days), Dorion Crossing (233 km, 10-11 days), Lac St-Patice (140 km, 6-7 days), Lac Farant (125 km, 5-6 days), and Lac Raymond (100 km, 4-5 days). Flying in is recommended. This river is a very small winding river with plenty of sandy beaches and less traffic than its neighbours the Dumoine and the Coulonge.
Note: All distances are measured to Grande Chute. If you decide to finish at the Black River Inn, drop 25 km and a day off the trip.
Fishing: bass, and pickerel.
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The Rouge is a fast flowing river with some nice whitewater and even nicer sandy beaches housing the occasional nudist colony. One of the small benefits of this river, is the fresh bread & eggs every morning thanks to the riverside corner stores. There's even one campsite where you can hike up to a local horse farm for some horseback riding. The obvious drawback is its traffic, due to its easy accessibility.
Fishing: bass, pike, and pickerel.
Click here to order the topographical maps. 		Rouge

Mistassibi Located north of Lac St. Jean, the Mistassibi River is a cold, fast flowing river with plenty of whitewater and brook trout. Expect rain and little sun on this trip. This river is for the experienced canoeist only mainly due to the bone chilling waters.
Fishing: brook trout.
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Please note! DOG EARS does not assume responsibility for the safety of individuals, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damages that might arise in the course of canoeing the rivers suggested on this website. All rivers listed are intended for use by those with prior canoeing experience.

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