Full service canoe camping adventure! Reset your mind and body on our Big Canoe Adventure’s annual weekend wilderness canoe trip in spectacular Parc La Verendrye, Quebec. Explore source of the Gatineau River on Lac Cabonga in great company. Before summer ends, why not treat yourself canoe camping experience that includes a beach front camp site under the Milky Way, dancing to a loon jam session by camp fire, gazing upon bald eagles soaring or spying on us back, hooking big fish or swimming with them in clear waters, and savouring our backcountry cuisine? La Verendrye wildlife reserve abounds with nature, 3.5 hours north of Ottawa in a photogenic wilderness area characterized by vast expanses of forest, water, wildlife, and big starry skies alight with falling stars and fireflies.

This trip is in partnership with the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club, a non-profit club that offers this annual trip to the community as part of its Big Canoe Program, providing the best in guided canoe trips that are appealing to different levels of canoer expertise!

The Experience:

Big Canoe Adventure Excursions offers our annual 3 day - 2 night guided & catered canoe trip to the park. Join guides Nathan Ostle and Metis voyageur descendent, John Savage, on the canoe trip of the summer. With years of experience in canoe and backcountry camping, as well as experience in all safety aspects including Wilderness First Aid, participants will enjoy gourmet camping in on idyllic wilderness camp site we will paddle to.

This 3 day (2 evening) trip will feel like you have been away for a week's holiday, so it is the best vacation value anywhere. People come around the world to explore Canada, why not you too?

Paddling:

The trip is for both experienced to beginner paddlers. Paddling is a low impact means of exploring our Canadian wilderness. It’s quite easy to do, when taught right. If you desire a paddling lesson beforehand are welcome to participate in a sunset or morning paddle for just $25. We will teach you how to paddle a full day efficiently.

Canoe tripping is the best way to master paddling, so you will be an experienced paddler by the end of our weekend. Every trip we have some new paddlers, often new Canadians too who want to enjoy a quintessential Canadian summertime experience. We enjoy introducing people to the canoe tripping, as a way to connect with our national soul, nature, and a fit lifestyle. For newcomers to Canada, it is your baptism to becoming a real Canadian, where nature and your soul fuse.

Getting there:

The park is a beautiful 3.5 hour drive north from Ottawa and accessible by bus as well, if you so choose. Unlike the crowds of Algonquin Park or Tremblan, this area is too far from the crowds of Toronto or Montreal and so it’s perfect for the few who travel up from Ottawa. If you have never been here, this is an opportunity to explore a new area with new friends.

Two departure options – 3.5 hour drive:

First departure option– Leave late Thursday afternoon:

We will carpool to our launch point to camp at La Verendrye from Pointe-Gatineau Thursday, August 15th at 4:30 pm and arrive by 8:30 pm to stay overnight at the Park’s overnight camp ground with washrooms and shower next to its office/store at Le Domaine, Parc La Verendrye.

Second departure option – Leave Friday morning:

Leave by 9:30 am from Gatineau to arrive by 2 pm.

Bus shuttle and camp site: From the park office, we are bus shuttled at 3 pm on Friday to our put-in. From there, we paddle approximately 7 kms to our beach front campsite. Using this as our base camp, we will explore the area on Saturday, and return on Sunday, stopping along the way for dinner. This will be a memory to hold onto for those long, cold winter nights.

Costs:

Costs for this trip are $400 for non-members (which will earn you a membership, a $100 value) and $300 for existing members. An early bird discount of $25 will be given to those who sign up before Aug 1st! (Contact for early bird or members discount code)

This cost includes canoe rentals, guides, campsites, and fully-catered gourmet meals all prepared and cleaned by your guides. The trip will be BYOB but we encourage participants to consume responsibly.

Participants are responsible for meals and transportation for Friday morning as well as meals and transportation for Sunday evening.

Waivers must be signed beforehand. Please note: Everyone is responsible for their own safety and each participant agrees not to hold the guide liable for unforeseen circumstances. Those who rent their own canoes, will get a discount of $10 per day per person.

Canoe Camping Adventure in Quebec's Parc La Vérendrye!

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