The Algonquin Explorer
A Canadian "Rustic Wilderness" Experience
3 days at Algonquin Ecolodge + a 3 or 4 day Wilderness Canoe Trip in Algonquin Park
This is a great family trip. A perfect way to spend some quality time with your kids in a wonderfully natural setting. You get 3 days at the unique Algonquin Ecolodge combined with a guided 3 or 4 day wilderness canoe trip in Algonquin Park.
Call Of The Wild's Ecolodge, located beside an active beaver pond (Moffat Pond) and a cascading waterfall, is on the southern border of Algonquin Park. It is a wilderness enthusiasts' dream with plenty to do and see, in both summer and winter. With over 60 km of groomed wilderness trails inside Algonquin Park, the Ecolodge is a great place for hiking, fishing, nature walks, wildflower exploration, birding, canoeing, and mountain biking.
For kids, the Ecolodge is a dream come true. Guaranteed fishing (they're small, but still fun to catch), lots of frogs, salamanders, butterflies, trails to explore, canoes and water toys. We also do wolf howls around the bonfire, and can teach them how.
Algonquin Park is a world famous park only 3 hours north of Toronto. Its' area is equivalent to the size of Wales, and 1/4 the size of Hawaii! Algonquin boasts 7,725 square kilometres of wilderness, with over 2,000 fresh water lakes and rivers. Within its borders can be found deer, moose, beaver, wolves, bears, and many other wild animals, all in their natural habitats and, for the most part, untouched by Man.
The Ecolodge is ideal for those wishing to experience the Canadian wilderness without having to "rough it". It is so secluded that we actually have our own resident wolf pack! So, when we do a wolf howl program around the bonfire at night, we have a good chance of hearing the wolves howl back in response! The Ecolodge is designed to give you the best wilderness experience possible, while minimizing our impact on the environment. In fact, your experience begins with a leisurely 2.3 km walk (approx. 20 minute) or cycle through Algonquin Park to reach our front doors. Don't worry - your luggage will be transferred for you!
The Ecolodge is beautifully secluded amidst remote Algonquin forests, where even hydro lines and telephone poles can't reach. And yet, with a combination of alternative energy sources, the Ecolodge still provides all the finer comforts, such as indoor plumbing, 17 rooms, double and dorm style, primitive hot showers, and even an outdoor wood-fired sauna! It is the perfect place to spend a few days while experiencing "real" Canadian wilderness adventures.
Below is a suggested itinerary (self guided) for the first 3 days of your visit.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Activities that are available at no cost are:
In addition to these activities, the following activities are also available in the immediate area. Some involve additional costs, and we will be happy to arrange any required reservations.
Self Drive Activities:
Day 4
After you have enjoyed a taste of Algonquin Park, it is now time to experience a more rugged look at what the park has to offer, from the bow of a canoe. We spend the next 3 or 4 days on a canoe adventure meandering through some of the 2,000 lakes and rivers in the Algonquin Park interior. The trip is geared for the beginner and we will teach you all the paddling skills you need in order to have the adventure of a lifetime. We also provide all food, all equipment (except personal items like sleeping bags, flashlights, etc. - a packing check list is provided, and these items can be rented).
You can watch watch a video of an Algonquin canoe trip, so you'll know what it's all about.
You will need to drive up to our "put in" point, on Rock Lake. It is about a 1 ½ hour drive from the lodge, along a scenic highway. With our "Expedition weight" kevlar canoes we will paddle into one of the interior lakes of the park (Pen Lake). Before we start our guide will instruct everyone on the necessary skills and techniques for canoeing. After this canoe trip you won't be an expert but you will know how to pack and steer a canoe. After a 3 hour paddle (including a 300m portage) we will arrive at our camp. Since this is a true interior wilderness camp we will have to bring everything with us, including the tents.
Once we establish camp, with the help of our experienced guide, we are free to explore the lake we are on. There are several large rapids that were once used as log chutes that are quite interesting. Also, in this area it is quite common to see moose grazing by the edge of the lake - we have seen over a half dozen in a 2 day period here!
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Dinner will consist of fresh food, prepared on site, and enjoyed by the side of a blazing campfire! Afterwards, we can sit and watch the Milky Way rise slowly above our heads. The sky is so clear that you can even count satellites passing by! And if we're really lucky we may even hear wolves howling in the distance! This is real Canadian camping!
Day 5
Today we will spend by exploring a meandering river by canoe. After a short portage past an old dam used for logging, we will paddle the slow moving waters of the South Madawaska River. Since we will have to get out of our canoes to pull them over several beaver dams be sure to bring shoes or sandals for the water.
Day 6
After breakfast we will roll up our tents, pack up our gear, load the canoes, and paddle out for a new camp. We have several small portages to deal with, and 3 lakes to cross. Our destination is Galeairy Lake, a beautiful lake on the east edge of Algonquin Park. After finding a nice campsite, we will go abut setting up camp. By now everyone is an expert at setting up their tents and collecting firewood, so there will be ample time to relax, swim, read a book, or even go fishing for dinner!
Day 7
After an early breakfast we pack up camp and start the journey home. We will get back to our vehicle about 11am and start the drive back to Toronto. We arrive back in Toronto around 6:00 pm.
Departures:
Included:
Not Included:
Note: There is a resident cat and also a dog at the Eco-Lodge, so if you have pet allergies please bring some medication. We can also assign you a cabin room, which is a "pet free" zone.
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