Georgian Bay Getaway by Kayak

Learn all about kayak touring, meet new friends and enjoy a 3-day getaway exploring the beautiful rocky islands of Georgian Bay.  This popular trip meets in Killbear Provincial Park. You’ll spend the first morning learning about sea kayaks, basic paddling techniques, and safety procedures.

Then it’s time to load up the kayaks and head out into the 30,000 Islands on a 2-night camping trip.  You'll spend each night on a deserted island, enjoying great meals, and the famous sunsets of the Bay. There is lots of time for swimming, investigating the channels and sheltered bays as we work our way north to Franklin Island. You may circumnavigate this large uninhabited island before reaching our final point  at Snug Harbour, on the afternoon of the third day.

If you are comfortable around water you can enjoy this trip - no experience is required.

The North Channel: The North Channel winds between Manitoulin Island and the northern shore of Lake Huron. The route is often sheltered by islands but there are open crossings between large islands and sections of wide open shoreline. Rounded, pre-Cambrian granite outcroppings dominate the landscape, with gnarled pines clinging to the scarce pockets of soil. It's a harsh and fragile environment - and one of the most ruggedly beautiful places to kayak in Ontario.

The North Channel trip begins at the town of Spanish, west of Sudbury. With the prevailing wind behind us we'll follow the northern shore, island hopping and exploring the least populated side of the channel. As your confidence grows you'll venture out into open waters, playing in the waves and swells.

You'll swim in the warm waters, dine by the shore and finally watch the famous Georgian Bay sunset. If you are comfortable in your kayak - the warm, clear waters, picturesque campsites, and great paddling make this the perfect kayaking adventure.

Ideally for intermediate paddlers.

Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands make it a kayaker’s paradise. These granite islands form a protective labyrinth for the paddler to explore. Away from the sheltered channels, there are also open bays and crossings to distant islands for the experienced paddler.

There is very little soil in this area, and most of the vegetation on the coastline consists of wind-twisted and gnarled trees that are far older than they look. It's a harsh and fragile environment - the least-settled wilderness on the great bay.

This 5-day trip begins with a warm-up and a short paddle out of the lower Magnetawan River (near Britt) to the wilderness of the bay. Weather permitting, we'll paddle to the Bustard Islands, camp on scenic sites, and enjoy great food, spectacular sunsets, and friends. As our confidence grows, we can challenge ourselves with open-water crossings and bigger waves. We’ll finish the trip by heading up the Lower French River to Hartley Bay.

This trip is intended for adventurous beginners and experienced paddlers.

The granite archipelago of the Lower French River is the perfect kayaking environment. Tracing part of the historic fur trade route, we will start at Hartley Bay and descend the Old Voyageur Channel to Georgian Bay and its labyrinth of 30,000 Islands. The coast is riddled with wind-twisted and gnarled trees far older than they look. This fragile environment is the least-settled strip of wilderness on the great bay.

After meandering through the “Fingerboards,” we'll make the open crossing to the Bustard Islands, a few kilometers offshore. Later we'll cross back to the shoreline and head inland via the main channel of the French River. There will be easy “portages” around swifts and rapids as we ascend the river.

Each night we'll set up camp on a beautiful rocky island, gathering around the open fire to enjoy an amazing dinner. After lunch on the final day, we'll re-cross Hartley Bay to our departure point.

The Bustard Islands trip is accessible to kayakers of all skill levels. An introductory skills clinic on Day 1, and the sheltered route at the start, will allow the less-experienced kayakers to gain confidence before we head out onto Georgian Bay.

Georgian Bay Islands: Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands make it a kayaker's paradise. From a few square feet to several square miles these granite islands form a protective maze for paddlers to explore. Away from the sheltered channels, there are options for experienced paddlers too - who can venture out into the open bays or make crossings to distant islands.  

There is very little soil in this area and most of the vegetation on the coastline consists of wind-twisted and gnarled trees that are far older than they look. It's a harsh and fragile environment - the least settled wilderness on the great bay.

This 7-day trip begins with a short skills clinic and several hours of paddling down a sheltered river to the wilderness of the bay. We’ll spend the rest of the time exploring Georgian Bay in all of its glory. Finally passing to the south of the quartz hills of Killarney Provincial Park we'll reach our journey's end at the quaint fishing village of Killarney.

Adventurous beginners and experienced paddlers will both enjoy this trip.

The trip is designed to provide you with basic paddling, safety, rescue, navigation, touring, and kayak-camping techniques while enjoying a relaxed wilderness holiday in a beautiful setting. The combination of formal instruction with ongoing coaching, while gaining real experience on a multi-day expedition, will help you become a confident and safe sea kayaker.

All meals are included in the package. The menus are delicious and nutritious. Everyone helps out cooking meals over a wood fire or camping stove from a combination of fresh, dried and freeze-dried products.