7-Day Solo Canoe Trip in Algonquin Park

An amazing 7-day solo adventure in the backcountry of Algonquin Park in Ontario. Canoeing the lakes and streams of Algonquin in September.
00:00 Intro
00:17 Day 1 Canoe Lake
03:15 Day 2 Burnt Island Lake
06:50 Day 3 Otter Slide Lake
17:05 Day 4 Big Trout Lake
23:02 Day 5 White Trout Lake
28:25 Day 6 McIntosh Lake
35:22 Day 7 Tom Thompson Lake

[@davecalder2688]

Looks like you had nice weather,,I’m so ready for this years season

[@lancep3962]

Yeah I did have great weather. And I too am looking forward to getting back on the water.

[@miguelcampbello8983]

Looks like you lucked out with some great weather. Love Algonquin in Sept, bugs are mostly gone and the water is still warm.

[@lancep3962]

Yeah you are right, I did luck out. The only rain was the first morning and beautiful after that. Hoping to get there this spring and beat the bugs, but there won't be much swimming going on.

[@wildernesswanderer]

This video was put together very nicely. The tone of your voice is perfect for this type of narration. I enjoyed it !

[@lancep3962]

Thank you so much. I plan on doing a couple more trips this year, so please check back.

[@wildernesswanderer]

@@lancep3962 I just subscribed and clicked the bell notification. I hope to take a trip of my own here in Nova Scotia. I have to learn the editing skills. Thanks again. I look forward to the next one.

[@lancep3962]

@@wildernesswanderer That's awesome, I love Nova Scotia. I did a fall trip in Kejimkujik a number of years ago. It was beautiful.

[@kevinthewild]

I enjoyed your narration. Well done 👍

[@lancep3962]

Thank you, I very much enjoy your videos as well.

[@hikeller51]

Great trip! Thanks for sharing.

[@lancep3962]

Thanks, it was a lot of fun.

[@paulfroud3920]

Thanks for the flashbacks. I had that same campsite on Tom Thomson Lake years ago, I was hoping you'd show more of it. I put a large stone 'step' on the way up to the Thunderbox and wondered ever since if it's still there. Happy paddling...

[@lancep3962]

Thanks for the comment. I can't recall if your stone step is still there, but if I get back to that site I will check it out.

[@cliffspicer6555]

Really nice video and great narration. I was aware outfitters offered a service that they supply literally everything you need and while the air mattress was a fail and a few items were unnecessary it looked like they thought of everything that has taken me years to dial in. Well done and looks like the move on your rest day was a smart one.

[@lancep3962]

Thank you very much. And yes you are right, Algonquin Outfitters do not leave you wanting for anything.

[@daivapetrikaite]

Very nice trip I like it 😊

[@grantforsythe479]

I've canoed Algonquin many times, so felt like I was along with you. Must say, though, I never bare footed any of the creeks for fear of injury... I guess I would have inventoried whatever the outfitter gave you the night before so you didn't duplicate or pack unnecessary equipment. Like the others, enjoyed the views and the commentary Thanks!

[@lancep3962]

For the rocky creeks I did wear a high grip water shoe, but on a couple of the sandy based ones I went bare foot. I didn't actually bring any gear so there wasn't any duplicate stuff but you're right, I definitely could have pared down what they packed. Next trip I will bring all my own gear and just rent the canoe.

[@evanhungate1748]

Great video, did the same loop over 5 days in 2022, well done! I stayed at the same island on Big Trout as you did (though without all that bushcraft furniture!) will definitely be returning to that island.

[@lancep3962]

Yeah, I too was surprised to see the furniture. It wasn't there the last time I was in Algonquin either.

[@docriley7837]

Enjoyed this Lance thnx man!

[@lancep3962]

I'm glad you liked it. I hope to get some more trips in come spring.

[@docriley7837]

@@lancep3962 cool, I'm prepping myself for my first ever solo trip this summer/fall just looking to gain some knowledge.

[@lancep3962]

Well that's exciting, I hope you have a great trip.@@docriley7837

[@NotSoEpicAdventurer]

Looks like an amazing peaceful trip! I’ll have to consider this trip next year for sure :). Thanks for sharing your adventure Cheers, Curtis

[@lancep3962]

You're welcome and I would highly recommend it.

[@canoe_kayak_camp]

Love the video very well done .Did you use a GPS on your trip .

[@lancep3962]

Thank you. I did try using my phone's gps with some success. I recently purchased the full Algonquin set of maps from Jeff's Maps. As well as the hard copy, they come with downloadable versions that can be used with Avenza and google earth apps. I'm looking forward to trying them this spring.

[@deanbrownlee9483]

How long did it take you to do the portage into Tom Thompson lake?

[@lancep3962]

I did it in two trips stopping half way. I didn't record how long it took, but I would guess about 2 1/2 hours.

[@deanbrownlee9483]

@@lancep3962 I plan on doing the same loop. Thanks for the video

[@lancep3962]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and you will have to let me know how your trip goes. @@deanbrownlee9483

[@johnsteven1247]

This guy gets all his food and gear provided and complains about some of what they gave him. How about taking your own stuff? And with campsites all set up along the way, with fire pits and benches, this hardly rates as a ‘solo’ trip - sure, he was paddling by himself, but he was using things that many other people had worked to create.

[@lancep3962]

I'm sorry if I came across as complaining, I simply wanted to point out what I would not have brought if I had packed my own gear. I am in the process of replacing all my gear and will be packing my own for the next trip. As for calling it a solo trip, a person traveling alone is the very definition of a solo trip. I in no way was trying to imply that this was a survival trip. Happy paddling.

[@johnsteven1247]

Hi, Lance - Yeah, I was a little grumpy. Sorry about that. I’m an old man replacing old gear and filling in some gaps to be more self-contained, after about thirty years away from tripping, stuck in thinking that the old ways are best. I agree about the set of kitchen utensils they gave you, and the folding plastic dish pan was hilarious! Way over the top! But I’ve been learning and refreshing my memory by watching others’ videos, including yours, thanks, seeing how others are doing it these days. I went on a few short test runs last year, Crown Land camping in the Madawaska watershed, testing my kit and myself, and I’m prepping now for longer trips this coming Summer. Maybe too pleased with myself in my new adventures. I’ll try to rein that in. Is that a Swift 16 you were paddling? I used one of their 14’6 Cruisers last year on solo trips and loved it - plenty of carrying capacity, lighter, fast in the water, you can use a double kayak paddle and really move, low profile for less wind resistance, and much easier, more nimble handling overall. Thanks for your reply. Happy paddling, happy trails to you.

[@lancep3962]

That's kind of funny John, this video was my first canoe trip in about 25 years. So I too was getting my feet wet again. The canoe was a Swift Keewaydin 15 which I really enjoyed. I am thinking about getting one.@@johnsteven1247

[@johnsteven1247]

Swift boats are good, no doubt. Last year, I took my Old Town Appalachian on a trip. Fitted for tripping and heavy going in ‘moving water’, it’s well over 70 lb. It’s a great boat and thirty years ago it was perfect for me. But now, it’s too much weight for me to carry on a long portage. I went to Swift on Oxtongue Lake, where they recommended a packboat - kind of a canoe-kayak hybrid - Cruiser 14’6. For solo tripping, I can’t imagine any better, for all the reasons I mentioned earlier. If you are looking forward to many years ahead of solo paddling, that smaller, lighter boat with its very comfortable low seating could be just the thing for now, and eventually for an old guy.

[@cliffspicer6555]

Wow what a heck of a comment and I didn’t realize a relaxing solo canoe trip had rules and disclaims that had to go along with it.