9 Days Canoeing Wabakimi and the Kopka River | Northern Ontario Wilderness | Boreal Bound

Wabakimi. A vast expanse of unspoiled boreal wilderness dotted by 10,000 lakes and pierced by numerous untamed rivers. Forming the second largest park in Ontario and one of the largest boreal preserves in the world, Her remote waterways see fewer than 700 paddlers per year.
While our route would take us through Wabakimi Provincial Park, our main goal was to paddle the Kopka River. The logistics of paddling the Kopka can get tricky; often involving a lengthy shuttle via vehicle, train or float plane.
Eyeing the topo, I roughed out a loop route that could see us depart and arrive at the same point with our personal vehicle. Simple! The only catch? Elevation.
From our river access point, the Kopka would descend over 165m. Being a loop trip, this meant we would have to travel upstream and over several sub-watershed divides to reach the river proper. The plan called for an ascent of the Collins, Boiling Sands and Lookout rivers as well as Aldridge Creek. Paddle, portage, line and wade. Simple, right....
Join Brad and Leah as they canoe over 200km through this vast boreal wilderness.
Trailer: • Wabakimi-Kopka: Boreal...
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Thanks for watching.

[@gbro8822]

I live in northern Indiana and I have a true story I would like to share with you. We have a cabin about 300 miles NNW of Thunder Bay Ontario. We drive till the road stops then take a float plane in to our cabin. My Dad built our cabin in 68 and we go up 3 times a year. The end of May, mid July and early Sept. One fall trip maybe 15 or 20 years ago now, we wanted to portage to a different lake. In the spring and fall if the weather was cool we would go after some Lake Trout. If I had to take a guess, I have been on that lake 30 to 40 times now. We are the only cabin on our lake and there is no cabins on the Lake Trout lake. We have 3 small boats we just leave on that lake because we go there so often. We had 6 men in 3 Boats that day. We all kinda went our own way and started fishing. It was maybe 4 hours later (around 2 or 3 pm) all 3 boats meet back up in the middle of the lake and we all killed our engines and started to eat our lunch. It was a beautiful sunny day with no clouds and the lake went completely flat, no wind at all. Ok now this is the part where you are going to think I'm nuts, so here I go. The first sound came from our north (the way back to our lake) The best way I can describe it was someone holding a note on a freaking pipe organ. The notes were perfect, not flat or anything like that. The notes would last maybe 5 to 8 seconds, that's a long time to hold a perfect note. When the one would die out, another would start from a different shore at a higher or lower note but all just perfect and sounded like a pipe organ. All the sounds were just single notes, we never heard 2 different notes at the same time. This lasted for maybe 15 or 20 min. We all 6 were hearing 20 + pipe organs play single notes around a lake with no cabins in the Canadian wilderness. The notes were extremely loud (like feel it in your chest loud) and with no wind and land no more the 400 yards away in any direction the notes would echo around a bit. My brother did not want to make the portage so he stayed in our lake with one of my uncles. Later back in our cabin we all were telling my uncle and brother what we heard. They both said they could also hear the notes from our direction. We never saw a thing and I don't know what we heard. We didn't see anything on the ground nothing in the trees, or water and boy we all were looking. About the only thing I do know there is no pipe organs around that lake. Over the years we have been back to that many times and nothing. Over the years we have asked State biologist, they look at me like I'm nuts. I even have asked a First Nation friend from that area. At least he gave me a kinda answer. Are you ready, I sure was. He said some things in nature are best left unknown. lol What that is your answer, I was so ready to find out and that's what I got. I'm the last one of the 8 people still alive who heard the pipe organ notes around a lake in the Canadian wilderness. I don't have a clue but something was making the sound and I'm just trying to find out what. Thank you. Greg 24 Modern Explorer

[@kristennoelle9447]

Wow! Incredible story.. that's a mystery I would love to be solved..ty for sharing!🙏💜

[@gbro8822]

Thank you.@@kristennoelle9447

[@user-zm5dw9vr5d]

It’s so fun watching you two on an adventure together! You guys are great!

[@anthonypayne2526]

What I really enjoy about your videos is that many of your routes are loops. It seems that northern Ontario's geography allows for this more than other places in the world, which takes a load off your logistics. The other thing I like about your videos is your maps! When watching any kind of tripping video, I try to follow along on google maps, so I love it that you provide nice detail of where you're going at the beginning of your videos. Very cool! Thanks for sharing these.

[@aw8496]

I’m exhausted just watching this! lol. Great job guys! Nothing like this in Texas...especially in summer. Just dry creek beds and snakes! Beautiful country!

[@STEAMBOLTANNIE]

I logged up near Manitouwadge for years and did many trips by canoe or just drive the logging roads or fly in.I have just bought a home in Manitouwadge and will retire there next year my health is still quite good at 59 so here's hoping I can make many more trips. Your trip was awesome and very well filmed and documented...GRATZ..If you want to do a trip that I did with 3 others in 1988, I think you would enjoy the Churchill River...We flew into Sandfly Lake close to the Alberta border and did 10 days with an extra 4 days north on Mountaney Lake for awesome Pickerel and Lake trout fishing. It was 14 days of heaven only one day of rain. We came all the way back from sandfly to Lac La Ronge. Bear Island Lake can be challenging so many islands.All Boreal forest with well marked Portages and beautiful campsites. The Churchill river is like one big lake after the next joined by rapids. You can even paddle this river going upstream in July and August,its that calm. In our trip we had about 16 portages and only shot 6 sets of rapids (only did class 2 ) so we portaged 10 to 12 times which is decent in 200 plus miles.We hit Blueberry season too. Our outfitter flew us from Lac La Ronge into sandfly and we saw every part of the river by air that we were going to do...it was incredible!CHEERS TO YOU AND GOOD TRIPPING!

[@Canoejerry]

This is probably one of the longer videos I’ve watched end to end. Not only is it great to imagine being there but it’s wonderful to see you discover it yourself and really feel the enjoyment. It comes through in the video well.

[@davidcolinstillman5585]

BREATHTAKING BEAUTY COLORS SCENERY VIEWS VIDEO ! GODS PAINT BRUSH IS MIND BLOWING BEAUTY ! BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAG ALONG WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY ! ENJOYED !

[@jailen461]

Stunningly beautiful. Wow. So pretty. Love it. Picturess. THANK YOU. And as one of you other viewers said a really good 💑 couple too. You two are really good together.

[@tombeckett4340]

Brad and Leah you guys always nail your videos 🇨🇦👍

[@bobboswell1754]

A very nice part of your videos is when, in a rapid, the communication from the back to the front of the canoe. It is polite, respectful and complimentary. When paddling rapids I used to follow the 'no fault rule' with my partner which if something went wrong, we missed a move or swam, I would not blame them and asked they not blame me but get on with what needed to be done.

[@dtryh6tf6uyg13]

Fantastic video, trip, and couple. Much enjoyed guys!!! Keep zesting Leah. You've got us inspired to make cocktails

[@deanhunt9812]

You are with somebody very special God bless you both

[@jackson6889]

Nice to see that spray deck and a rescue knife equipped to your PFD! ;-) Cheers folks! Great vid!

[@benchmarkinspections481]

That was your best video yet. You guys get better every time you put out a new video. Thumbs Up

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!! 😁

[@florenceor.9002]

I'm kayakist from France , so unfortunately I will never be able to get there, but I was enjoying this video trip a lot ! Thank you for sharing 😀

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Glad you enjoyed it! There is so much to explore in tis region.... we've only just scratched the surface. If you can ever swing an overseas visit, you won't be disappointed in the paddling!

[@chuckguillemette5257]

Your vids are awesome and your wife is a trooper thanks for the trip

[@yeoldfart8762]

I've lived in Alaska all my adult life but i still miss Ontario. Thanks for taking us along.

[@gmonteith]

What a great trip and what great videography. So many times, only one person's personality shines through on these, but I felt I got a sense of both of you as partners. Well done!

[@EzeAdventurer]

what an awesome trip you guys!! You're such a sweet couple!! Very engaging edit, great music addition to keep it upbeat throughout!

[@deanhunt9812]

You are very lucky to have a lady like that you guys have a great time

[@raymondcava4669]

Awesome scenery thank you for posting

[@tombeckett4340]

I’m glad to see you guys doing more fishing. And just enjoy the trip without rushing all the time. Taking time to smell the flowers. 🇨🇦👍

[@fubar410]

Moose: "Cool. Two humans paddling across a lake. It's not every day you see that." Great adventure! Thank you for sharing.

[@jailen461]

I've been to the Boundry Waters several times. I have to say I can't remember seeing it in more splendor. You two times it perfectly. PERFECTLY!!!

[@rene3339]

Very nice landscape, the video is great straight to the end.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks! Really is such a breathtaking environment.

[@jailen461]

I've been to the Boundry Waters several times. I have to say I can't remember seeing it in more splendor. You two timed it perfectly. PERFECTLY!!! You guys are a heck of a team. You really compliment each others knowledge well.

[@deanhunt9812]

It will end up being a trip of a lifetime never to be forgotten

[@katanyajason3316]

Wow, thank you! Stunning!

[@ripplesandleaves]

What an incredible trip! So stunning! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[@The-Dutch-Explorer]

Brad and Leah, incredible trip. I was looking up the Kopka river as I might travel Up river to get into Wabakimi at the end of May this year. Your footage and the incredible scenery convinced me to take this route up and into the park unless the current will be too strong to paddle up on my own by then. Thanks for this video guys! 👌

[@kathyspann-hampton9533]

Fantastic scenery

[@PinetreeLine]

What a trip Brad & Leah! You guys killed it out there! So many different landscapes, the sheer rock cliffs and the Seven Sisters...wow! The filming of this is the best of seen, thanks so much for all the extra effort you guys put into filming to make us feel like we were right there! 🇨🇦 Doug

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks as always Doug! Glad you enjoyed it! Little different scenery than the NE eh? Love how diverse the landscape in our province is. Always blows me away that we're still in Ontario. Hope all is well. Take care!

[@musicbycandlelightmbc3225]

Although a belated comment, I must say Sean you have one fantastic, very strong, beautiful lady with you. A real trouper and such a lovely spirit. Makes all the difference in the world. Awesome video and really well done. I was hooked right in it. I miss canoeing and miss a partner to do such great outdoor excursions with. I left behind all my great gear as I was moving to BC. Some portages reminds me of up in Algonquin. Ugh...grueling. I liked the canyon. Killarney will always be my favorite. Done short bits of the Vermilion River - flat water. Also the Montreal River in Timiskaming up to the first train trestles. Launched from the power damn. Gawd that river is black and spooky...shiver me timbers. Gawd, that poor canoe's bottom...lol. Is it the Prospector? Fiberglass or TuffStuff? I love to get either the Haida 17 or especially the Cronje 17′. Had a Kawartha speed canoe similar to the cronje but was only a 14 foot. What a beast it was. Although low profile hull, we put a Sponson kit to deflect potential high waves. Man it was a fast canoe and could handle a lot of weight. Was straight as an arrow in high winds. I don't think the company exists any longer though but they had made one heck of a fantastic canoe. They had the 16' version as well. Brand new it cost 700 dollars CAD in those days. Now the same thing are anywhere from 2 to 3K or more...Ouch. Sometimes I dream of just going deep inland, spot a beautiful spot and never leave. Great video Sean and Leah. What a great trip and beautiful scenery.

[@roboutdoors8680]

Amazing and thank you both for such a great trip. Cheers. Keep up the great work. Really enjoyed it.

[@lynn-ut4xl]

Lovely couple!!!!! And, they keep everything so clean. The young lady is an excellent canoe-ist!!! OK, him too! Enjoyable way to spned a covid afternoon.

[@BadKittus]

We need this right now. Thanks guys. 👍

[@wbhandy]

Impressed with how mint the canoe looks after all that beating!

[@laffilmfest3759]

Stunning........well made video........thank you!

[@hazayad]

Brilliant! Thanks, guys!

[@PaddlingTramp]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@FreakofNature1]

Well done you two! Amazingly documented trip! Beautiful sights and awesome food. Thank you for sharing!

[@drewsimmons41]

What a great trip! Really enjoyed your enthusiasm and sharing of this gorgeous place! Like the food too.

[@paultaylor3856]

Just love watching your videos guys, and love those opening drone shots.

[@billygoatfilms7531]

Well done Brad, well done Leah, a FIVE STAR FILM ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🇨🇦

[@AdamRomanoExplores]

Awesome vid Brad! Thanks for sharing.

[@alexanderlawson1649]

A most excellent adventure, bravo.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks 😁🤙

[@Brentdarley]

Completely Brilliant! An amazing trip! Thank you for sharing, your filming skills are getting so good.

[@tombeckett4340]

You guys really know your stuff. It’s nice to see you enjoy your trips. I sure enjoy watching your videos. Thanks.🇨🇦👍

[@landskapet]

Big thanks for all the effort you guys put in sharing this amazing trip!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks!! So glad you enjoyed it! 😁

[@garyharsel2655]

What a wonderful video! I’m so glad I found it. Such a beautiful place.

[@KA-pq3yz]

Lovely couple in beautiful places. Thanks for your video 👍👍

[@hotcoreoutdoorproducts]

Every video is better than the last. Especially great to sit back and watch this while we are stuck at home. That was some serious portaging!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Randy! Couldn't agree more. We've been watching a bunch of KZbin, bidding our time. Tent, tarp and bags performed admirably on this trip, as always. Cheers!

[@outbound2explore119]

Excited to see this journey!!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Hope you enjoy!

[@deanhunt9812]

You guys are making so many great memories for each other

[@paulfilipowski5695]

Great video !! Thank you both for sharing your adventures !!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Awesome! Thanks Paul! 😁

[@rickmerriman8967]

Great video! Thank you for sharing especially the way things are looking for the coming season!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Rick! Yeah, hard for us to plan our summer out right now too.... we'll see how it goes. At least there's KZbin for videos to fill part of the void of 😀

[@carolguezen5829]

Love watching your team work going through the rapids! You guys are definitely in sync! And the scenery was spectacular

[@artdiehm5903]

You two are amazing and I’m thrilled you’re going to be in for the long run, you make a special team! Great video that sure brings back my memories of Wawa and White River trips 40 or more years ago and way before GoPros! Thanks for the memories

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks!! The Wawa area has some amazing canoe routes. We love exploring that general region. So glad I could spark the memories! Happy paddling!

[@williamkenyon9858]

Brad, I hope you know how lucky you are to have a woman that loves to do what you guys do! Love the videos, keep them coming!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Ha, thanks. Sure do. Leah's 1 in a million! Thanks for watching!

[@trekOCLVone]

Magnificent adventure. I had to just stay on the edge of my seat. Thank you for sharing.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks so much!

[@NowThatsaRAP]

Fantastic journey, fantastic film. Thanks for taking the trip and making the movie for the rest of us to come along with you. One more trip to add to my list.

[@johnshore1547]

This has got to be my new dream trip! Thank you both once again for taking us along!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

You'd love it. The scenery is even better in person too! Hope you get to experience it for yourself one day! Thanks for watching.

[@tombeckett4340]

Ontario has some truly amazing places to visit. Endless gorgeous spots.

[@seagriz7670]

best video yet! What an amazing trip.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Dennis! 😁

[@oldgrowthearth]

​yess i cant wait to go up there one day soon! thanks brad and leah you guys always inspire me to go deeper into the bush

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Oh yeah, you'd love it! Absolutely amazing region! Hope you get to experience it for yourself one day! Happy adventuring!

[@jacqueline7118]

Spectacular spot, wow! Wonderful scenery, great food and even cocktails, doesn't get much better than that. Thanks for sharing! :) :)

[@marlysheino7402]

Awesome scenery, great filming! Thanks for taking us along!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paultaylor3856]

Brad and Leah, great to see you guys doing another trip and sharing it, love it so thanks heaps👍👍

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Paul!! 😁

[@keithlefler6230]

Great video, you guys rock. that's lots of dragging !!

[@sdpeteadventures239]

Awesome trip! And a very professional put together video! Thanks for sharing!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed it 😁😁

[@markwjackchannel8844]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks for watching!

[@ActuallyAndrewFishing]

New friend to your channel - found this video from a suggested video and thank god for KZbins mysterious algorithm. This video was epic, loved the narration, the 7 sisters was breathtaking, especially, 59:25 . Left you a big thumbs up and can't wait to see the rest of your videos... now time to binge watch.

[@thebiggreedybastard5462]

Very fun watch

[@GreybeardAdventures]

I had no idea we had so many beautiful falls on just one river in Ontario! Another great trip guys! 🙌

[@jimhanson7476]

Truly amazing , you both are had a adventure of a lifetime ... And cheers ....

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Jim! One for the memory bank that's for sure! Loved NW Ontario. We'll be back again for sure!!

[@zirndorfredleg7688]

The Collins and the rock formations are breathtaking.

[@jenslundinbyh8845]

Fantastic and inspiring. Thanks for all the effiort making this film.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks so much! 😁 Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you get out there to experience it for yourself one day!

[@ride-paddle-repeat]

Well that was epic. Very creative route choice with big payoffs on those amazing waterfalls and cliffs. Definitely on my bucket list.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks for watching! You can't go wrong with any of those rivers and creeks draining into Nipigon on the western side! Hope you get out and enjoy it for yourself one day. Happy adventuring! 😀

[@brianculver1301]

Love the PACKER HAT

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Haha, we need more ladies out there hacking it in the bush!

[@waltb7943]

Great video. Music and editing top notch. Loved the clouds and lightning in the evening sky

[@paultaylor3856]

So loved this video you guys, awesome trip. Thanks for sharing, made my day.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Paul!!!! An incredible area to paddle!

[@yanlap2183]

Very nice trip. Thanks

[@BurtReynoldstash]

Excellent trip and video guys as usual. Thanks for sharing

[@BurtReynoldstash]

Oh those pina coladas looks awesome

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Haha, yeah and after 9 days of tripping they were extra tasty too!

[@OutdoorRob]

Excellent trip guys! Awesome!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks!! 😁 One of our favs. 👍

[@NobleEndeavours123]

Excellent video, couldn't stop watching. The scenery was just amazing. Definitely on my list.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

You won't be disappointed! Wabakimi and the Kopka should be on every paddlers bucket list! Thanks for watching!

[@andrewcottingham]

I have been looking forward to this video! I have a coming trip planned to Wabakimi for the first time so it's nice to see more of it.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Awesome!! Where are you going in the park??

[@rifleman1873]

Beautiful trip. You did a great job of documenting it. Leah is a trooper.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks a bunch! Haha, got that right, she's something else!!

[@davidmueller980]

The moose were thinking the same thing! You two really struggled on some of those portages, but it was pretty easy for me! I can so relate to the end of a trip on the final day. Heaven is a trip like this, that never ends. Thanks so much for bringing us along!

[@2yung4u]

i liked the video, can't believe i watched the whole thing, i enjoyed it!

[@canesser1]

SpecTACular! We may have the beautiful images but you two have the lifelong memories, what a blessing! Thanks for taking us along.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks! 😀 Now we relive the trip though this video. So many great memories from that trip.

[@queticomoe4495]

That was a fantastic video! WOW!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks!!! 😁

[@smalandoutdoor3721]

I love your videos. What a great trip!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks so much! Was indeed a great trip. We instantly fell in love with the Wabakimi region!

[@adventureswithjosie]

Awesome trip video! The landscapes in Northwestern Ontario look amazing!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Oh yeah. The NW is amazing. Love the lands and waters out there. Also, the fishing is unreal too! 😀

[@oregondave5362]

Going up the Collins! Stunning and cool from the air too. Portages were cleared by a Wabakimi Project crew in 2017. Great to see our campsite on Rushbay. This section may be included in the Wabakimi Canoe Routes guidebook that's in the works. Did you encounter a difficult portage on the lower part? The portage I'm referring to is 136m on river right...our reports says, "The portage has two very steep sections and the last 50-60 m crosses an area of large boulders and rubble from the steep canyon walls. This is the worst footing and most treacherous portage I've seen in ten years, don't try this portage in wet weather!" Now I'll watch the rest of your video.

[@The-Real-Ando]

So I hooked in to your guys channel about 6 weeks ago. I’ve really enjoyed all your travels, this is the best I’ve seen. Canada you are beautiful, I’m from New Zealand so I should know, what we have, you simply have much more . Brad, Leah you guys are awesome, eat well, drink well, work well. Onto it, experienced, prepared, tough as old boots and yet you are still the people from next door, love it. Great to see a little more of the portage lowdown, not something we do much here, thankfully. We’re more sea/whitewater kayaking here, the canoe doesn’t really suit our rivers. This has been my lockdown sanity, and I’m passing this on to all my Kiwi kayaking buddies. Good health and good luck. Thank you!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Awesome! So glad you have enjoyed them!!! Heck, we realllly want to visit NZ one day. I've been combing the map looking for places to paddle. Never been to the southern hemisphere, but New Zealand is one of my top bucket destinations. Thanks for watching! More on the way. Hope your Kiwi pals dig it. Cheers! - Brad

[@The-Real-Ando]

Explore The Backcountry thank you for your reply. If you come here I will supply you with all the info, places to go, contacts, accom, etc that I can. There are 3820 lakes over one hectare in New Zealand. In the north island most are volcanic and in the South Island most are glacial. I can’t possibly explain here, ydna.nz@gmail if you would like to pm me

[@larryladouceur7335]

great video nice views canada has lots great places

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Far, far, far too many nice places. My buxlet list - for the province alone - keeps on growing!

[@MrJamesdCarter]

I just know it's going to be an epic video.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Well, if you've enjoyed the others, then I think you're reallllly going to love this one!

[@ryandeboer5346]

Good Morning, I am quickly becoming a fan of your Canoe trips and videos , i hope to be able to get to this place 1 day . Thanks for sharing your experiences !

[@dwrivers47]

Incredibly enjoyable video, and breathtaking scenery. Thank you both for bringing it into our homes.

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Thanks Derek! 😁

[@ScottOethatBullMoosePatrol]

Great video! I paddled the Kopka ten years ago, one of my all-time favorite trips. Your video really has me wanting to go back and do it again!

[@ExploreTheBackcountry]

Awesome! One of our all time fav trips too! Glad it brought back some memories. We wanted to go back as soon as we left!