"A lot of people might be intimidated by a canoe trip to see polar bears," said John Langford of Paddling Ontario Alliance, "but in fact, almost anybody can do it."
Ontario is blessed with 20 per cent of the world's freshwater lakes and rivers, which form an astounding 96,000 km of canoe routes. Algonquin, Killarney and Temagami are great getaways for passionate paddlers, but there's much, much more you can easily explore on a guided wilderness expedition, experienced or not.
On the Ontario-Minnesota border sits Quetico Provincial Park, one million acres of untouched wilderness scattered with 600 sparkling lakes. Canoe-Kayak Magazine called this 'some of the best wilderness canoeing in the world'. Novice through expert, Canoe Canada Outfitters helps paddlers discover it on guided 5-to-7-day expeditions that follow the historic water routes of the Ojibway, and fur-trading voyagers of the 1600's.
In 2003 National Geographic Adventure magazine chose Canoe Frontier Expeditions' polar bear expedition as one of the top 25 adventure trips in the world. For intermediate through advanced paddlers, it s 8-to-10 days of kayaking and hiking along the Winisk River into Polar Bear National Park in Hudson's Bay. Birds, bears, belugas and possibly northern lights are some of the spectacular sights.
Missinaibi Headwaters Outfitters offers guided canoe adventures on the 600 km Missinaibi River in North-Eastern Ontario. Beginners fly in and spend six days canoeing the Hudson's Bay lowlands, ending at the Cree Communities of Moosonee/Moose Factory on James Bay and returning on the Polar Bear Express train. Advanced paddlers receive whitewater canoe instruction and focus on the upper stretches of the river.
With Wanapitei Canoe you can explore the little known James Bay's Kattawagami River with its challenging rapids, excellent fishing and stunning waterfalls. Intermediate to advanced paddlers fly in by bush plane from Cochran for the 11-day adventure.
Paddlers with some whitewater experience can join Naturally Superior Adventures on a White River canoe adventure from north of Wawa, through boreal forest and past waterfalls, down into Ontario's largest National Park - Pukaskwa, on the shore of Lake Superior. Seven-day sea kayaking adventures along the rugged remote coast of Pukaskwa are offered by Caribou Expeditions for beginner through intermediate paddlers.
And, if you like your paddling with a little extra pampering - Goldseekers Outfitters has introduced a five-star sea kayak expedition that includes two nights at Sabourine Lake Lodge - a five-star wilderness resort in Atikaki/Woodland Park, on Ontario's Northwestern Frontier.
For details on the more than 70 guided canoe and sea kayaking wilderness expeditions for 2005 visit www.paddlingontario.com. Paddling Ontario is an alliance of 24 Ontario tourism operators who offer accommodation, outfitting services and unique canoe and kayaking packages ranging from weekend getaways in cottage country to wilderness expeditions.
Where the world comes to paddle!
www.paddlingontario.com
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For more information contact the Paddling Ontario Alliance at:
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