Family Canoe-Camping Trip
in Missinaibi Provincial Park

Explore the magic and mystery of one of Ontario's wildest and most pristine waterway parks on a 5 day private canoe-camping trip. The adventure begins at Missinaibi Lake, 88 km north of Chapleau Ontario, where canoes are loaded with all we need for the wilderness expedition. Together with your guide you will head down this large lake, past the ruins of a Fur Trade Post and century-old logging camp to the beginning of the Missinaibi River, a Canadian Heritage River and one of Canada's longest protected waterways. The entire trip is within Missinaibi Park and the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve, the largest wildlife preserve in the world, where there has not been hunting or trapping since 1925. Our first night is spent camped next to the river's first rapids where, after an introduction to whitewater canoeing, we safely run, or portage, a few easy rapids. Gradually we make our way north to the remains of the wilderness village of Peterbell on the C.N.R. tracks. Here we flag down the train to transport us back to civilization.

Trip Itinerary

DAY 1 (MONDAY): RACINE LAKE - MISSINAIBI LAKE
It is recommended that families arrive at our Racine Lake Base Camp on Sunday, to meet your guide, sort out equipment and take care of any last-minute items that will inevitably pop-up. On Monday we will board the van for the ride through the Chapleau Game Preserve to Missinaibi Lake Provincial Park. We'll load the canoes and head down the lake, past the old fur trade post to our first night's camp.
TUESDAY : QUITTEGENE RAPIDS
The first rapids on the river are perfect for learning whitewater in a safe environment. We'll spend most of Tuesday here, playing in the whitewater and getting used to moving canoes through easy rapids. Still, there will be time for some fishing as we head to the mouth of Hay River to our campsite.
WEDNESDAY: HAY RIVER- LONG RAPIDS
An early morning paddle up the quiet Hay River is an ideal way to sneak up on a feeding moose. However, if one would rather sleep an extra hour, that is OK too. We'll try to have camp packed by 10:00, and have a short day's paddle to Long Rapids.
THURSDAY: LONG RAPIDS-PETERBELL
The stretch of river to Peterbell involves Sun and Barrel Rapids, both managable to run after a good look. Then the river becomes still once more as we approach the ghost town of Peterbell. We'll camp in the field of what was once a busy frontier lumber town, but now, only the ruins of a mill and some logging equipment remain. At night we may here the howl of the Timber Wolves who make the Peterbell Marsh their home.
FRIDAY: HOME
We have made special arrangements for the VIA train to stop for us at Peterbell, and in the morning we'll load the canoes and gear aboard thetrain for the 2 hour ride back to Foleyet. Here the van will transport us back to Racine Lake, an awaiting shower or sauna, and eventually the journey home.

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