Spanish River Canoe Trip by Train: Paddle Ontario’s Wilderness via the Budd Car

Forget floatplanes and logging roads—there’s a wilder way into the backcountry! Meet the Budd Car,  a vintage train that drops you straight into the Spanish River’s remote, rapid-filled wilderness.

All Aboard the Budd Car: Your Ticket to the Spanish River

Most people think the only way to access Ontario’s most remote backcountry is by an expensive floatplane or a gruelling drive down a maze of logging roads. But there’s another way—one that’s budget-friendly, wildly unique, and packed with old-school adventure: the Budd Car.

Whispers of the Budd Car have long floated through campfire conversations and backcountry forums. This historic and little-known Via Rail train service, formally known as the Sudbury–White River train, has been quietly shuttling paddlers deep into the rugged northern Ontario wilderness for decades. Your one-way ticket takes you straight to the heart of Spanish River Provincial Park, all starting with the clang of a train bell.

From Sudbury to Solitude: Your Canoe Trip Begins on the Tracks

There’s something almost surreal about standing in downtown Sudbury with a canoe, food barrel and dry bags full of supplies beside the tracks while commuters clutch their rolling suitcases and briefcases. The train staff barely bat an eye, tagging your towering pile of camping gear with your mile marker drop-off and loading it into the baggage car.

As the Budd Car rolls into the untamed north, city streets give way to vast wilderness. You pass lakes, thick pine forests, and the Spanish River itself, teasing the paddling route ahead of you. A few hours later, the train slows. No station, no platform—just an unassuming sign marking a creek crossing. The staff helps you unload, wishes you luck, and sends you off with a friendly wave goodbye. Just like that, you’re riverside, alone in the backcountry, and the adventure begins.

Wild, Rugged, and Remote: Why the Spanish River Stands Out

The Spanish River winds through some of Ontario’s most stunning and varied wilderness. One moment, you’re paddling through a narrow, cliff-lined gorge; the next, the valley opens up to endless forest. Rapids crash over jagged rock, their roar breaking the silence, while waterfalls carve through ancient Canadian Shield, shaping the land as they have for centuries.

As a provincial park, campsites are well-marked but blissfully secluded, scattered far apart from each other. With no crowds and few road accesses, the Spanish River offers rare and true backcountry. The only trace of civilization is the occasional distant echo of the Budd Car passing through.

Whitewater Wonders: Rapids, Portages, and Paddle Skills

The Spanish River is a whitewater paddler’s dream, offering everything from playful swifts to thrilling Class III rapids. It’s perfect for beginner and intermediate paddlers looking to refine their swiftwater skills, while advanced canoeists can push their limits on technical sections.

Not comfortable running moving water? Every major rapid has a portage, so you can always scout and decide. Previous whitewater experience is certainly recommended, but with the flexibility to choose your route, there's something for every skill level.

Plan Your Train Trip To Paddle the Spanish River

From a quick four-day getaway to an extended ten-day paddle, the Spanish River lets you choose your own adventure. With the Budd Car, you can start as far upstream as the train will take you, hopping off at whichever mile marker suits your trip.

When it’s time to return to civilization, Agnew Lake Lodge makes for the perfect take-out, offering parking, shuttles, and rentals through Paddle the Spanish River. For more planning ideas and tips, read this article. 

Whether you're chasing rapids, solitude, or wilderness, the Spanish River delivers. The only question is—where will you start?

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