Boys’ Trips and Bachelor Party Ideas for Ontario Outdoorsmen

With work, busy schedules and the general pace of life, making time for your best buddies is a challenge—but we all know it’s worth prioritizing. If meeting up for the occasional beer or coffee is a good way to keep in touch, getting out for a weekend in nature with your closest friends is infinitely better. There are plenty of great options in Ontario that are close to home and budget-friendly yet still provide amazing outdoor experiences—and excellent opportunities to connect with your buds.

Traditional bachelor parties and boys’ weekends are becoming dated. Replace casinos and hangovers with real adventures. You’ll quickly discover laughs and stories around the campfire after a day of wilderness hiking, skiing, fishing or paddling reconnects like nothing else.

Whether you’re long overdue for a trip with the old gang or someone’s planning to tie the knot, consider an Ontario guys’ trip as a gateway to lifelong memories, or an unforgettable celebration of life’s key moments. There’s something for everyone in our list of six adventure itineraries.

Beer, Backcountry and Trains: The Spanish River

For a backcountry paddling trip that puts excitement at the forefront and involves some great Ontario brews, organize your canoe partners, pack your river bags and load up for an incredible canoe trip on the Spanish River. The river’s East Branch is best for novice whitewater paddlers looking for a taste of the thrill of moving water, while the West Branch provides experienced paddlers with more difficult rapids.

Book a custom-guided canoe trip with Agnew Lake Lodge to spend 4- to 6 days gliding through calm northern lakes, floating through gentle swifts and testing your skills in Class I and Class II rapids. Conveniently located at a popular end point, the lodge offers transportation to your starting point for East Branch trips, as well as fully guided trips upon request. Fox Lake Lodge and the Spanish River Outfitters also offer shuttles and rentals for self-guided groups.

Check out MHO Adventures for all-inclusive Spanish River adventures that are customized to your group. Choose their create your own adventure option, available for groups of six or more, and let their expert guides lead your group journey. 

For intermediate and advanced paddlers, book a guided paddling trip down the river’s West Branch with Black Feather Wilderness Adventure Company. Not only will the trip offer you an incredible adventure, but the journey to the put-in is like no other. From Sudbury, you and your friends will load your gear into the VIA Rail Budd Car and ride the train to reach this wilderness river.

If you love craft beer, 46 North Brewery is a worthy stop in Sudbury on your way to the river. With a collection of rotating taps and snacks, this is the perfect place to sample some local craft beers and to stock up with a few extra cans to sneak into your food barrels for your trip.

Depending on the length of your trip, you’ll finish the journey at either The Elbow or Agnew Lake. Book a cozy cabin at the Fox Lake Lodge or Agnew Lake Lodge for the perfect place to celebrate the journey's end. Both lodges also offer complimentary camping areas for outfitting customers.

For a post-trip pint with a view, drive an hour from Agnew Lake to Manitoulin Island for some craft flights and comfort food on the patio at Manitoulin Brewing Company. Or, if heading home via Sudbury, stop for dinner at the Hardrock 42 Gastropub, featuring a rotating selection of 24 Canadian craft beers, and a chef-inspired menu of hearty meals to fill you up.

Hike & Fish in Thunder Bay

There’s something that feels so right about reeling in a new chapter with some good friends on an old-fashioned Northern Ontario fishing trip. If you love to wet a line and hit the trail with your best buds, this trip idea in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario has your name on it.

It’s easy to get to Thunder Bay on regularly scheduled, direct flights from Toronto and Ottawa. Rent a car when you land, make the 45-minute drive to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and lace up your boots for some unbelievable hiking. Easy options include the Sawbill Trail or the Piney Woods Trail; the most popular hike in the park is the burly 17-km Head Trail, which climbs steep grades through northern woods to amazing vistas of Lake Superior from atop the cliffs of the iconic Sleeping Giant. Cool off in the waters at Marie Louise Beach when you’re done.

Closer to Thunder Bay, hike the 6 km Lost Mountain Loop. This hike is doable in three hours or less, and provides stunning mountain-esque views of the rugged surroundings.

After hiking, grab some deliciously crispy pints and homemade pizza at Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, or pop into Dawson Trail Craft Brewery for some drinks and food from their brewery roommate, Station 22.

For an elevated group dining experience, take in the “tradition meets modern flair” and Italian ambience of Grotto Trattoria. After dinner, catch a live show or a DJ at NV Music Hall, Thunder Bay’s best music venue.

Places to stay in and around Thunder Bay include Mink Mountain Resort, the budget-friendly Haven Hostel, among other accommodations. A hearty Finnish pancake breakfast at the Hoito Restaurant is a Thunder Bay tradition.

Leave the city and venture into the wilderness for a memorable backcountry fishing experience. Book a trip with Wilderness North to live it up at the all-inclusive Miminiska Lodge—with direct float plane flights from Thunder Bay. Services include boat and dock services, meals, complimentary pre-dinner cocktails and full days of guided or self-guided fishing for walleye and monster northern pike. Or make the three-hour drive north to the town of Armstrong and fly-in to a remote outpost camp with Mattice Lake Outfitters, Thunderhook or Ogoki Frontier for a self-guided fishing adventure you’ll never forget. 

For a unique, partially guided fly-in fishing trip in the Wabakimi Provincial Park area, get in touch with Armstrong-based Wabakimi Outfitters and let them help you plan a custom fishing getaway. Your trip may involve float planes, outpost camps, canoeing and backcountry camping, train rides, expert guide advice and more. In short, your adventure cup will be filled to the brim.

Calling all Adrenaline Junkies: Whitewater and Skydiving in Ottawa

An upcoming wedding or overdue adventure plans with the guys are perfect excuses for high-excitement bonding experiences. If you think your friendships are strong now, nothing will bring you closer or commemorate a big life moment more than whitewater rafting and skydiving with your crew. This trip idea is meant to push your limits, barrelling down intense whitewater rapids on the Ottawa River and soaring above the clouds.

Book a stay and a guided journey with Wilderness Tours Rafting Resort. They offer options for large group campsites in their meadow by the Ottawa River, simple riverview accommodations in the Bayside Suites, and full service chalets like the Cottage Main. Each unique lodging option provides campers with washrooms, electricity, water access and breakfasts and dinners.

During the day, sign up for low-, medium-, high-, or extreme intensity rafting adventures to spend hours exploring the world-class whitewater of the Ottawa River. If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, book a multi-day rafting package. These trips combine high-adrenaline adventure with all-inclusive services such as meals, accommodations and relaxing resort days. Want to push it to the limit? Check out the Sport Rafting Day Trip for “rock ‘em sock ‘em rafting.”

You can also try whitewater canoeing and kayaking at the Madawaska Kanu Centre in the nearby Madawaska Valley. 

Skydiving is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s sure to elevate your heart rate and fulfill your childhood dreams. Freefalling at 200 km/hr with your friends makes for unmatched bonding and stories you will share for the rest of your life. Plan a skydiving day with Parachute Ottawa and let their professional skydiving instructors take you on a tandem freefall from over 6,000 feet. Signing up for the video package is a great add-on, especially when a groom-to-be is taking the leap.

Celebrate your sky-high adventures at Whitewater Brewing, with locations in the town of Cobden and Foresters Falls, right on the Ottawa River. They brew a great blonde ale, make a killer bison burger and have weekly live music.

For lodging alternatives, stay at one of the beautiful waterfront cabins at Pine Ridge Park in Petawawa or Beachburg’s quaint Whitewater Inn.

As Above So Below: Diving and climbing in Kenora

If you and the boys have a shared passion for deep water and rocky heights, this itinerary affords a mixture of depths and summits in Northwestern Ontario’s Sunset Country. Travel to the scenic shores and mountain landscapes of Lake of The Woods and the bustling town of Kenora. You’ll be treated to some of the finest views of what has been referred to as “the sixth Great Lake,” stay in a beautiful forest cabin or on a houseboat, spend a day learning to dive, and climb to unbelievable viewpoints.

Book your group stay at the Lakewood Park Cabins to sleep amongst the spruce on Lake of the Woods. The cabins have tons of natural light, warm wooden accents and luxury amenities like a private wood-fired sauna. Consider reserving a couple cabins if you have a large group. At the end of each day, cool off with a sunset dip at the nearby Keewatin Beach.

Take a lesson with the divemasters at Green Adventures to discover scuba diving in the deep and mysterious Lake of the Woods waters. They offer introductory dive courses, as well as guided dives and rentals, to cater to all levels of scuba enthusiasts. Then, spend a dryland day exploring Kenora. Hike the 6.5 km Camp Lake Overlook Trail to see some steep rock formations, wooded valleys and picturesque lakes. Finish with a trip to Lake of The Woods Brewing for an IPA and delicious tacos.

Get elevated with a guided climbing tour from Next Level Adventures. The guides will provide everything you need to connect with nature while taking on a variety of rock climbing challenges in a ridiculously scenic setting. Tours take between four and seven hours, depending on the group.

If diving, hiking, climbing and staying in a cabin doesn’t feel like quite enough — or if you’re looking for a truly unique basecamp — rent a houseboat from Houseboat Adventures and be the captain of your own ship on Lake of the Woods. You and your buddies will have the ultimate chance to explore nearly 15,000 islands, beaches and bays. You can fish, cook great barbeque meals, ride the waterslide and more, all aboard your own fully equipped houseboat.

Surf & Turf: Wakesurfing and hiking in Sudbury

Are you and your friends well-rounded boardsport guys? Do you enjoy a rip behind a huge wake as much as a full day of trekking in the woods of Ontario’s north? If so, this is the perfect itinerary for a few days in and around Sudbury.

Stay at Pine Falls Lodge on secluded Murray Lake. Just an hour from Sudbury, you’ll find a range of rustic log cabins and new cottages to suit you and your group. Choose from the larger White Pine Cabin, or book the Cedar Cabin for groups of six or less. Woodstoves, firepits and lake access will put you at ease after a day of outdoor adventure.

Project Wake offers great wakesurfing programs on Sudbury’s best bodies of water, including Long Lake, Ramsey Lake and Clearwater Lake. It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned lake veteran or you’ve never stepped foot on a board in your life, their pro instructors, high-end wakeboats and proven equipment make for a perfect day. Experience the thrill of surfing on a lake with a crew that’s dead set on making sure you enjoy your wakesurfing adventure.

A private tasting at Sudbury’s Crosscut Distillery is a great way to wrap up a day on the water. After a sampling of some local vodkas, rums and moonshines, head to dinner at The Alibi Room. Their elegant atmosphere, small plates and extensive whisky list will allow you to reminisce about your recent adventures in comfort.

For a longer trip, finish off a few days of wakesurfing, hiking and lakeside hanging with a guided canoe trip on the historic French River. Black Feather Wilderness Adventure Company offers all-inclusive three-day canoeing adventures capturing the French’s greatest highlights.

Ski, Sled and Après in Sault Ste. Marie

If high-altitude mountain sports, full-throttle trail riding, and great food and drink in a woodsy chalet sound like your ultimate adventure combo, this is the trip for you. Grab your friends, pack your snow gear and pile into the car and head north to discover “real” winter in Sault Ste. Marie for unforgettable experiences of downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, drinks, live music and rustic accommodations.

Searchmont Resort is located 45 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie, with rugged Canadian Shield topography and a true middle-of-nowhere feel. It’s home to some of Ontario’s best downhill skiing, with over 700 vertical feet of drop, 26 groomed runs and three chairlifts. The mountain gets blasted with an annual snowfall of over 3 m per year, topped up with Ontario’s best snowmaking system. Ride chill groomers or drop into the glades on runs like 5-0 Trees. The mountain offers rental services and lessons.

Stay right on the hill in a ski-in, ski-out mountain chalet. The chalets have everything you need for a rustic winter vacation and can accommodate groups of up to 11 skiers and riders. After a long day on the mountain, soak in the apres scene at The Kiln with cold drinks and hot food around a giant fireplace.

Looking for a more secluded cabin with a different adventure option? Book a forest cabin or chalet at the Mountainview Lodge, just minutes down the road from Searchmont. This is the perfect place to spend your nights after days at the hill. Fuel up in the morning with a hungry man platter at their on-site restaurant. They also offer guided snowmobile tours. Choose from a 4- or an 8-hour, all-inclusive journey that will take you deep into Ontario’s snowbelt with a local guide.

Be sure to take a night to experience Sault Ste. Marie, too. Stay at the Water Tower Inn and enjoy on-site amenities like a sauna, hot tubs, pools and fully licensed pub.

For a taste of local craft beer, grab a flight of lagers from Northern Superior Brewing. Try their signature crisp North Superior Lager, or the distinctive Northern 11 PM black lager. Don’t forget to grab some cans to go. The Whisky Barrel is a vibrant Scottish pub with great drinks and live entertainment. While you’re downtown, check out Peace for a gourmet meal and high-end drinks or Ernie’s for a classic diner experience.

If you and your group are looking to leave the driving to someone else, consider booking a Snow Bus. They offer full shuttle services to and from Searchmont Resort, so you can relax without worrying about transport. 

Plan Your Next Big Group Trip Now

Whether it’s an upcoming wedding, a new accomplishment or simply time to get the old gang back together again—call up your pals, message the chat or send a mass email and start planning an incredible wilderness adventure for you and your friends to look forward to.

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.