12 Can't-Miss Chip Stands Near Favourite Canoe Routes

It’s easy to work up an appetite paddling and portaging your canoe through Ontario’s wilderness waterways. Happily, many of the province’s classic canoe trips are en route to another Ontario staple: the chip truck. Yep, canoes and chips go together like fries and gravy.

Chips, better known as French fries, reportedly arrived on our shores in the late 1700s after Thomas Jefferson sampled them during a trip to France. They didn’t become widely popular until the 1940s, however, which is when a distinctly Canadian dish also appeared in countryside snack bars. Poutine may be a Quebec creation, but today it’s a favourite après paddle indulgence here in Ontario as well.

Case in point: I can’t wait to get back up to the Mattawa River—as much for the incredible scenery and exciting rapids as the mountain of crispy fries stacked high with squeaky cheese curds I’ll sit down to at Turcotte’s Chip Stand in Mattawa.

Deep-fried spuds-on-wheels are a Northern Ontario mainstay, but canoe trippers looking for something a bit different can choose from a wide variety of roadside culinary delights—from tasty tacos to barbecue pulled pork or vegan Buddha bowls.

Curb your carb cravings at these fine food trucks and chip shacks scattered across Ontario’s canoe country.

Mattawa River – Turcotte’s Chip Stand

Perhaps it’s no surprise that the most magnificent poutine to ever grace my fork is served just across the river from Quebec, or that it arrived at the end of an unforgettable canoe trip.

The Mattawa is a designated Canadian Heritage River with fun whitewater rapids, spectacular waterfalls and a rich history spanning thousands of years as a key waterway link between Lake Huron and the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers. Indigenous peoples and later European explorers, fur traders and loggers travelled up and down the Mattawa, navigating its challenging rapids and no doubt working up a prodigious appetite.

I can relate. Following in the paddle strokes and footsteps of the Voyageurs, I spent five weeks paddling from Lake Superior to Georgian Bay, then up the French River, across Lake Nipissing, and finally down the Mattawa. The Voyageurs had lard and beans.  I, thank goodness, had Turcotte’s Chip Stand.

Plan your paddle

Rocky and rugged for nearly all of its 64 kilometres, the Mattawa River offers an exciting weekend adventure for intermediate whitewater paddlers. Plan three days to enjoy the descent from Trout Lake, just east of North Bay, to the river’s confluence with the Ottawa River at the town of Mattawa. Read our Guide to Canoe Tripping on the Mattawa River for more details.

Outfitting and guided trips: Algonquin North Wilderness Outfitters provides rentals and shuttles for one-way trips, as well as complete trip outfitting or fully guided beginner trip packages.

Visit Turcotte's Chip Stand

One of the very first chip trucks in Ontario, Turcotte’s Chip Stand has been an institution in Mattawa for over 80 years. Since founders Lavina and Maurice Turcotte hauled a converted Model T Ford into downtown in 1944, their chip-frying recipes and trade secrets have been passed down through three generations.

Menu Highlight: Classic poutine

Killarney – Herbert Fisheries

Nestled among the spectacular white ridges of the La Cloche Mountains, Killarney Provincial Park offers some of the country’s most breathtaking canoe tripping. Just down the road, the nearby village of Killarney is home to Herbert Fisheries, ranked among Canada’s top 10 purveyors of fresh-caught fish and chips. Two fabulous reasons to put this Ontario destination on your canoes and chips bucket list.

On my last visit, I planned a May canoe trip so I’d have a front-row seat to the vibrant green of newly opened tree buds and the dazzling yellow of barren strawberry blooms carpeting the forest floor. I paddled a dozen of the Park’s famously clear, sapphire-blue lakes and marvelled at the panorama of ancient, heavily glaciated quartzite mountains from the wind-scoured summit of Silver Peak.

Plan your paddle

Easily accessible from the Bell Lake Access Point on the east side of the park, David Lake is one of Killarney’s more popular destinations and perfectly situated for a paddle-and-hike trip to the Park’s highest summit, Silver Peak. Plan for a three-day trip, basecamping at one of the fine canoe sites on David Lake and allowing a full day for the 10-kilometre return hike to the peak. Read our Guide to Killarney Canoe Tripping for more helpful trip planning tips.

Outfitting: Killarney Kanoes offer shuttles, lightweight canoe rentals and complete canoe trip outfitting from their location at Bell Lake Access Point.

Visit Herbert Fisheries

When I first started paddling in Killarney, Herbert Fisheries occupied an iconic red-and-white school bus parked on the dock overlooking Georgian Bay, right next to the boats bringing in the day’s catch of whitefish or lake trout. Although the family-run business moved into a permanent building in 2014, you can still dine dockside on the freshest lake-to-fryer fish you’ll find anywhere.

Menu Highlight: Beer-battered whitefish with slaw and crispy fries

Madawaska River – Country Fried Chip Wagon

Coursing through the hinterland highlands of Eastern Ontario, the Madawaska River offers unparalleled whitewater canoeing and kayaking for paddlers of all abilities. Even better, it’s wonderfully accessible and home to two outstanding paddling centres—Madawaska Kanu Centre and Paddler Co-op—where you can learn the basics or enhance your skills.

The classic Madawaska experience for novice to intermediate whitewater paddlers is a downriver day trip on the “Lower Mad” southeast of Quadeville. This hamlet is more than just a crossroads you’ll pass through en route to and from the river; it’s also home to a local landmark, the Country Fried Chip Wagon. With a diverse menu including chip truck staples like pogo (corn dog on a stick) and poutine, the converted RV amid a constellation of picnic tables is a happy sight for hungry paddlers.

Plan your paddle

Put-in and take-out for the Lower Madawaska day run are located at Aumonds Bay and Buck Bay, respectively, accessible from a well-maintained forest service road that continues from the end of Addington Road. The Lower Mad can be run from spring through fall; you’ll encounter class I-III rapids with evocative names like Rifle Shoot, Split Rock and Raquette.

Outfitting and lessons: Paddler Co-op can provide shuttles, equipment rental and complete outfitting for Madawaska River trips, as well as whitewater instruction and camping at their riverfront base in Palmer Rapids.

Visit Country Fried Chip Wagon

Located at the intersection of Letterkenny, Quadeville and Addington roads, this chip wagon may not have a website, but you sure can’t miss it (it is listed on Google Maps, at least). If you’re starving, “poutinize” your meal with homemade coleslaw served alongside gravy-smothered, fresh-cut fries and cheese curds.

Menu Highlight: Letterkenny wrap (crispy chicken wrap with a spicy zing)

Muskoka River – My Neighbour’s Kitchen & Grill

Local Muskoka paddlers avoid the region’s trio of cottage- and powerboat-festooned lakes, opting instead for the tranquil waters of the Muskoka River. The lively town of Bracebridge serves as both a culinary and canoeing hub for your Muskoka explorations.

Work up an appetite on the half-day paddle to view scenic South Muskoka Falls or plan a more ambitious overnight journey down the lightly travelled South Branch of the Muskoka River from Baysville. Either way, don’t miss refuelling on the Filipino and Canadian fusion fare at My Neighbour’s Kitchen & Grill.

Plan your paddle

The waterfalls and rapids of the Muskoka River are at their most impressive in spring or early summer. I love the throwback feel of paddling the South Branch from Baysville to Muskoka Falls (two days), scouting rapids, searching out portages and settling into a seldom-used campsite.

Outfitting and guided trips: Liv Outside offers equipment rentals, self-guided and guided half-day trips from their storefront on the Muskoka River in Bracebridge.

Visit My Neighbour's Kitchen & Grill

From her cheerful red wagon, Arlina brings together the best of Filipino and Canadian cuisine, creating menu items such as Mama Inday’s lumpia and poutine topped with pork adobo or beef bistek.

Menu Highlight: Chargrilled chicken inasal

Algonquin Park, Highway 60 – Taco Stop | Din’s Fresh Fries

At 7,635 square kilometres in size, Algonquin Park boasts over 2,100 kilometres of maintained canoe routes and a chip stand near virtually every major access point. Most paddlers access the Park from Highway 60, passing through the food truck Nirvana of Huntsville along the way.

Planning an Algonquin Park canoe trip can be as easy—or as elaborate—as you please. First, I decide whether I’ll be revisiting a favourite route or discovering somewhere new. Then I like to unfold a good old-fashioned printed map of the park and look for anything that catches my eye: an island-dotted lake, a meandering creek, a wildlife-filled wetland or a backcountry waterfall. The possibilities are endless, and the options for a delicious post-paddle meal are just as exciting.

Plan your paddle

Popular Highway 60 access points include Canoe, Smoke, Rock and Opeongo lakes. Backcountry camping reservations are required for those looking to spend the night in the park. All reservations can be made online using the Ontario Parks reservation system.

Outfitting: Algonquin Outfitters provides lightweight canoe rentals, delivery and trip outfitting with locations at Oxtongue Lake, Canoe Lake and Lake Opeongo. The Portage Outpost is another convenient option right on Highway 60 near the Park’s West Gate.

Where to eat

With so many mouthwatering options, it can be hard to make just one roadside stop. Here, then, are my top two picks—one for when you arrive, and one for when it’s time to head home.

• Din’s Fresh Fries in Dwight satisfies big appetites with smash burgers, jumbo hot dogs or chicken fingers. If you’ve got room for more, order their deep-fried cheesecake.
• The Taco Stop lured me in with their cheerful lakeside location in Huntsville, then won me over with a vegetarian-friendly menu that includes tacos, burritos and funky fries, served with gravy cheese, pulled chicken and taco toppings.

North Channel – Lucky Snack Bar

Lake Huron’s North Channel is an exquisite natural wonderland for open-water paddlers. Southeast of the community of Spanish, paddle offshore to explore and camp among the secret passages and smooth-rock campsites of Eagle and Fox Islands. Just beyond, the beautiful Benjamin Islands are a hot spot for sailors.

Island-hopping east beyond Sagamok Point rewards with a chain of small bedrock gems strung like an unakite necklace off the coast of La Cloche Provincial Park. Check the forecast carefully and be prepared for wind and potentially wavy conditions. If you’re venturing out here, the only luck you should be counting on is Lucky Snack Bar in Spanish.

Plan your paddle

Launch from McBean Harbour (parking fees collected) and plan two to five days for an out-and-back exploration of the islands.

Guided trips: Explore the area by sea kayak on a beginner-friendly five-day guided trip with Black Feather.

Visit Lucky Snack Bar

This old-school chip shack with a pointed roof and expansive menu has stood on the main street in Spanish since 1969. Alongside deep-fried delights, Lucky Snack Bar also serves homemade ice cream sandwiches, making this your one-stop nosh on a hot summer day.

Menu Highlight: Poutine with Lucky’s signature chicken gravy

French River – The Voyageur Chipstand

The country’s first designated Canadian Heritage River, the French River has for centuries formed a key link in a historic waterway connecting the upper Great Lakes and the rest of Canada. Today, easy access, beautiful campsites and friendly whitewater mean the French River offers some of the best canoe tripping in Ontario.

Flowing 110 kilometres from Lake Nipissing west to Georgian Bay, the river’s three channels make for plenty of rewarding route options. One of my favourites has the added incentive of hitting The Voyageur Chipstand in sleepy Noëlville on your way to or from the put-in.

Plan your paddle

For the perfect three-day introduction to the French River, I love the exciting rapids and stellar campsites of the Wolseley Bay to Highway 69 route (40 km). With five to seven days, you could embark on the portage-free 18 Mile Island loop and return to your start at Wolseley Bay. Read our Guide to Planning a French River Canoe Trip for more help.

Outfitting and guided trips: The Lodge at Pine Cove on Wolseley Bay offers canoe rentals and delivery, as well as canoe trip and accommodation packages. Alternatively, join a novice-friendly guided French River whitewater canoe trip (four days) with Black Feather or MHO Adventures.

Visit The Voyageur Chipstand

With the scent of freshly grilled meat and greasy potatoes wafting from its scarlet walls, The Voyageur Chipstand serves up portable feasts worthy of its namesake fur traders.

Menu Highlight: Voyageur burger

Algonquin Park Northwest – South River Chip Stand

The northwestern corner of Algonquin Park receives fewer visitors than the busy Highway 60 corridor, making this a great place for a quiet escape. Paddle in from Kawawaymog Lake to access the island-studded waters of North Tea and Manitou lakes.

The road less travelled doesn’t mean you have to go hungry. The South River Chip Stand serves up moose-sized portions with a unique bonus. Every customer pulls from a deck of cards when ordering; get the Joker and you eat for free.

Plan your paddle

North Tea Lake boasts a rare combination of breathtaking sandy beaches, loads of portage-free paddling, picturesque islands and tons of gorgeous backcountry campsites. With two distinct arms and nearly 70 campsites to choose from, it’s possible to find privacy and seclusion even on busy summer weekends.

Outfitting and guided trips: From their waterfront location on Kawawaymog Lake, Voyageur Quest Outfitting has everything you need for your backcountry canoe trip, including rentals and complete outfitting packages. Guided trips are also available.

Visit South River Chip Stand

Deep-fried delights at the South River Chip Stand include mac and cheese wedges, mushroom cups and battered pickles.

Menu Highlight: XL poutine

Petawawa River – The Shed

Careening through a natural fracture in Algonquin Park’s bedrock landscape, the Petawawa River is a thrilling whitewater canoe trip for intermediate to advanced paddlers. I love the variety, scenic beauty, history and deeply wild feel of this untamed river—whether it’s watching wolves from a portage trail or wondering at the fractured canoes strewn below the Pet’s unforgiving rapids.

Accessible from the Lake Travers Access Point on the east side of the Park, the lower Petawawa is a classic, three-day whitewater canoe trip (50 km) down to McManus Lake. Second only to running the river’s miles of thrilling class I-III rapids is celebrating a safe finish at The Shed in Petawawa. Meet you there?

Plan your paddle

Go in late summer to enjoy optimal flows, warm water and fewer biting flies. Check the water level before your trip; at flows below 15 cubic metres/second, many of the rapids become shallow rock gardens. Reserve backcountry campsites online using the Ontario Parks reservation system.

Outfitting and guided trips: Rent whitewater canoes, arrange a shuttle, and get trip planning advice from Algonquin Portage or Algonquin Bound Outfitters. Less experienced? Join a four- to five-day guided trip down the Petawawa with Black Feather, MHO Adventures or Esprit.

Visit The Shed

Occupying a tiny, bright yellow shack with a nautical mural befitting its East Coast-themed menu, The Shed serves up wildly popular specialty poutines, Newfie fries and delicious donairs. Order the Atlantic Bubble to serve a couple of boatloads of paddlers.

Menu Highlight: Halifax donair and poutine

Limberlost Forest & Wildlife Reserve – Fox in the Henhouse | Bangkok Thai

For a delightful canoeing day trip just minutes from Huntsville, look no further than Limberlost Forest & Wildlife Reserve. Perhaps it’s the proximity to Algonquin Park—or just good fortune for solitude-seekers—that this 10,000-acre private forest reserve remains an all-but-undiscovered gem.

Visitors enjoy free day use of the Reserve’s sparkling lakes and more than 70 kilometres of trails, with the option to stay overnight at rental accommodations or campsites. The money you save on park fees can fund a food truck crawl through downtown Huntsville. Now that’s what I call a win-win.

Plan your paddle

Explore the shores of Solitaire Lake, the Reserve’s largest, or launch your canoe at Buck Lake to paddle a chain of small lakes linked by short portages and beaver dam lift-overs. You’re likely to have these peaceful back lakes all to yourself. On-site canoe rentals are available.

Where to eat

The food truck scene in Huntsville has exploded in recent years, thanks to the town’s status as the bustling gateway to Algonquin Park and Northern Muskoka. Both of my top picks are situated next to Canvas Brewing Co., just steps from the Muskoka River and downtown.

• I have a confession: sometimes I’m just not in the mood for chips. When I’m craving a colourful carton of stir-fried veggies and a killer mango salad, I head to Bangkok Thai for authentic Thai dishes down by the river.
• For an elevated chip wagon experience, it’s hard to beat Fox in the Henhouse. Follow up a gourmet butter-brined fried chicken or crispy tofu sandwich and poutine with a fresh, handmade doughnut.

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