7 Best Kid-Friendly Canoe Trips in Ontario

Nothing brings together all the quintessential summer pleasures—swimming, campfires, warm breezes and long days—like family canoe trips in Ontario. With loads of fantastic routes to choose from, there’s a trip to entertain and enrich every member of the family, from tots to teenagers.

Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend or a week or more, plan a kid-friendly route with manageable portages and a flexible schedule that gives young paddlers plenty of free time for swimming and exploring. Shorter daily distances offer a chance to slow down and reconnect with each other and the natural landscape.

For new canoeists, going with an experienced outfitter is a fun, worry-free introduction to family canoe tripping. Even better, family-focused group trips give kids a safe, inclusive space to paddle, play and explore with others their own age.

Read on to discover some of the best canoe trips with kids in Ontario. The routes outlined below are packed with amazing campsites, spellbinding forests and falls, and a just-right amount of challenge to give your whole family a great sense of accomplishment at the take-out.

Best Family-Friendly Canoe Trip Routes

Diamond-Obabika Loop, Temagami

Few places have as rich a tradition of overnight canoe trips with kids in Ontario as the Temagami region. Perfect for families with more experienced young trippers, the classic Diamond-Obabika Loop is one of the most popular canoe routes in Temagami—and with good reason. This five- to six-day loop (72 kilometres) is packed with gorgeous campsites, superb swimming in beautiful clear-water lakes, and not too many portages. Short hikes to spectacular old-growth forest and lookouts add variety and keep active kids on the move.

Begin your trip at lovely Sandy Inlet on the north end of Lake Temagami. The launch is located on the Camp Wanapitei turn off Red Squirrel Road, a passable gravel road that leaves Highway 11 about 10 kilometres north of the town of Temagami. Paddle and portage west into Sharp Rock Inlet and Diamond Lake. Search the shores for pictographs here and on Wakimika Lake before entering the twisting meanders of the Wakimika River, a gently flowing waterway that offers great wildlife watching en route to Obabika Lake.

Settle into one of the fine campsites at the north end of Obabika Lake and spend a full day exploring the Wakimika Triangle Trails. Today, this stand of 380-year-old red and white pines is protected within Obabika River Provincial Park, but in 1989—threatened by logging—this peaceful grove was the site of the province’s largest act of civil disobedience. It’s a marvellous place to be awed by nature and share lessons on the importance of conservation.

Finish your loop with a portage back into Lake Temagami. If you have time, hike to the lookouts atop Devil Mountain or Ferguson Mountain on your return paddle north to Sandy Inlet.

Plan your trip

• Backcountry camping permits ($32.50 + HST per night) are required in Obabika River Provincial Park. Permits are available from local outfitters or through Ontario Parks’ online reservation system.
• Temagami Outfitting Company offers lightweight canoe rentals, vehicle shuttles, complete outfitting and trip planning services, as well as all-inclusive guided trips.
• Cheerful rooms, great meals and a convenient location on Highway 11 just north of Temagami make Smoothwater Outfitters and Lodge an ideal pit stop before your trip; they also offer rentals, shuttles and complete outfitting services.
• Consider spending your last night out on the lake at Ojibway Family Lodge, an idyllic retreat nestled in the Northwest Arm of Lake Temagami.
• Read our Guide to Canoe Tripping in Temagami for more planning tips.

Spanish River

Many families looking for a kid-friendly whitewater canoe trip put the popular French River at the top of their wish list, but there’s an equally fine, wildly underrated option just an hour west of Sudbury. Its under-the-radar status means the Spanish River sees only 10 percent of the backcountry use of the French, with none of the lodge and cottage traffic.

For paddlers with some previous river running experience, the Spanish is an ideal first moving-water multiday. Most of the rapids are of the learning variety, and all are easily portaged around. Even better, there are lots of spacious campsites and loads of fantastic swimming opportunities for young trippers.

Trips of three to 10 days are possible, with access points at Duke Lake, The Elbow, Bisocasting, and various stops along the Via Rail. Taking the train to the put-in is a wonderfully memorable way to start your family canoe trip.

Choose the East Branch of the river (accessible from Highway 144) for a chain of pretty lakes followed by easy whitewater fun. If you have more advanced whitewater skills and are looking for a challenge, take the train to Biscotasing to start your trip on the wilder West Branch of the river. For a shorter trip, train into The Forks—where the two branches meet—and make a three- to four-day descent to The Elbow, focusing on the gentle-to-moderate whitewater of the river’s middle section.

Plan your trip

• Whether you’re considering a shorter trip or the full 160-kilometre, 10-day Spanish River experience, discover Everything You Need to Know to Plan a Spanish River Canoe Trip.
• All campsites are first-come, first-served; backcountry camping permits ($9/adult or $4.50/youth per night) can be purchased online or from local outfitters up to two weeks in advance of your arrival date.
• Offering trip planning assistance, canoe rentals, outfitting and vehicle shuttles, Spanish River Outfitters is your go-to for trips ending at The Elbow. Their base at Fox Lake Lodge is the perfect place to spend the night if you arrive or finish late.
• If you’re making the full Spanish River descent to Agnew Lake, get in touch with Agnew Lake Lodge for rentals, outfitting, shuttles and cabin rentals before or after your trip.
• Not ready to go alone? MHO Adventures’ Family Adventure on the Spanish River is a four- or seven-day all-inclusive guided adventure complete with whitewater instruction to get you rapid-ready.

Northern Lakes Route, Quetico

“Are we there yet?” Yes, Quetico is a long drive from Southern Ontario—especially if you’re travelling with kids. But this is legendary canoe country, and families who make the journey to this iconic park west of Thunder Bay will not be disappointed. Quetico Provincial Park is renowned for its rugged beauty, gorgeous lakes, majestic waterfalls and virgin forests, as well as its true wilderness feel. You won’t find any portage markers on trees or backcountry campsites on a map here.

Canoeing opportunities are endless in Quetico—it’s possible to disappear into the woods for weeks without seeing another soul. Families can experience the Park’s beauty and solitude in as little as three days, but if you can, give yourself at least five days to disconnect and settle into the natural rhythms of paddle-swim-sleep-repeat.

The small town of Atikokan—along with a handful of family-run lodges and outfitters—provides ready access to the Park’s northern entry points. Launch at the ranger station at Beaverhouse Lake for a linear trip that links some of Quetico’s prettiest lakes along its northern edge, and travels west to east to take advantage of prevailing west winds. You’ll enjoy Quetico, Jesse, Maria and Batchewaung lakes on the way to Pickerel Lake’s Stanton Bay access point.

Alternatively, families with younger kids can explore some of these lakes on a shorter trip starting and ending at beautiful Voyageur Island Lodge on Nym Lake.

Plan your trip

• For complete gear outfitting and shuttle needs, Canadian Quetico Outfitters is conveniently located on Highway 17 east of Atikokan.
• Tucked at the Park's northwestern corner, Branch’s Seine River Lodge offers everything from partial gear outfitting to full backcountry meal plans, shuttles and accommodations. They’ll even let you pitch your tent free of charge at their resort before or after your Quetico canoe trip.
• Foster family connection and discover the beauty of the Quetico region with Voyageur Wilderness Program's Quetico Classic Family Canoe Trip & Lodge Adventure. This all-inclusive, all-ages package includes a three-day canoe trip, island lodge stay and voyageur canoe ride.
• First-come, first-served camping reservations are available online or by phone up to five months in advance of your arrival date ($11/adult or $5/youth per night).
• Discover more Quetico canoe routes and outfitters in The Ultimate Guide to Quetico’s Best Canoe Trips.

David Lake Loop, Killarney

With over 50 dazzling blue lakes nestled among the white quartzite ridges of the La Cloche Mountains, the toughest part of your family canoe trip in Killarney Provincial Park might be choosing just one route! Most paddlers enter the Park along its southern edge from Highway 637, which also provides access to the charming lakeside village of Killarney.

The easy David Lake loop can be paddled in just three days, but plan on an extra day or two if you want to combine your canoe trip with a hike up to Silver Peak—the highest point in the La Cloche mountain range. Begin your trip at the Bell Lake access point, located off Hwy 637 east of the George Lake Campground, and paddle through Three Mile, Balsam, David, Clearsilver and Johnnie lakes to complete this loop.

Kids will love the rock point campsites framing these scenic lakes, as well as the spectacular views from the lofty, bald summit of Silver Peak. Pick up the trail from the Boundary Lake portage on David Lake and be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for the full-day hike (10 kilometres).

Plan your trip

• Conveniently located at the Bell Lake access point, Killarney Kanoes offers canoe and camping equipment rentals.
• Situated just west of George Lake Campground, Killarney Outfitters has a well-stocked campers’ store, as well as canoe rentals, complete outfitting packages, shuttles and trip planning assistance.
• Begin or end your trip in comfort at the spectacular Killarney Mountain Lodge.
• Campsite specific reservations are available online or by phone up to five months in advance of your arrival date ($11/adult or $5/youth per night).
• Discover five more family-friendly routes in this Guide to Canoe Tripping in Killarney.

Wolf Lake-Chiniguchi Loop, Temagami

Tucked in the southwest corner of the Temagami canoe area, the lightly travelled Chiniguchi Waterway Park is the gateway to the majestic old-growth red pines of Wolf Lake and the kid-pleasing waters of Paradise Lagoon. Surrounded by steep rock walls of granite and quartz, this enchanting swimming hole is a brilliant aqua blue and fed by rushing falls—truly paradise on a hot summer day.

Families with younger kids—or less ambition for portaging—can visit the lagoon on a two- to three-day, out-and-back paddle from Matagamasi Lake to Wolf Lake. Allow at least four days for the more challenging loop trip north to Chiniguchi Lake and back through a series of smaller lakes linked by portages—including the notoriously muddy 900-metre trek into Laura Lake. En route, you’ll visit Wolf, Dewdney, Chiniguchi, Laura, Evelyn, Irish, Bonesteel and Wesell lakes, finishing with a paddle down the northeast arm of Matagamasi Lake.

Both trips begin at the Matagamasi Lake access point where there is free parking. From Highway 17 east of Sudbury, turn north onto Kukagami Lake Road and follow this good gravel road 27 kilometres to Matagamasi Lake Road and the launch. Camping permits are not required for Chiniguchi Waterway Park or the surrounding area.

Plan your trip

• Located on nearby Kukagami Lake, Sportsman’s Lodge Wilderness Resort offers cozy accommodations, shuttle service and canoe rentals, as well as trip planning assistance and complete or partial outfitting.

French River

Easy access and friendly whitewater make the French River one of the best family canoe trips in Ontario. Paddlers of all ages love the classic Canadian Shield landscapes of windswept pines, and the polished pink granite campsites and warm water are perfect for swimming. This is also a great trip for connecting kids with Canada’s rich canoeing heritage; the French was a major travel route for First Nations, fur trappers and loggers, and is the country’s first designated heritage river.

Flowing 110 kilometres from Lake Nipissing west to Georgian Bay, the French River offers three channels and more than 280 campsites, making for plenty of rewarding route options—from short-and-sweet downriver runs to longer loops exploring the river’s sprawling, island-studded delta. Numerous access points and outfitters—all readily accessible from Highway 69 just north of Parry Sound—keep logistics simple.

French River canoe routes are suitable for novice paddlers—there are few portages, and all rapids can be portaged. In summer, the current is gentle enough to allow easy upstream paddling. Your biggest challenge is likely to be paddling into the prevailing west winds that funnel upriver from Georgian Bay.

For a three-day canoe trip, family favourites include the exciting rapids and stellar campsites of the Wolseley Bay to Highway 69 route; or the easy flatwater of the French-Pickerel loop. Looking for a longer family getaway? With five to seven days you could embark on the portage-free 18 Mile Island loop, or complete the classic Figure 8 loop from Hartley Bay down to Georgian Bay.

Plan your trip

• The most commonly used French River canoe access points are French River Supply Post and Marina and Hartley Bay Marina for trips west of Highway 69, and the Lodge at Pine Cove for trips on the upper French east of Highway 69. All of these outfitters offer canoe rentals, overnight parking and trip planning assistance.
• Bookend your wilderness escape with a night or two of pampered comfort in the beautiful cabins at the Lodge at Pine Cove.
• Black Feather’s French River for Families trip is a four-day guided adventure on one of the most scenic sections of the French River, starting at Wolseley Bay and finishing at Highway 69.
• French River Provincial Park operates on a campsite-specific reservation system ($9/adult or $4.50/youth per night). Reservations can be made up to five months before your arrival date.
• Check out our Ultimate Guide to Planning a French River Canoe Trip.

Moose River

For a canoe trip unlike any other, bring your family on a journey through Canadian history on the Moose River. This unique adventure combines an exploration of the James Bay Lowlands—a wildlife-filled northern estuary on Ontario’s forgotten saltwater coastline—with the colourful cultural and human history of the Moose Cree people and the fur trade.

With its lazy current, easy swifts and toddler-friendly sandbar camping and swimming, the lower Moose River is perfect for kids of all ages. Join a guided trip to simplify logistics and maximize learning—MHO Adventures’ all-inclusive Moose River Family Adventure includes a ride on the historic Polar Bear Express train, four days of canoe camping on this wilderness river, and authentic cultural experiences in the Indigenous community of Moose Factory on the shores of James Bay.

Board the train in Cochrane and ride north through stunted black spruce and tamarack before disembarking at Moose River Crossing in the middle of the boreal forest. From here you’ll make your way downriver, splashing in the shallows and searching for fossils by day, and scanning the night sky for northern lights after dark.

In Moose Factory, you’ll have the chance to take a motor boat trip out to the river mouth on James Bay, home to incredible marine wildlife that you won’t see anywhere else in the province. Young animal-lovers may spot seals basking on the river’s sandbars, and pods of ghostly white beluga whales swimming in this southernmost tip of the Arctic Ocean.

Plan your trip

• Book your seven-day Moose River Adventure with MHO Adventures.

Tips for Canoe Tripping with Kids

Written by Ian Merringer

Children can be a challenge on canoe trips. But it’s not all aggravation and sacrifice. The truth is, even toddlers can teach seasoned trippers much about how to enjoy being out there. It’s not just their simple needs and infectious enthusiasm. By adapting to their schedule and abilities, you might adopt a welcome change of pace. Cut those kilometres by three quarters, schedule in some rest days (note: they’re not for resting, they’re for exploring).

Just remember, you aren’t out there to “toughen them up.” Canoe tripping might be good character building for them, but that should happen by accident, over time. For now, the name of the game is having fun. It works best if you start with yourself.

Take the Right Toys

Is a dipstick bubble blower the perfect toy for a canoe trip? Yes. Kids can while away the hours in the canoe blowing bubbles into the breeze. You’ll appreciate it even more when you realize you forgot the dish soap. Glowsticks also liven up any evening and are handy nightlights in the tent. Less perfect toys include sponge-like stuffed animals, but sometimes kids will have the last word. Don’t forget the watercolours and sketch pad.

Sweet Surrender

The law of the forest holds that there’s nothing wrong with buying good behaviour with sweet snacks when introducing kids to canoe tripping. In fact, the importance of having easy access to caloric therapy makes the wearing of a fanny pack almost okay. Fill your fanny and open it often.

Give Them a Map

Consider how much more kids will get out of exploring the wilderness when they can get a sense of the shape of that wilderness. “What’s around the next bend?” “Check the map.” (Note: maybe keep a copy for yourself.)

Scavenger Hunters Always Find What You Want Them To

What better way to spur kids to explore and learn about their new campsite than to give them a list of things to find? It works every time.

Give Them Their Own Pack

At some point, you’ll start to resent being an equipment manager for your canoe-tripping children. Lighten your load and teach them responsibility and tripping skills by rejecting the communal packing ethos. Give them their own backpacks, large enough for them to pack and manage what they need, to make their trip warm, dry and fun.

Handle the Kerfuffle with a Duffle

When you trip with kids, the number of items you need during a day explodes (diapers, snacks, hats, bathing suits, toys, books, sand toys, rock collection). You’ll drive yourself crazy getting it all in and out of tightly wound canoe packs. Give yourself the luxury of having a capacious, zippered sack at your feet for all the day’s inessentials.

Ready, Set, Run

So, you’re sensing a hissy fit is imminent. How long have they been sitting in the canoe? Maybe they just need to stretch their legs. If you see a beach, a scramble route to a lookout, or a portage trail, then cross the lake to let them run wild. Impromptu Olympic events are gold.

Everyone Helps Around the Campsite

Even three-year-olds can collect tinder to start a fire. How about finding a tent site? If you want them to really enjoy it, they’ll have to feel part of it.

Base Camp Every Other Day

Much of the work at a campsite revolves around setting up or breaking camp. Spend two nights at each site and plan relaxed day trips for the day in between. You’ll move hours from the “work” column into the “relax” and “enjoy” columns.

Fishing can be Frustrating

The truth about fishing (if such a thing exists) is that kids younger than seven will spend more time watching you wrestle tangled line and free snagged hooks than they spend actually fishing themselves. If the children are few in number, or older, it can be a highlight, but don’t rush it.

Minnow/Frog Nets Are Captivating

Though annoying on the portage trail, sturdy nets for catching minnows and frogs earn their keep during the hours kids spend exploring nature on their own. Establish some animal husbandry baselines and send them on safari.

Hammocks Are Actually Soft Swings

A silk hammock packs up not much larger than a fist and can serve for hours as a swing set or gymnastics prop. Just don’t expect to get to lie in it yourself.

Take a Journal Notebook

How many photos of your kids do you have? And how many journal pages on which they’ve written (or dictated, or sketched) how they felt about the first time they paddled down a river, cooked over a fire, slept in a tent, had a morning skinny dip?

Enjoy your family adventure

No doubt you have a lot to teach them about being out there. If you are open to change and can see the world through their eyes, you might just learn a lot from them as well. Plan a canoe trip on one of these incredible routes in Ontario, and get learning together.

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.