For our inaugural multi-day canoe camping trip, where we take our canoe on the water and camp along the way, we wanted a fairly easy route that would allow us to get our feet wet, so to speak, in canoe camping techniques.
As experienced hikers and backpackers, we have our systems nailed down in that domain. We have the gear we need, we know what to expect, we know how to deal with the unexpected.
We're new to canoe camping. We have most of the gear we think we'll need. We've been practicing the basics of paddling this summer but we have so much to learn before we head out into the backcountry where we intend to do multi-day, portaging trips in the future.
The Rideau Canal with its mixed urban, rural and natural environment; slackwater system (no river currents due to the locks); easy camping access; and just a few hours from our home in Montreal, seemed like the perfect introduction to canoe-camping. A historial and iconic Canadian activity, in an historically significant Canadian place.
For this particular trip, our first on the waterway, we are starting in Kingston and paddling as far north as we get in approximately 8 days.
We're on the Canal for a good time. Not the partying kind, but the "explore part of our national history and natural treasures" good time.
We anticipate traveling 20 kilometres or so per day but that will depend on how much shoreline we explore and what kind of diversions we take. We plan to camp at the lockstations which are very reasonably priced (in 2020) at $5.01 per person per night.
We're really excited to learn about canoe camping while paddling this route.
We’ll be using the expertly written and illustrated PDF document, Watson's Paddling Guide to the Rideau Canal by Ken Watson as our primary resource for this trip. http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/paddling/guides.html
