Deep Wilderness Canoeing in Wabakimi Provincial Park, Ontario

The Trip

We will venture deep into the lakes and rivers of the unforgettably beautiful, wild, remote unspoiled Wabakimi wilderness area for a week and fly out. En route from Minneapolis, we will visit Lake Superior lighthouses, waterfalls, and more as we travel by van. We will fly well into the wilderness and fly out. Only a few percent of the people who visit the Boundary Waters Canoe Area/Quetico Provincial Park area experience this more vast and amazing wilderness area. For five days and four nights our Kevlar canoes will follow routes used for centuries by First Nations, fur traders, explorers, and adventurers.

With a wide range of habitat we could see beavers, otters, moose, eagles, loons and maybe even a caribou — all in a truly spectacular setting. We might even hear wolves. “Primordial forest” and “crazy as a loon” will take on concrete meanings.

Our trip will immerse you into this wilderness. We will make time for photography, fishing, and swimming. We will have considerable flexibility with our schedule. You will have memories of sunsets over lakes as smooth as glass and morning mist rising from lakes at sunrise. If we are lucky, there could be northern lights; but there will be no city lights to interfere with stargazing as the campfire dies down. 

Day 1: We will get acquainted as we drive north from Minneapolis to take in several attractions along the North Shore of Lake Superior and have lunch. That day, we will visit Grand Marais, dine and continue on to Thunder Bay, ON to spend the night. Lunch and dinner are not included in the trip cost.

Day 2: After breakfast at our hotel, we may be able to sightsee in Thunder Bay before proceeding to our outfitter after a picnic lunch overlooking Lake Superior.  We will stay at a modern cabin on Mattice Lake south of Armstrong Station, ON. We will wrap up briefing and orientation, check personal gear, and distribute group gear. Everyone will be carrying some group gear and food in a bear can. On Sunday afternoon, those interested who have not done it online can buy a fishing license from our outfitter. We'll double-check everything and do any final packing.

Days 3-8: We will load gear and canoes onto a float plane and fly in to a lake well into the wilderness.  Then we will paddle, portage, and camp as we head  toward our pick-up lake. We will see many lakes and rivers but few, if any, people. Our small group will be following the same routes and trails that have been used for centuries by wilderness travelers. Wildlife -- flora and fauna -- will be all around us. We will make time for some photography as we travel. Each day, after making camp, there will be time to fish, swim, and soak in the beauty surrounding us.

Day 9: All too soon, our outfitter will pick us up after lunch by float plane and fly us back to Mattice Lake by late afternoon. That night, we will stay in the same cabin at Mattice Lake. 

Day 10: We will retrace our steps all the way back to Minneapolis with lunch overlooking Lake Superior — the last meal included in the trip cost — and dinner (not included in the trip cost) en route.

Getting There

We will meet at a hotel near the Minneapolis airport. We have arranged a room block, but rooms are not part of the trip price.  You will want to arrive by Saturday night since we will be leaving first thing Sunday morning. Our first night of the trip will be spent in the Thunder Bay and our last night will be spent at Mattice Lake near Armstrong Station, Ontario, which is about 150 miles north of Thunder Bay. The trip price includes round-trip transportation by van from our Minneapolis hotel. The van will depart our hotel near the Minneapolis airport by 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. We will be in Duluth before noon and spend the afternoon sightseeing along the North Shore of Lake Superior. We will enter Canada (and Eastern Time) Sunday evening. A passport is required to enter Canada and to return to the U.S.  Trip insurance is advisable.

At the end of the trip the next Saturday night, we will clean up and stay in a modern cabin overlooking Mattice Lake.  On Sunday morning, we will drive back to Minneapolis and have lunch en route to our hotel near the Minneapolis airport where we should arrive by early evening.

Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member and advises that it is OK to do so.

Accommodations and Food

We will have a picnic lunch (the first trip meal) during our sightseeing on Sunday and will have dinner that night in Grand Marais, which is not included in the trip cost. Our Thunder Bay hotel provides breakfast.  We will have a picnic lunch on Monday at the Terry Fox memorial outside of Thunder Bay, which overlooks Lake Superior. Dinner that night will be at our cabin.

We will spend the first Sunday night in the Thunder Bay, ON and will stay in a modern lakeview cabin Monday night before we launch, and again the last Saturday night of the trip. The rest of the time, we will be camping deep in the wilderness. We will be camping in established campsites when possible, and we will strive to "leave no trace" at all times. Plan to work together and do your share to make camp, prepare, and clean up meals. The trip leaders really like to cook and to eat, so count on interesting, varied, and nutritious meals. There will be plenty of food. If participants wish, they can bring additional between-meal snacks. There will not be a lot of extra space in the bear cans.  We will do our best to accommodate vegetarians and medical dietary restrictions. Those with challenging restrictions may be asked to bring some of their own food and the means to prepare it to supplement group food. Please contact the leader if you require food accommodations.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member and advises you to do so. You may also want to consider travel/evacuation insurance and verify how your health insurance applies to this trip.  We are going to be in a remote area and evacuation may be difficult and will be expensive.

Trip Difficulty

Physically this will be a moderately difficult trip. We will be on flat water, including river portions of the trip. The current is generally minimal, and we will portage around any rapids or waterfalls. Participants should have some experience with both canoeing and camping. Other than an occasional fire ring, there will be no facilities where we camp. Participants must be able to manage a canoe in at least light wind and small waves. Portaging will be required. As a group, we need to be able to move gear and canoes across a portage -- it could be a few yards, a quarter mile, or more. We will take the time it takes to get this all done together.  Plan to continue to assist and do your share until everything has been moved.  The leaders expect everyone to work cooperatively as a group in completing portages.

All of your gear and your share of group gear must fit in a single waterproof pack, plus a small day pack for items needed while in transit (e.g. raingear, water, etc.) in order to make portaging manageable. We will spend about six hours most days in transit, i.e. paddling and portaging. This may vary depending on wind, weather, and other factors. If weather conditions are favorable and our group wishes to do so, there could be a layover day. The leaders will finalize the trip details based on the capabilities and experience of the group. Since we are flying out, we will be able to adjust the route and distance to conditions during the trip.

Equipment

Kevlar canoes, paddles, and PFDs are included in the trip cost. You are welcome to bring your own paddles and PFD’s if you wish. Cooking and water purification equipment and camp tarp(s) will be provided. We will have a group first-aid kit for emergencies. However, you will need a personal first-aid kit with prescription medications, and OTC items like Band-Aids, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. We plan to provide one bear canister per participant for group food, individual snacks, etc.

Participants must bring their own water bottle/bladder, mug, bowl, spoon, tent, sleeping bag, and camping gear. Temperatures can range from the 40s (F) at night to 70s (F) in the daytime. A good two-piece waterproof rain suit is a must as are shoes on the water and portages that are closed-toe and tie, buckle or clasp. You will want quick-drying wool or synthetic clothing that can be layered. Participants must have a 70 to 115 liter dry bag with shoulder straps to carry personal gear, with enough space left to hold some group gear and a bear canister (9" diameter x 13" length). It is possible that we will need to remove some deadfall or other portage trail obstacles. Packable leather work gloves may be useful for this task and for making camp. 

Detailed equipment and gear lists will be provided to participants after they are accepted for the trip. With some advance planning, most gear can be rented on an individual basis. The leader has some gear that can be loaned. Please contact the trip leader if you have any questions.

References

Website:

• Click on the WABAKIMI & BEYOND tab at http://www.wabakimi.org/project

Journals:

• The Boundary Waters Journal
• Vol. 20 No. 4 Spring, 2007, Page 72. Exploring Wabakimi by Chris Williams.
• Vol. 23 No. 2 Fall, 2009, Page 91. Wabakimi Time Machine by Rob Jessekring.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about the conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club. 

The focus of this trip is to enjoy the wilderness, and also discuss issues relating to the environment and the wilderness. Wabakimi Provincial Park was created long after fly-in outpost cabins and lodges were established by private entities and are a good example of cooperative multiple uses for a vast wilderness area.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from Parks Canada.