Guided trip: Paddle the North Channel
The North Channel is a body of almost-land-locked water that sits at the top of Lake Huron, east of Sault Ste. Marie. Like nearby Georgian Bay, the channel boasts sheltered passages, hundreds of islands and inviting coves, but unlike its neighbour, it’s relatively quiet, which is one of the reasons why Caribou Expeditions leads a sea-kayaking trip here. The 80-kilometre, six-day tour starts at the town of Thessalon and, after a safety talk, the group heads east, sometimes along the shoreline and sometimes hopping from island to island. Highlights include the North Channel Islands Nature Reserve, a provincial park with a beauty beach and lots of wildlife, and the Mississagi Delta Nature Reserve. Campsites are often in beach-backed coves where the clear Lake Huron water begs for a dip. The site on Tonty Island is so good that the group spends two nights enjoying the sandy beach and granite outcrops, while day tripping into the Mississagi area. The trip ends at Blind River.
When: August 19 to 24
Cost: $1,025
Company: Caribou Expeditions
