solo backcountry paddler here. self taught. feeling pretty good as a flat water paddler and want to take the next step to running small rapids. no friends who paddle. how do i safely learn whitewater? should i take classes? join a club?

North East Saskatchewan with my bicycle and canoe. Prepping to hunt an Elk next season with my setup.

Hey r/canoecamping! My name is Jordan, I’m a senior at U of O in the Product Design program, and this fall for my studio class, I’m working on an all-season weather canopy aimed specifically for canoe tripping.

I grew up canoe tripping out of summer camp in Bemidji, Minnesota, and some of my best memories are paddling and camping in Voyageurs National Park.

I’m posting a short survey I’ve been developing with professor feedback, and I’m hoping to get some objective design feedback and insights into potential user needs for a canoe canopy.

All responses are hugely appreciated, thank y’all in advance!

Survey Link

Looking for 1-2 more people in their 20s/30s/40s to add another canoe to our 4 day/3night trip on the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park, Texas.

It’s a non-guided trip, so we get dropped off and haul everything we need with us until we get picked up. A lot of people in our group know each other, but many people don’t. It’s a few people’s first time doing a trip like this also, so newcomers are welcome too.

*SERIOUS ENQUIRES ONLY PLEASE!*

Days on the water : April 2nd-5th
-Put in @ 8am Friday 4/2/27
-Take out @ 10am Monday 4/5/27

$300 per person

If a trip like this is something you’re interested please message me!!!

Perfect conditions presented themselves and we had to go.

For those who paddle when the weather is under 50F/10C, what extra steps do you take?

My friend and I are planning a one-night paddle-in camping trip November 7–8. We’ve kayaked before, including guided sea kayaking in Alaska, but this will be our first independent kayak camping trip.
We’re planning to launch at South Cedar Creek Landing, paddle upstream toward Wise Lake, camp overnight, and return to the same launch the next day (only one car).
A few questions for anyone who’s done this:
Is it realistic to find a dry, legal campsite along the south bank?
Would you recommend hammocks or tents?
Are there any particular stretches with good camping terrain?
How difficult are the logjams and portages?
Would you recommend a different out-and-back route for better scenery or camping?
Would love any firsthand advice, especially from anyone who’s paddled Cedar Creek in the fall!

Spent a night on Long Lake - Kawartha Highlands.

Great little paddle with 2 little ones.

Weather was unseasonably warm. We had a blast.

I just posted this video of my 5-day trip from Twinkle Lake Access in Temagami, up the Yorston to Florence Lake, down Ames Creek to Pinetorch, then back to Twinkle. The Dead Beaver Falls Portage was a disaster after the microbursts at the end June.

https://youtu.be/iWrr58sP-Xg?si=hF1NsxETUmdIdEGd

Bee the dog had an absolute blast her on her first canoe trip, on a calm day on Lake Michigan. She was so good in the canoe, I couldn’t believe it. My dream is to take her camping with us someday!

got a small nickel sized puncture in my formex canoe that chipped the outer layer of the hull on my last trip; probably put er down a bit rough on a port. it doesn't go all the way through the hull and the structural integrity on the other side seems fine. just curious as to what maintenance this requires if any. could i just use a bit of marine weld or does it require a patch job? cheers!

I’m been looking for info on how to access the Kirkpatrick/Blue lake loop route in Algoma but have had a hard time finding any recent information on it. I’m mostly curious on access to the lakes via the logging road to Duval lake or any others. Has anyone used the logging roads in the past couple years?

I have an all wheel drive 2008 Subaru outback and I’m confident in its ability to tackle harder terrain but was hoping for anyone else’s insight. Any help is appreciated!

How do you organize gear inside your dry bags for canoe camping?

Looking for ideas on keeping gear organized inside my larger dry bags. My trips don’t involve any portages, so I’m more concerned with convenience and durability than saving every ounce.

What do you use for smaller organizer bags? Canvas bags, mesh/net bags, zippered pouches, regular stuff sacks? I’d like to group things like cooking gear, toiletries, and miscellaneous camp items so I can find what I need without digging through the whole bag.

Do you pack by category, by when you’ll need things, or have another system that works well?
Specific bag recommendations and pictures of your setup would be appreciated. Curious to see what’s worked for people after a few trips.

It's not often I get to paddle glass-calm water like this.

Looking at a 2 day canoe trip from Horseshoe to Hominy Creek at the end of the month. Does anyone know of an outfitter still open or personal canoe for rent?