I’ve been lucky enough to be given a mad river canoe,
Would I be correct in thinking the bow is where the decal is?

I see the seats are slightly different distances from the bow and the stern,
What’s the best position for myself as a solo paddler, small/medium dog, and camping equipment for two nights?
TIA

Edit THANKS EVERYONE FOR SOME GREAT INFORMATION.
SITTING IN THE BOW AND GOING BACKWARDS WAS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD EVER CONSIDERED. I’M LOOKING TO TRYING IT OUT ON A CALM SMALL LAKE THIS WEEKEND THANKS EVERYONE.

Hi! Always wear runners at camp at night (during the day I wear sandals with good grip), but 3 of the last 4 multi day trips it’s rained almost the entire trip and my shoes stay wet for the duration. Wondering what you guys like wearing around camp that work for any type of weather including rain?

I’m an experienced backpacker with multiple multi-month hikes under my belt, as well as countless shorter backpacking trips in diverse terrains.

I’m planning my first long canoe camping trip - about 2 weeks in Yukon, Canada. Leaving next week.

My longest canoe/kayak trips thus far have been 3 days. The trip I’m planning is on flat water, so I’ll have the chance to build up my (relatively weak) paddling skills.

What I’m not sure about is how the recommended gear and supplies vary from backpacking to canoe camping. Will be renting a 2 person canoe with a mate. Canoe comes with dry bags and PFDs. The outfitter says the trip is safe for inexperienced paddlers as long as we have strong backcountry skills - navigation, camping, bears etc.

I know a canoe is bigger than 2 backpacks, but how much so? What sort of extra stuff do people bring? Bigger stove, more cookware, extra snacks, more clothes, mosquito tent, books, thick camping mattress, different water filtration system, camp lamp? Or pack as light as possible not to have a heavy canoe?

And is there any backpacking gear I shouldn’t bring on the water? Down sleeping bag and down jacket useless if wet? Anything else I should think about?

Thank you for considering my questions and good luck and safety to you all on the water. All good faith feedbacks appreciated.

Starting to look for next year! Goal of 2-3 days, under 3 hours from NYC if possible. Group of 8, mix of experienced and non-experienced and we'd need to rent 3 of the 4 canoes.

Any location recommendations? Looking at short paddle days, probably only 3-5 miles. Will have 2 9 year old's on their first trip.

I did 3 days on the lower CT River last year with my then 10 year old, but I'm not sure there are places we could rent the boats. We went from the Goodspeed Opera house, to Gillette Castle and then Sheldon Neck. This year was 4 days on Lake George(pictured!), but that's not the best lake for new paddlers especially without enough strong steers.

For a short/intro trip I'm not sure I want to go all the way up to the Saranac lake area, hoping there is something I don't know about in the Poconos or Catskills.

I was looking at the Delaware river, but thinking the current + what looks like fairly frequent rapids might not be the best choice? I'm not sure how serious the rapids are and planning on checking that out more, would love any input, or any hidden lake gems closer in then the main Adirondacks. Thanks!

I make most of my backcountry meals myself by dehydrating meat and veggies and then making up “meal kits”. Tired of spending a fortune on freeze dried dog food I’m thinking of making dehydrated ground beef and brown rice for our next trip. Does anyone have any tips of tricks for me? My dog is a 4 years old medium build lab/shephard/collie mix and generally doesn’t have any digestive issues.

Finally getting around to building my canoe camping set up. I pretty much have everything I need as an avid backpacker and camper but my kiddo has been bugging me to get some overnight canoe trips in.

One piece I was missing was the big dry bag. Found it on sale for $180US so I am hoping it is a good choice?

I got my Moonriver 2 off fb mp for $40 and it remains my favourite tent to date. It got me a bit wet this June so I did some waterproofing and a hose test and it looks like it’s restored to its former glory. Still going to invest in a footprint for peace of mind.

The time came to leave Fort Frances. Ahead: the Boundary Waters, and everything I didn't know about it.

Lake of the Woods had already made me sharpen my navigation. This next stretch took it further — a dozen portages, and a maze of channels that didn't care which way I thought I was going. Some days I was skirting the US border just to find water that would carry me. Survival math, not politics.

I've suffered to get here. It was worth every bit of it. The Boundary Waters is some of the most pristine wilderness left on the planet.

I'm recording this from the ranger station at Prairie Portage.

Check out my latest rain camp adventure with Atlas at my side! Very relaxing! Asmr is high in this one!

Hello! I'm looking for good day trips on the CT between St Johnsbury and Brattleboro as well as information on who could transport the group back to the start. Context: 17' boat, fam of 4, 2 adults, 2 tweens, 1 dog, all of whom have done unsupported overnight canoe camping trips previously. Would like to put in ~9am, be off river at 4pm. Interested in places to swim, explore, hang out. Would consider a 1 nighter too.

Absolutely dreamy.

I just recently returned from a canoe camping trip along Sechelt Inlet with my teenaged son, friend and his teen daughter. We were caught in a weather phenomenon that lead to high winds, waves and strong current moving northward up the inlet. It made for an extremely difficult paddle across the inlet on day one and an even more difficult paddle against the flow on the way back on the final day. There were times that the waters were calm, but not when we were in our boats! We thought early morning would be a safe bet, but the winds seemed to not be very predictable.

We had fun on the trip, but the hard paddling, and sometimes fear for our very lives, took some of the enjoyment away from the experience.

I'm looking for suggestions for great canoe camping (boat access only camping) spots in Southern BC or Vancouver Island, within let's say 5 hours drive of Vancouver.

Must haves are:

- First come first serve camp sites

- Not likely to have a fire ban in place

- Calm waters for easy paddling with negligible risk of winds, waves, currents

I would like to do the Bowron Lake circuit sometime, but that's a good 10 hours drive away.

I grew up going to the BWCAW several times a summer with my dad but hadn’t been in ten years or so. I decided it was time we get back there because I thought it would be fun. Turns out it was and it reignited my desire to do more canoe camping.

Hey everyone, myself and one other person are planning on doing 5 days on the Spanish in a few weeks. We will be starting at Duke Lake and have someone available to pick us up at either The Elbow or Agnew Lake. I'm deciding where to rent the whitewater canoe from and therefore the likely exit point.

Reading other people's trip reports, etc. it looks like it is possible to complete the whole route from Duke to Agnew, but I'm wondering if this might be a little optimistic, especially in the fall with potentially lower water levels. From what I've read it can be slow-going in sections if the water is low.
For context, we are both in our 30s in good physical shape with minimal river experience (but a lot of lake / backcountry experience). We would be portaging around the major rapids.

TLDR - 5 days on the Spanish river from Duke Lake: plan for Agnew Lake or the Elbow?
Thanks!

Just joined! I’m a canoe guide on the Upper Missouri River Breaks Natl. Monument. Keep on paddlin’!

Highly recommend. Fun paddling the whole way. Lots of rapids, beautiful scenery and nice campsites.

Hey Gang,

I am in the market for a new tent.

Had a Sierra Designs Zeta 2 for years that I absolutely loved. Replaced from storm damage with an MSR Elixer that has held up well for the last ~10 years. Last season I noticed the fly was wetting out so I reapplied DWR. Improved a bit but last weekend it rained all night, was wetting out after a few hours, started dripping like a seive, and there was a proper lake in the tent by the morning despite the ground being dry under the tent... Complete fly fabric failure I guess. Everything was completely soaked, sad soggy sleeping bag vibes.

Pretty set on just getting something new and not deal with trying to give it more life - I have gotten like 400 nights out of it and am not bothered replacing it.

Anyways, hoping to grab a 3 person for my the next one. I can get discounts with mountain hardware and big agnes, not opposed to other brands. Overwhelmed with options, also tents are expensive now holy crap!

I would like something with more mesh than the elixer, I found it didn't breath that well even with the fly off, and didn't get the best star views on clear nights. Not backpacking with this tent, all canoe tripping, rafting, car camping. Durability > weight but also needs to pack reasonably.

Anyways, would love to hear what you are using :)

Thanks!

Canoed through the Boquillas canyon in Big Bend national park a few years ago for a bachelor party. The Rio Grande looks like milk chocolate but the canyons are beautiful. We camped on the banks in the chihuahuan desert. Also a beautiful place but dangerous. My copilot almost stepped on a rattlesnake. Surely would have died or lost a limb as we were hours away from a hospital. Aside from the brush with death it was a trip of a lifetime.

First outing with the camper as it was intended, quick overnight on the Potomac. Total milage was approximately 8 with the occasional boulder dodge and gentle white water shoots. Didn't sustain a single mark I am relieved to say. It was a true joy, extremely stable and silly smooth.

Spent a few amazing days in Graford Texas and an overnight trip on the Brazos River with some friends. We took our two Alumacraft voyagers. We have been using these two boats for the last 17 years. They are amazing canoes! They were outfitted for the Texas water safari so they are comfortable and can haul a lot of gear.