It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of our annual Boreal Canoe Trip (July 10-12th, 2026), and all tickets will be refunded to the same card they were purchased through TicketWeb.We are sorry to all who've made plans and were looking forward to a magical weekend together.This is due to unforeseen circumstances. We are extremely disappointed, but everything is okay. We look forward to the future and hope to see you at Harvest festival in September. Please subscribe to keep in touch.
July 10 @ 11:00 am - July 12 @ 8:00 pm
Boreal is a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive canoe trip with a twist! We travel from Toronto by bus and canoe to a hidden waterfall for an intimate gathering, swimming, and real connection in nature. Our trip includes transport, canoes, meals, performers, and more.
🌲 Why Join Boreal?
Easy access: Meals and round-trip bus from Toronto included.
Quick paddle: Three per canoe for a short, gentle route to camp.
Swim spots: Waterfalls, floats, and upstream exploring.
Community feel: Inclusive campers, shared tasks, friendly and respectful.
Environment: It’s Canada at its finest. We leave the area undamaged and cleaner than found.
About Boreal: A Group Camping Trip with a Twist
Boreal, a canoe camping trip, departs from Toronto as a group in school buses to a beautiful river. Upon arrival, we paddle canoes upstream to a secluded campsite, where we build the weekend around a Saturday night like no other.
Our destination is part of the Canadian Shield, the oldest rock on the face of Earth. It is an undeveloped hardwood forest with rocky shores on the river’s edge, waterfalls, and rapids.
We’ll enter a wilderness where you may spot wildlife, including cranes, birds of prey, deer, beavers, turtles, foxes, the endangered Five-Lined Skink (Ontario’s only native lizard species), and the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.
This is the perfect destination for magnificent swimming and camping, and a place we will all honour for its wild, majestic beauty. Boreal brings open-minded, diverse, and inclusive people together to share unforgettable outdoor experiences and forge lasting bonds around music, community, and celebration.
Trip Itinerary
Friday
11:00 AM: Keele Subway Station parking lot (520 Indian Rd). Check in, sign the waiver, and throw your bag in the truck. The key to Boreal is leaving and arriving together. We break way up at the Waubaushene Truck Stop.
3:00 PM: Arrive at the river and unload the truck. Grab your bag from the pile, find two others or a third, and grab a canoe, paddle and lifejacket. For safety, consider taking off your shoes and moving the canoe entirely in the water so it doesn’t tip when getting in. Paddle upstream with your life vests on.
4:30 PM: Set up your tent anywhere around the kitchen rock woods (practical), up hill in the forest midway (Sat night fire), to nooks towards the roaring waterfalls (scenic).
8:00 PM: Dinner, campfire (if no fire ban), meeting friends, exploring camps, and stargazing.
Saturday
Noon: Brunch. After, you can swim, float, canoe, and hike up the river to see more waterfalls. Enjoy a dreamy afternoon beside a basin where the water gently swirls from a waterfall.
7:00 PM: Dinner
9:00 PM: Enjoy a night by the fire and under the stars.
Sunday
Noon: Brunch, pack, clean area, and swim.
3:00 PM: Everyone in their canoes.
4:00 PM: Picnic break by tuck shop.
8:00 PM: Back at Keele Subway at sleepy sunset. Double-check for bags and gear before you go!
Camping Meals
Meals are provided. Please consider joining a meal prep task group, our most social task group.
Clothing: Hat, light coloured short/long-sleeve shirts, pants, shorts, socks, jacket, etc.
Eatware & Snacks: Plate, bowl, cutlery, and healthy snacks.
Toiletries+: Sun, rain, ear plugs.
Bug protection: 25% picaridin, deet, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Footwear: closed-toe & fast-drying shoes. Naked feet at canoe launch.
Essentials Only: Space is limited yet check the weather and be prepared.
Biodegradable soaps only (no chemicals or phosphates)
Stainless steel or plastic containers (absolutely no glass)
Trash bag (packout, clean the area)
Task Groups and Agreements
Boreal Canoe Trip task groups help the trip run smoothly and offer a great way to connect with others. To join the trip, you must register and sign up for a task group using your Boreal ticket code. Activities include meal prep/cleanup, boat/site setup, breakdown, and other support. We’ll follow up with details about the trip and your role before departure. Boreal also requires you to agree to water safety (life vest, no diving, and no swimming before the top chute), environmental respect (leave no trace, biodegradable soaps, stay on paths), and proper camp management (secure gear, tidy canoes).
We honour all those who have dreamed along, swum in, and paddled moonz-ziibi and commit to protecting this ecosystem for future generations.
