Boreal is a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive weekend adventure that begins in Toronto and takes you by bus and canoe to a breathtaking wilderness waterfall for an intimate music gathering. Join us July 11–13 in Muskoka, Ontario, for an unforgettable weekend of music, waterfalls, and connection. Your ticket includes transport, canoe rentals, meals, exceptional music and sound, and more.
The 2025 Performer Lineup includes Ali Black, Barroness, Ben Cormier, Congadogg, Derek MTM Bristol, Lex, Luis Figueroa, NUNI, Red Lion, SpazzMonk, and The Foolish Lover. ❤️ They’ll be selecting the finest in house, bass, and ambient music.
Meet at 11 AM on Friday, July 11 at the TTC Keele Station lot (520 Indian Rd). Check in at the table, sign the waiver, and get a name tag. Put big bags on truck and keep your small bag and water for the bus.
Safety – always wear a life vest in canoe, stay sober, and avoid alcohol during water activities. Never swim by the chute above the falls, or at night, and never dive. Beware of rattlesnakes. Each Danger sign along the river has a 2-way radio for EMS. Please inform Justin of any relevant health conditions.
Lost your ticket? Ask help@ticketweb.ca for a resend.
Taking the school busses up is best for bonding as a group. But if driving up, send all your names ASAP and licence plate to Justin. E-transfer $33.90 to justin@alieninflux.ca.
Boreal, a canoe camping trip, departs from Toronto every July. We travel north as a group in school buses to a beautiful river in Muskoka. Upon arrival, we paddle canoes upstream to a secluded campsite, where we build the weekend around a Saturday night dance party 🕺 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 wildlife might be spotted, including moose, beavers, turtles, foxes, the endangered Five-Lined Skink (Ontario’s only native lizard species), the venomous Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, and Bald Eagles
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.
Video Playlists
Task Group Signup (Mandatory)
Boreal runs on teamwork. Everyone joins a task group before the trip and helps out during the weekend to make it great for all.
11:00 AM: Keele Subway Station parking lot (520 Indian Rd). Checkin, sign-waiver, and throw your bag in the truck. If there’s time, grab a sandwich at The Lunchbox, Pho T&T, Subway, or Tim Hortons. The key to Boreal is leaving and arriving together. Pace drinks. We break at the Waubaushene Truck Stop outside Muskoka.
3:00 PM: Arrive at the river and unload the truck. Grab your bag in the pile, find two other people, and grab a canoe, paddle and lifejacket. Put the canoe entirely in water so it doesn’t tip when getting in. Take off your shoes, and pack the canoe. Paddle upstream with your life vests on.
4:30 PM: Set up your tent on flat, open ground, anywhere from the kitchen rock, the dance floor midway, to the top waterfall basin. Get dressed for dinner time as clothing is the best bug repellent.
8:00 PM: Dinner, campfire, meeting new friends, exploring camps, and stargazing.
Saturday
Noon: Brunch
You can swim, float, canoe, and hike up the river to see more waterfalls. Dreamy music begins in the afternoon.
7:00 PM: Dinner
9:00 PM – 4:30 AM: Dance by the fire and under the stars.
Sunday
Noon: Brunch, pack, and swim.
3:00 PM: Everyone in their canoes.
4:00 PM: Picnic break by tuck shop.
8:30 PM: Back at Keele Subway at sleepy sunset. Don’t forget anything!
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 (either 25% deet or 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus). Check, and have your body checked, even though the risk of black-legged ticks in Muskoka is low.
Footwear: closed-toe & fast-drying shoes. Naked feet at muddy launch.
Biodegradable Products: Use only products on soil and not near water.
Essentials Only: Space is limited yet check the Weather and be prepared.
No Glass: Pour into stainless steel or plastic.
Photo Gallery
We honour all those who have dreamed along, swum in, and paddled moonz-ziibi.
For assistance, you can Email Justin, or join our Facebook Group to ask questions and connect with fellow campers. Thanks to everyone who shares helpful vibes, pics, and stories there. Supporting one another ensures a smooth and enjoyable trip for all. Don’t forget to check the #borealcanoetrip tag on Instagram for highlights. Tap the “Going” button on the Facebook Event to let friends on Facebook know.
