Tripping Resources

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Helpful Split Rock articles

Here is where we share random things about canoe-tripping.

Canoe tripping on a dime

This is how to get into canoe tripping without breaking the bank. We at Split Rock started canoe tripping without spending much money. Tim passes along advice on how to get into canoe tripping without a giant upfront cost.

Free backcountry GPS navigation that's already in your pocket

Learn about a cheap and easy way to to access exact GPS location outside cell-range using only your phone.

Split Rock's planning tools

Split Rock Outdoors' Trip Planning Template (Google doc)

SRO created this template and have used it over the years for collaboratively planning canoe trips. While responsibilities can still be delegated, with an online document like this, everyone has access to current information about the trip. Ensure you are logged into a Google account and then click "File" then "Make a copy" (Please ignore the "Request edit access" button).

Split Rock Outdoors Group Discussion Guides

There is a lot that should be discussed before groups head down the river. Here are some ideas:

Map tools

Custom Google Maps

There are a bunch of paid custom map-making services out there, but we find Google's free My Maps service has all we need. You can draw out custom route lines, drop named pins wherever you like, and know the exact distances within any route you make. The embedded maps throughout the Trips section of this site are created in Google's My Maps.

Jeff's Maps

These are the best maps for the best (mostly Ontario) canoe routes. They were called "Unlostify" for a spell, but now they are back as Jeff's Maps, or "Maps by Jeff". These poly maps are perfect for on the water and you don't have to protect them at all, but they also offer the full map online so you can use it for planning if you don't want to buy the physical map. You should buy it though.

Algonquin and Beyond

An interesting mega-project by a fellow named Cody who spends a lot of time in Algonquin Park. He's working at cataloguing and reviewing every backcountry campsite in the park. You'll also find many canoe trip reports and a digital version of Jeff's Algonquin map. There is a paywall, but it's the most reasonable price we've ever seen for a site like this.

Ottertooth

This site mostly provides trip resources, maps and a discussion board for the Temagami area. If you're headed that way, this is the best resource available. Someone put in an incredible amount of work on their custom maps that link to each other.

Trip report sites

Canoe Daddy

This guy has been on a lot of lakes and rivers throughout Ontario. If you're doing an Ontario river, check out his incredibly detailed trip reports with plenty of pictures. They will really give you a great sense for what the route will be like.

Voyageur Tripper

A collection of trip reports, trip guides and blog articles about various canoe-tripping topics. The trip guides are incredibly detailed and very helpful for planning, but only some of them are free. The rest are behind a paywall with not as reasonable a price as the above.

The Terra Incognita

Erik, the author of this site, has been on a lot of amazing trips. If you're planning a trip and you need some information on a route, check to see if this guy's done it. Just like this site, he shares the key information, but also several lengthy trip journals.

Trip research

Canadian Canoe Routes

This is the most popular canoe-tripping community site in Canada. It's packed with trip reports and route information, but since this site has been active since the early 00's, it's overloaded with content and looks a bit dated. However, a search through the message boards to find information is often very helpful. And, if you can't find it there, make a new post, ask a question and someone will answer it promptly. It's like the friendly Reddit of canoe tripping.

cartespleinair.org

While this site may make Craiglist look modern and stylish, it is packed with a stunning amount of trip planning content. Many serious trippers share their tripping knowledge, maps, and resources about hundreds of river and lake trips in Canada. The site mostly centres around Quebec rivers, but still has many others. The detail of the trip guides is fantastic.