Paddling — Sea & Coastal.
The Massasauga Provincial Park's Moon Bay Loop is a portage-free 25 km sea-kayak route that begins at Pete's Place on Blackstone Harbour, paddles west to Woods Bay at the mouth of the Moon River, and loops north through dozens of islands before swinging east around Moon Island. Beyond the loop, an experienced paddler can take on the 70 to 80 km full circumnavigation through Georgian Bay's South Channel and outer coast.
The brief.
The Massasauga is backcountry-only with 135 water-access campsites, open late April through the third weekend of October. Reservations through Ontario Parks are required.
Closer to Honey Harbour, the inner-island channels of Georgian Bay Islands National Park around Beausoleil Island carry sheltered touring water — boat-only access from the Parks Canada Operations Base. The 30,000 Islands archipelago of the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere extends north from Port Severn to the French River.
Open-water paddling on Georgian Bay is exposed to strong winds and cold water; gusts funnel through the islands and landing options should be planned in advance.
4. places.
- 01
The Massasauga Provincial Park — Moon Bay Loop
25 km portage-free sea-kayak loop from Pete's Place on Blackstone Harbour through Woods Bay, Moon Bay, and dozens of islands.
- 02
The Massasauga Provincial Park — full circumnavigation
70 to 80 km loop combining Spider Bay, Moon Bay, the South Channel, and the outer coast over four to seven days.
- 03
Georgian Bay Islands National Park inner-island channels
Sheltered touring around Beausoleil Island and the surrounding 62 smaller park islands.
- 04
30,000 Islands archipelago
Open-water sea-kayak terrain from Port Severn north to the French River inside the UNESCO Biosphere.
Today's read.
Temperature (3.1°C) below the typical range and outside the typical season window.