Red Toque Multi-Adventure

Ride

Roll along quiet paved and gravel roads and bask in the freedom of the endless skies of Northern Ontario’s rugged Canadian Shield wilderness; paddle back in time on a heritage river and discover her hidden sites; follow in the footsteps of Indigenous peoples and fur traders along historic hiking trails and portage routes.

The Red Toque Multi-Adventure can be approached in various ways – consider dedicating one day to each activity over a weekend or combining different activities for a unique day’s adventure, for example, cycling and hiking, or paddling and biking. 

Bikepackers looking to go the distance on a multi-day excursion can opt to do the Red Toque Tour as a loop, cycling one way and paddling, portaging, camping and hiking back. Check out the Outfitters and Guides section below for assistance with gear, and see our Google map or Accommodations section for campsites and places to stay along the way.

Cycling

For detailed cycling information see our 86 km Red Toque Tour Cycling Experience. 

Paddling

The Mattawa River

One of the most captivating features of this Canadian Heritage River is its rich history, a tapestry of peoples and cultures. Indigenous peoples paddled and portaged these waters for thousands of years before welcoming the first French fur traders in the 16th century, after which the river became the main fur trade route west for centuries.

The land and water features rival the river’s history – waterfalls, rapids, eddies, peaceful flatwater and inland lakes; pre-Cambrian granite cliffs, ridges formed by glacial moraines and shores lined with white and red pine, balsam fir and hemlock.

Must-see Sites

Six-metre waterfalls will greet you at Paresseux Falls, and take you back in time as you trek on portages trodden upon for thousands of years.  Gaze in awe at the rapids, the chutes and the sheer height of the 70-foot granite cliffs at Talon Gorge. Be at peace on multiple flatwater lakes like Turtle and Pine Lake with their echoes of loon calls. Gaze into an ancient Indigenous Ochre Mine from the water and be transported back in time.

Skill-level Required – Beginner to Advanced

The river is accessible to almost any skill level during the summer months. The current is generally calm and the mix of river and flatwater lakes allow for easy paddling, while swifts, rapids and whitewater appeal to those with the experience and skill, all of which can be easily bypassed using the adjacent portages.

Most portages are easy to moderate, with none longer than 500 m; there are one or two steep, rocky and more challenging portages, most notably the 280 m Portage de Talon and the 160 m boulder-strewn Portage des Roches.

Note that during the spring melt-off, water levels will be much higher and currents faster leading to more rapids, whitewater and near-freezing water temperatures. When water levels are low, more submerged rocks will appear closer to the surface, so keep an eye out for rocks.

All boat safety laws must be followed for your and your family’s protection.

Suggested Routes

The Mattawa River flows east and stretches for 65 km between North Bay on Lake Nipissing and the town of Mattawa (which in Algonquin means “the meeting of the waters”), where it meets up with the Ottawa River.

The route options are many, but here are a few popular routes. There are 13 well-established portages from Mattawa to Trout Lake to avoid swifts and rapids. See our map for detailed descriptions of each portage.

• Olmstead Park launch on Trout Lake to Explorer’s Point, Mattawa – 65 km, 3-5 days.
• Samuel de Champlain Park to Mattawa – 38 km, 3-4 days.
• Blanchard’s Landing to Chant Plein Lake – 25 km, 2-3 days.
• Pimisi Bay to Campion Rapids – 7 km – 1/2 day
• Pimisi Bay to Paresseux Falls – 4 km, 1-2 hours
• Pimisi Bay to Talon Chutes – 2 km, 1 hour * head west, upriver

La Vase Portages Canoe Routes

The La Vase Portages, ‘la vase’ meaning “muddy”, is a 14 km section of the historic Voyageur canoe route connecting the Mattawa River system to Lake Nipissing, meandering southwest from Dugas Bay in Trout Lake.

Algonquin Park Northwest Access Points

Escape the noise and traffic at the busy southern access points on Hwy. 60. The Northwest section of Algonquin Park is lesser-known by non-locals but is equally if not more fantastic due to the authentic and quieter backcountry experience.

There are two access points in the Northwest that are accessible from one of our Voyageur Cycling Route experiences and offer accommodations and outfitters: Kiosk (Access Point #29) and Kawawaymog (Access Point #1).

Kiosk Campground

Head south at Hwy 630 on the Red Toque Tour Cycling Experience from Peddlers Road near Eau Claire. Ride your bike right to your campsite. Plan ahead and rent canoes or kayaks from Algonquin North Outfitters who will deliver your watercraft to Kiosk.  Two popular routes explore Kioshkokwi Lake, Maple Lake, Whitebirch Lake and Mink Lake.

Kawawaymog Lake

Head east off Chemical Road towards Kawawaymog Lake on our Old Nipissing Road bikepacking experience. Book accommodations, rent watercraft or take a guided trip with this full-service outfitter Voyageur Quest Outfitting located right at the access point. For an epic paddle, try the North Tea Lake Loop which is 105 km with 21 portages and takes 8-9 days or one of these popular routes.

Hiking

Don’t miss the spectacular Eau Claire Gorge. The trailhead is approximately 1 km off the main road leading to a short hike that takes you to the top of the towering cliffs where the Amable du Fond River thunders through the narrow gorge flowing north from Algonquin Park.

The Etienne Trails System at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is a set of 4 trails, from 2.5 – 9 km and increasingly challenging, through rocky hills to beaver ponds and along high ridges beside Long Lake.

The La Vase Portages Hiking Trails cross the watershed divide between Trout Lake-Mattawa River and Lake Nipissing. This area was infamous amongst the voyageurs as the “mud” river with approximately 7km of “land” travel was thought to be the most difficult in the entire cross-country route. Today, the La Vase Portages Conservation Area provides access to the historic route.

The Stepping Stones Trails are a popular and informal, but well-marked network of rocky and rooty hiking trails leading to inland lakes and wetlands on crown land within the Mattawa River Provincial Park.