Welcome to Trip Reports
Hello there and welcome to Trip Reports! We are striving to build the largest collection of comprehensive trip reports from adventurers across Canada. On this page, you will find information on:
- How to Find a Trip Report
- How to Read a Trip Report
- Recommended Trip Reports
- FAQs
How to Find a Trip Report
Browse Trips by Region
To browse trips by region, select “Map” in the menu above. This will show you a map of Canada. Each marker corresponds to a trip report.
Flatwater and whitewater canoe trips are marked with the icon that looks like a paddler. The backpacking routes are marked with an icon that looks like a hiker.
The markers are colour coded by difficulty: pink = beginner, teal = intermediate, blue = advanced, and orange = expert.
When you click on a marker, you will see information about that route in a column on the left. You can quickly see the location, type, length and difficulty of the trip. There is also a link for you to click to read the full report.
To see all the reports, click the button in the top left corner. From here, you can filter the Trip Reports by type. For example, you could uncheck all types except for Flatwater Canoeing – this would show you trip reports for Flatwater canoeing only.
Filter Trip Reports by Specific Criteria
There is a Search icon on the top of most pages. Here you can search for a specific trip report (e.g. Petawawa River).
Alternatively, you can filter the trip reports in the map by selecting specific search criteria from the dropdown options.
On desktop/tablet, the criteria appear in a row on top of the map:
On mobile, the criteria appear in a column above the map:
Each time you select an option, the map will refresh.
In the example below, we are filtering for all trip reports that match the following criteria:
- Activity: Flatwater Canoeing
- Duration: 3-5 Days
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Distance: 10-24 Km
- Permits Needed: Yes – Reservation By Campsite
This is how the filters will appear when the above options have been selected on desktop/tablet:
This is how the filters will appear when the above options have been selected on mobile:
The refined results on the map will appear as follows:
When you click on one of the markers a popup with the route summary will appear and you can click on the link to read the full trip report.
Here is an example of the Achray Campground to Stratton Lake location marker.
When you would like to do a new search click on the reset button to clear the filter.
How to Read a Trip Report
Each trip report follows a very similar template. This makes it easy to find the information you need, every time.
Introduction – Quick overview of the trip and the location, special features and considerations.
Trip Completed – This is the month and year the specific route was taken.
Summary – The quick and dirty facts about the route.
Location – Where possible, we have marked the general start and end of the trip on Google Maps. In some cases, campsites and the route are marked as well. We have also marked the outfitters servicing the area and the visitor’s centre, if relevant. Finally, there is a note about the traditional territory the route passes through.
Maps & Resources – These are the recommended maps and guidebooks for the route. Where relevant, we have also included a link to where you can book campsites and permits.
Outfitters & Shuttles – If the route requires outfitting or a shuttle, we have specified it here.
Trip Report – This is a day-by-day report of the trip. Each of our writers has a different style, so reports may deviate a bit here. Some will focus on the details of the routes (e.g. the class of rapids, or nature of the portages), while others will focus more on what they experienced each step of the way (e.g. difficult sections, good side trips). In all reports, we have done our best to include exactly what campsites were used.
Trip Video – Some of our writers are skilled videographers and create trip videos on their YouTube channels. If available, we have embedded the trip video that matches the trip report.
Reflections – In this section, the writer goes over what went well, what didn’t go well and tips for others.
Gallery – Here we include photos from the trip.
Author Bio – Our group of authors have a diverse range of experiences, and many of them have their own outdoor content channels. In the author bio, you can learn more about the adventurer who wrote that trip report, and find links to their website and social media channels.
Snippet from a Trip Report
FAQs
Who writes the trip reports?
Anyone can write a trip report! We have trip reports written by beginners reflecting on their first canoe trip. We also have trip reports written by professional guides. The only requirement to write a trip report is that it is accurate, truthful, and written by someone who was on the trip themselves.
How accurate are the trip reports?
Our trip reports are written by people who have first hand experience on that route. Our writers only write about trips they have personally been on. This means our trip reports can be incredibly detailed and, in most cases, extremely accurate.
However, conditions in the backcountry are always changing. Use Trip Reports are a planning tool. You should still carry a topographical map, check in with park staff / outfitters as necessary and make smart decisions in the backcountry. We do not assume responsibility for inaccurate information contained in the trip reports.
How can I submit a trip report?
Anyone can write a submit a trip report so long as the report is about a trip you were personally on. There are a few additional things to know, and you can read all about it here: Write For Us.
What if the trip report I want isn’t here?
Although we have a large collection of trip reports, we don’t (yet) have all the routes. We are adding new trip reports every week, so check back regularly. If you have a specific trip coming up, you can always send an email to mikaela@voyageurtripper.com and we’ll see what we can do to make it happen.
Why do I have to pay for a subscription?
These trip reports are very detailed and require a lot of time to create. As such, Trip Reports financially compensates each writer who writes a report for us, paying them between $100 – $150 per report. To keep this a financially sustainable endeavour, access to Trip Reports is through a monthly or annual subscription.
Promoting access to wilderness – including economic access – is something we are passionate about, which is why we’ve priced the annual membership at the same cost the rent a canoe for a single day in Algonquin Park. If you would like to join Trip Reports, but cannot do so for financial limitations, send Mikaela an email at mikaela@voyageurtripper.com and we’ll see what we can do!
Can I submit a report?
Yes, you can! Before you start writing though, read the instructions below. You’ll need to send a rough route outline (starting point, ending point, distance and number of days) to Mikaela and she’ll check if we already have the route. If we don’t, you’ll receive a template to follow when writing your report. It’s very important that you follow the template and reference example trip reports, as we cannot accept trip reports that don’t follow the template.
Read this page for instructions: Write for Us