camping & canoeing
camp bil-o-wood
The Canadian Wilderness:
An Experience of a Lifetime
The Camp Bil-O-Wood camping & canoeing program provides a unique opportunity for children to experience the pristine Ontario wilderness. The friendships and memories created are cherished for a lifetime, while the challenges overcome foster positive growth and a deeper understanding of our inner strengths.
Go Further
Camp Bil-O-Wood sits at the gateway to the North. There are few places on earth as pure and vast as the web of waterways in Northern Ontario. Canoeing here is a journey by land and water to places others can’t go. Canoe tripping at camp is optional, but is strongly encouraged. Our trips range from 2-14 days, and campers advance through the stages of trips based on their age, skill level, and experience.
Highest Priority : Safety
Our Leaders have many years of experience and are water safety certified. Campers must complete a basic canoe skills assessment and swim test before they can take any level of canoe trip. Proficiency in the skills of canoeing , portaging, campsite set-up, white water, map reading, and wilderness safety develop as campers become more experienced and comfortable in the outdoors.
Our Program
Beginner
It’s All About Fun
Ages 7-10. Introduction to basic canoeing, trip preparation, campsite set up, campfire cooking, and comfort in the outdoors. At this level, we introduce the camping and canoeing experience by allowing campers to take it slow and become acclimated to outdoor living. We offer 6 different trips of 2-3 nights and 5 to 30 miles in length. Our best leaders are responsible for making sure our campers are safe, comfortable, learning, and having fun every step of the way. BASS/ALLEN EXCURSION: One Night Our most basic trip explores the two lakes on camp property. Campers are not more than 30 minutes from the camp center. Here, we teach campers how to pack and prepare, how to set up a campsite, how to cook on the fire, and how to be comfortable and have fun in the outdoors. LAKE LAUZON EXPLORATION: Two Nights Lake Lauzon is 17 miles long, has 180 miles of pristine shoreline and sits just a mile from camp property. Campers explore coward rock, diving rock, cliffside, JC rock, the east narrows, the lookout on old baldy and the secret waterfall. There are many islands, inlets, and hidden lakes to explore. At over 300 feet deep, this is one of Ontario’s most beautiful and unique lakes.
THE CHIPLOW LOOP: Two Nights This 25-mile adventure traverses seven lakes, and the Blind River, including Matinenda, Chiblow and Duborne. Campers can also explore Whitefish and Cataract Falls. The loop begins about twenty miles from camp. THE McCARTHY RIVER: Two Nights The McCarthy begins just a short drive from camp. This is a 3-day trip that follows the Serpent River to Camp Lake. Great campsites, majestic waterfalls, excellent fishing, and an introduction to whitewater canoeing highlight this beautiful route.
Intermediate
Shaping Yourself as a Canoe Tripper
Ages 11-13 Independent trip preparation, introduction to rapids, map reading, wood collection, fire building, campfire cooking, and portaging. Intermediate level trippers have learned the fundamentals of canoeing and camping and feel comfortable in the outdoors. They begin to explore lakes and rivers further from camp and of longer length and duration. These trippers are typically out for 3 to 5 nights and paddle 20 to 100 miles. At this level, campers will pack and carry their own gear and begin to shoot rapids and portage canoes. LOWER MISSISSAGI RIVER Three Nights This trip starts above Pig Pen Chute and travels down the famous Mississagi River approximately 25 miles to Tunnel Lake. This route has a number of small rapid sets and a few portages, along with two of our most favorite campsites.
LOWER MISSISSAGI INTO CAMP: Four Nights This 75-mile trip travels the Mississagi River, Tunnel Lake, the North Channel of Lake Huron and Lake Lauzon. It adds an additional 15 miles to the above trip and is the first trip campers bring all the way back to Bil-O-Wood. ELLIOTT LAKE TRIP: Four Nights Plus This trip starts about 40 miles from camp and travels 50 miles over 7 beautiful lakes and the Serpent River. There are 6 portages, 2 waterfalls and great fishing on this trip. This trip can also be taken into camp adding an additional night, 20 miles, and a paddle across the stunning Whale’s Back Channel of Lake Huron. WENEBEGON: Four Nights The trip begins 150 miles north of camp and travels over Wenebegon Lake and River for almost 70 miles to Aubrey Lake. It traverses some of the best pike and walleye fishing in North America and offers a great whitewater experience. It offers beautiful scenery and requires skill in portaging, rapids shooting, and lift-meover technique. WEST AUBINADONG RIVER: Four Nights Starting 120 miles northwest of camp, this trip traverses the Aubinadong River for 70 miles. There are many rapids, challenging portages, and gorgeous waterfalls. This is an outstanding river for scenic views and offers a higher level of challenge on the trail and on the river.
“The canoe trips really bond people together. You have to work through everything as a team.”
AdvanceD
An Unparalleled Wilderness Experience
Ages 14-17. Independent trip planning & preparation, advanced whitewater canoeing & portaging, endurance paddling, orientation skills, axe and saw skills, fishing & fish identification, and knot tying, At this level, returning campers are experienced and ready for a high level of outdoor adventure on the best canoeing rivers in Ontario. These trips range from 8 to 13 nights and cover 150 to 350 miles in length. New campers who join our program in this age range will be evaluated based on experience, skill, and interest level to determine their eligibility for advance level canoe trips. THE EMERALD CIRCLE: Eight Nights Beginning in Chapleau, 200 miles north of camp, this trip travels 180 miles over 14 lakes and two rivers and requires 14 portages. With four days of fast rivers and four days on beautiful lakes, this is our most physically demanding trip and is entirely in the Arctic watershed—the point at which all waterways flow north to the Artic Ocean. This trip ends at the famous Emerald Lake.
AUX SABLE RIVER: Four Nights This is an excellent, technical river trip of 40 miles in length. It has two spectacular waterfalls, including the picturesque Rainbow Falls, a few short portages, many great campsites, and good fishing. This is a favorite trip of many campers due to its overall beauty and the fast flow of the river. THE SPANISH WAY: Eleven Nights This trip is 300 miles long and starts 100 miles Northeast of camp. It covers 19 lakes in the first 6 days and the last 6 days are spent paddling the Spanish River. It is a fast and fun ride down the river, with excellent fishing, challenging rapids, several infamous portages, and stunning campsites. JAMES BAY – MISSINAIBI: Twelve Nights This is Bil-O-Wood’s longest trip and one of the most scenic and documented rivers in canoeing history. With over 350 miles of moving river, there are 25+ portages and 35+ major rapids. This trip runs entirely in the Arctic watershed and ends in Moosonee, where the only way home is by train on the Polar Bear Express. This trip boasts several famous campsites, and its completion is the highest aspiration of Bil-O-Wood canoe trippers. JAMES BAY – GROUNDHOG: Twelve Nights This river is one of seven that flow into the Moose River and end in Moosonee. It travels over 200 miles and offers excellent white water experience with one set of rapids running six straight miles of river. This trip is typically taken as a second James Bay trip, after a group has completed the Missisnaibi River trip.
JAMES BAY – HURRICANAW: Eleven Nights This is the highest level of white water trips. Taken by only our most qualified trippers, it is 200 miles long but runs big white water. The last 40 miles are a paddle across the southern tip of James Bay to connect to the Moose River. A ten-mile paddle up the Moose River lands you in Moosonee. This trip is taken only by select groups of expert canoe trippers.
“Canoe tripping has changed me. I never thought that I could pick up a canoe and start just walking.”
Path of the Voyageur
The Bil-O-Wood Voyageur is a leadership development program designed to honor campers who achieve a comprehensive list of tactical requirements and character attributes. Specifically, it teaches the skills of canoeing and wilderness living and fosters qualities such as self-confidence, selflessness, resiliency, adaptability, integrity, and respect. With over 60 years of tradition, Bil-O-Wood voyageurs represent the highest level of leadership and integrity, and return year after year to pass on Bil-O-Wood values.
Join us in developing great leaders. Call today & give your child the
opportunity of a lifetime camp bil-o-wood
info@bil-o-wood.com Winter: 734-649-6294 Summer: 705-356-7113