This is becoming my thing now: asking this forum for a route and site suggestion 1-3 weeks before my trip :/ But, c'est la vie. This time it's worse though: I'm trying to organize a trip for this coming long weekend, haha. Let's see if it can happen.

Most good places are booked solid. So here's what I'm looking for:
* 2-4 hours away from Toronto
* No more than 5 hours of paddling and portaging.
* An open site on a picturesque lake. Need some sun!
* I know beggars can't be choosers, but if they could, then ideally somewhere not too crowded, flat, with those big Canadian shield rocks that I can lay down in the afternoon/evening and enjoy the sun. And some on-demand free ice tea or lemonade service

If anyone can find something decent, I'll be grateful. Thanks

Hi everyone, I asked a similar question a while back, so forgive the repetitiveness, but it's a more focused question this time. Plus, I think you guys enjoy doing this anyways

Thinking about going camping the first weekend of May, somewhere around Toronto. The first question is, how do you think the conditions will be? It's been a cold, wet spring so far in Toronto. Choosing early May because I'd rather deal with the cold than with the bugs. But of course, it could be damp and rainy as well.

The second is the site/route suggestion. We're looking for a place 1) not more than 3.5 hours away from Toronto (ideally 3 or less), and then 2) a max. 3 hours of canoeing and portaging and only one site to stay on (again, ideally even less, definitely not more than 10km in total). Reason is that a few people will join us on Saturday but then we have to head back on Sunday, so can't be anywhere too far. Just a relaxed weekend in the woods. 3) Ideally a serene lake with fishing (and ideally no fishing boats) 4) AND swimming and 5) a flat and wide campsite that attracts a good amount of sun. Doesn't have to be Algonquin. Up for HHWT as well, or again, anything within a 3 or 3.5 hour drive from Toronto. 

Misty Lake was suggested previously, but that's more than 10KM. Would be great to go there one day.

Thanks in advance

Thanks

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions.

Been wanting to go to Lake Louisa for a while now. I don't mind the portage myself. 3KM is long though so some people in the group may not be up for it.

I've heard nice things about Misty Lake as well. Happy Isle is another I hear is nice, though I'm not sure if the shuttles operate in May or not (and ideally would like to keep the cost to a minimum, so no shuttles).

Hi everyone, happy 2019!

For once I'm planning to make my reservations early, which means, unlike every time I come to this forum to ask for suggestion from you fine people at the last minute, there's much less restriction on where I can go. So looking forward to hearing some suggestions.

I've been waiting to go back to Killarney (lake OSA), and I think I'll do it early May. I wanted to ask, are the bug seasons similar in Killarney and Algonquin? So black flies starting in mid-May and a lot of them by late May and June, deer and horse flies in June and July, and mosquitos in July but pretty tolerable by late-July and early August? And then a blissful September? Really want to avoid these bugs as much as possible. Went backcountry camping last year for Canada Day weekend, and it was brutal. 

As for route suggestions, anything that's ideally no more than a 4-hour drive from Toronto. The groups I go with tend to want a relaxing weekend, so just staying at one site after a 4-8 hour paddle and portage(s) with some easy to medium-level challenges. As a group we're all more experienced now, though the paddling tends to go a bit slower than it should. As for the ideal sites, something that has a serene view and is open with some wind to take away the bugs, not too crowded, ideally fishing is possible, and has a beach or a nice Canadian Shield rocks that you can lie down on and ponder about the existence of life!

Thanks for all your help!

Going back to HHWT for a 2nd time, this time from Big Hawk Lake to Blackcat. I hear the northeast site on blackcat is nicer than the other one on the west side, but it was taken for one of the nights, so I booked the West site for the 1st night and the Northeast one for the 2nd night.

Anyone been there? Any good? By any chance can you comment on the campsites? Just a bit worried that there might be a lot of bugs in West campsite since it doesn't look too open and may be a bit too deep in the woods. Was in HHWT a month ago and the bugs were just too annoying. 

Thanks

Think I'll go with TNF Telus 3 or 4, as it's a bit lighter than the El Capitan, although most of my canoe trips are only at one campsite and no more than 15km in total with 2-3 portages, max 2km but 500m on average. SO I feel the El Capitan may be suitable as well, but I like TNF as a brand.

But I can't find a sale anywhere, unfortunately. Thought I can nab something today on Father's Day...

So OK, I've boiled it down to these 4:

Eureka El capitan: https://www.sail.ca/en/eureka-el-capitan-4-167453

The North Face Talus 4: https://www.sail.ca/en/the-north-face-tente-talus-4-513651

Limelight: https://www.altitude-sports.com/products/marmot-limelight-3-person-tent-llll-mar-27940

Optic: https://www.altitude-sports.com/products/mountain-hardwear-optic-3-5-tent-llll-mhw-1545181

Woods: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/woods-expedition-cascade-tent-4-person-0766075p.html#srp

What do ya think?!
 

Treater wrote:

What about Opeongo? No portages so you can bring as many coolers as you want. 

No coolers! And we have to do portages to get away from the Canada Day long weekend crowds.