It's not per person but per trip. Each trip is $158. If you are the only one then unfortunately you are stuck with the whole bill unless you can hop on with another group. It is not extra for dogs to my knowledge.

Thanks @OTCanadienne and @boknows for the responses.

I agree it’s expensive! I’ve paddle OP many times but won’t with my 6 year old daughters haha

There are 3 dads, 4 daughters and 3 dogs. It’s an annual Daddy-Daughter trip I do with a couple of my longest running portage friends. My girls are the youngest and while the last 2-3 years we’ve done a paddle in with usually 1-3 portages, I think us dads are looking for an easy trip in and then explore from there!

I used Algonquin Outfitters 5yrs ago, last minute decision due to windy weather.  With my sister & kids & dogs, there was not enough muscle to deal with strong winds, knew that right away on the dock at Opeongo.  Since then my sister has rented a couple of times after that, forever spoiled after the water taxi experience....  All the times AO did not charge extra for the dogs (2).

However, after my first booking I have done something different that maybe you may want to consider.  I bought a 10ft inflatable (zodiac style) & 5hp outboard motor & I tow a kayak out behind for quiet paddling time (or could do canoe as well). At $200+ minimum for round trip water taxi, I figured my breakeven would happen in about 7 trips (considering if I could sell boat/motor for 50% of purchase price), after 7 trips I'm ahead.  Inflatable boat solved problem of where I'm going to store a boat & once you have it you end up using it more often as well.  Have used it several times on Opeongo, Kiosk & Lake Travers. After 4 yrs, I'm definitely ahead on owning vs renting costs. Owning your boat also gives you more options to lakes that don't have water taxi. And if you don't have a lot of muscle (young kids, older parents/family members, dogs...) You also have the use of the boat daily for the duration of your trip, not just pickup & dropoff.   You also are on your own schedule, much more flexibility, don't need to book water taxi time & make sure that you are ready at both pickup & drop off times.

A few other thoughts...
The place I bought the inflatable boat from actually recommended a10hp motor, but I thought the weight of a 10hp motor was a bit more than I wanted to deal with. The 5hp can get the boat up on plane with 1 or 2 people + light gear.  More people/gear or towing a kayak/canoe and it does not plane, but of course still faster than paddling speed.

As mentioned I have already used the motor boat on Opeongo (kinda busy to launch from for my liking...), Kiosk & Lake Travers.  I was also thinking of doing a trip from Cedar/Brent, but it would actually take me less time to drive to Temagami.  So I'm thinking going up to Temagami would make more sense, not to mention with free crown land camping, that would also add to the per trip savings.

Coureur des Biere wrote:

SeekingSolitude wrote:

I used Algonquin Outfitters 5yrs ago, last minute decision due to windy weather.  With my sister & kids & dogs, there was not enough muscle to deal with strong winds, knew that right away on the dock at Opeongo.  Since then my sister has rented a couple of times after that, forever spoiled after the water taxi experience....  All the times AO did not charge extra for the dogs (2).

However, after my first booking I have done something different that maybe you may want to consider.  I bought a 10ft inflatable (zodiac style) & 5hp outboard motor & I tow a kayak out behind for quiet paddling time (or could do canoe as well). At $200+ minimum for round trip water taxi, I figured my breakeven would happen in about 7 trips (considering if I could sell boat/motor for 50% of purchase price), after 7 trips I'm ahead.  Inflatable boat solved problem of where I'm going to store a boat & once you have it you end up using it more often as well.  Have used it several times on Opeongo, Kiosk & Lake Travers. After 4 yrs, I'm definitely ahead on owning vs renting costs. Owning your boat also gives you more options to lakes that don't have water taxi. And if you don't have a lot of muscle (young kids, older parents/family members, dogs...) You also have the use of the boat daily for the duration of your trip, not just pickup & dropoff.   You also are on your own schedule, much more flexibility, don't need to book water taxi time & make sure that you are ready at both pickup & drop off times.

 
Thanks Barbara!


And this is a great idea!!

boknows wrote:

Don't need a boat.  I built my own or you can buy this apparatus that allows you to put a 5hp motor on the side of your canoe.  Once across Opeongo or any big lake, I just stash the motor and apparatus in the woods until my return.

 
I’d be very curious about this apparatus sir. Can you share the details of where I can find it?

Cheers!

boknows wrote:

OTCanadienne wrote:

It's not per person but per trip. Each trip is $158. If you are the only one then unfortunately you are stuck with the whole bill unless you can hop on with another group. It is not extra for dogs to my knowledge.

 
First, there are two companies who give this taxi service on Opeongo Lake.  One is Algonquin Outfitters who operate the store on Opeongo, and the other is Opeongo Outfitters who operate from their store in Whitney which is not far from Opeongo Lake.

Second, the most I have ever paid on one of these taxis is $53 which included two other groups.  But this was about 10 years ago.  With the cost of gas these days , the taxi service fee has to cover the cost of the gas used by the two 100hp motors on these taxi boats.  Personally, I think $158 is outrageous for a 1-way trip to the eastern arm of Opeongo and which I would never pay  being a solo fisherman with canoe and gear.  But for a party of 2 and 1 canoe and gear so cost per person is $79.  And this $79 will save you around 3 - 4 hours paddling time when Opeongo is in a nice mood instead of an ugly mood.  And yes, dogs are at no charge.

 
Agreed it is too expensive and I should have clarified that this price is through Algonquin Outfitters and is current as it is booked for this May. Split between 4 people it's not too bad and worth it to me to bot have to paddle Opeongo. I do believe Opeongo Outfitters is cheaper but I was renting my canoe through AO so went with them out of convenience.