North Channel, Fort LaCloche

The North Channel stretches from the St. Mary’s River near Sault Ste. Marie in the west to the top of Georgian Bay in the east. The landscape is framed by the La Cloche Mountain Range along the north shore, with Manitoulin and Cockburn Islands forming the southern boundary. Nearly 250 km long, the Channel offers vast, untouched wilderness. This day trip focuses on the La Cloche coastline and the Sagamok reserve.

Trip Rating: 5/5

A stunning drive on a dirt road to the launch.

Launch Sites:

The launch site is pictured below. The trail sits on the southern end of the park and is unsupervised. Chutes Provincial Park, less than 30 minutes away, offers excellent camping. There is ample parking and an old, unused boat ramp. The closest services are in Sagamok or Massey.

Aerial view of the launch site.

Looking north to La Cloche Lake.

Trip Length:

This trip is entirely flexible—you can paddle for one hour or ten days from the same launch. The islands and mountain ranges will keep you exploring for hours. Make careful note of your launch point; it is very easy to become disoriented in the maze of islands.

The La Cloche Mountains.

Cost: $0

Mountains in the distance.

Difficulty:

The North Channel must be treated with the same respect as any Great Lake. Conditions can change rapidly. This trip is best suited to experienced sea kayakers or beginners accompanied by a trained guide.

Islands off the coast of La Cloche.

Rain clouds in the distance.