A tough, remote five-day canoe and portage expedition from Kejimkujik into the Tobeatic Wilderness. Expect long paddle days, frequent portages, rustic camping and genuine remoteness.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The lake opens before you: a flat, black mirror rimmed with spruce and wind-bent fir, your group loading canoes while the guide checks packs and maps. Paddles dip in rhythm; the first portage waits like a short, necessary climb where the forest seems to hold its breath. Over five days you move between quiet lakes, shoulder packs and boats across roots and moss, and watch the Tobeatic push back at you with mosquitoes, wind, and sudden, uncompromising silence.
Difficulty
difficult
Duration
5 days
Fitness Level
High level of fitness required: ability to paddle long days, carry 20–40 lb over portages, and camp in backcountry.
Wildlife
History
The Kejimkujik–Tobeatic corridor preserves canoe routes used by the Mi'kmaq for generations; later European surveyors mapped the lakes during 19th-century timber and settlement expansion.
Conservation
This is federally managed wilderness—practice leave-no-trace, limit fires to designated sites, and follow guide instructions to minimize impact on fragile bogs and shorelines.
Reserve your spot on the The Tobeatic Canoe Trip - 5 Day today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Train for portaging
Practice carrying a canoe or heavy pack over uneven ground; many portages are short but repeated and tiring.
Protect your food
Use bear-resistant containers where provided and follow guide instructions; pack out all non-burnables.
Dress for changeable weather
Bring waterproof outer layers and warm mid-layers — Nova Scotia weather can shift quickly even in summer.
Water treatment is necessary
Bring a reliable filter or chemical treatment — lakes are scenic but untreated water may contain microbes.
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
Mandatory for paddling safety and required by guides.
Dry bags / waterproof duffel
Keeps clothing and sleeping gear dry during paddles and portages.
Sturdy, quick-dry footwear with good traction
Protects feet on wet shores and slippery portage trails.
summer
Warm synthetic sleeping bag (3-season)
Nights can be cold; a reliable sleeping bag ensures comfort and recovery.
spring