Bruce Peninsula National Park and Flowerpot Island Backcountry - Instructional Tour
★ Advanced coastal expedition The Saugeen Peninsula off Tobermory is one of Ontario's most demanding stretches of coast: exposed cliffs, open Lake Huron water, and sea states that turn quickly. This five-day expedition runs Tobermory out to Beachy Bay, High Dump, and Wingfield Basin and back, camping at remote coastal sites along the way. It is an advanced trip, built for paddlers who already hold real coastal skills and want to push them. Your group travels as an expedition pod, navigating, camping, and making decisions together, coached at a 1:3 ratio throughout. It is also strong preparation for Level 3 and 4. Come ready to work. 5Days TobermoryBruce Peninsula 1:3Instructor Ratio L2Kayak Ontario Level Itinerary The route and pace are driven by conditions. On this coast, that is the whole point. Day 0: Mountain Trout Camp Meet the group. Pre-trip briefing, orientation, and gear check. Accommodation the evening before launch is included. Days 1 to 4: The Peninsula Paddle from Tobermory with stops at Beachy Bay, High Dump, and Wingfield Basin. Cliffs, hidden coves, and rugged shoreline, with camping at remote coastal sites. Day 5: Takeout at Tobermory Final paddle and takeout at Tobermory. Closing debrief, then tacos at Las Chulas. What's Included Five-day instructional expedition with experienced Kayak Ontario coaches at a 1:3 ratio All meals Days 1 to 5, except Day 1 breakfast and Day 5 dinner Camping at coastal sites, plus accommodation the evening before launch Park permits and platform reservations arranged for the group Shared group camping gear: tarps and kitchen essentials What to Bring Sea kayak and paddling kit: bring your own expedition boat, or rent from us at checkout (contact us first so we can confirm a suitable rental for these conditions) Personal paddling clothing: dry suit or neoprene and paddle jacket, as appropriate Transportation to and from the put-in at Tobermory, and parking Snacks and extra personal food: assume all snacks are on you, and bring plenty. Group meals cover Days 1 to 5, but bring more than enough of your own food to stay fuelled and happy across a hard-paddling week. Day 1 breakfast and Day 5 dinner are also your own. Personal camping gear: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, available to rent if you don't have your own Good to Know This is an advanced, exposed expedition. Everyone participates fully in paddling, camping, and decision-making. No passengers. Lake Huron's coast changes fast. Conditions drive the plan, and there is a set backup if the water won't allow the route. See below. Smaller groups: coaching runs at a 1:3 ratio, tighter than our standard trips, because the environment demands it. Rentals available: dry suit, paddle, spray skirt, and camping gear. Bring your own expedition kayak, or contact us to confirm a suitable boat rental. Select at checkout. Conditions and the Backup Plan This is a committing route on open Lake Huron, and the weather can shut it down. We plan for that. If conditions won't allow the expedition to run safely, we convert to a set backup: surf and rough water skills from a basecamp, in the mould of our Level 3 Prep. For anyone building toward Level 3 or 4, that training is arguably the more useful of the two. If we can't run the expedition: we convert to the surf and rough water basecamp program. If you'd prefer not to take the backup, we can credit 80% of your trip fee to your Kayak Ontario account, redeemable on anything with no expiry. The decision to convert or credit rests with Kayak Ontario. Prerequisite: Kayak Ontario Level 2, or call to discuss. This is an advanced coastal expedition and preparation for Level 3 and 4. You should be solid with rough-water boat handling, assisted and self-rescue in conditions, and sustained coastal paddling. Close but not certain? Get in touch and we'll give you an honest assessment. Questions Who is this trip for? Paddlers with a Kayak Ontario Level 2, or equivalent coastal experience, who want to test and extend their skills in exposed conditions. It is also strong preparation for Level 3 and 4. If you're not there yet, a KT1-2 route like Philip Edward Island is the step before this. What happens if the weather cancels the expedition? We run a set backup instead: surf and rough water skills from a basecamp, along the lines of our Level 3 Prep. It's a full program in its own right and excellent Level 3 and 4 preparation. If you'd rather not take it, we can credit 80% of your trip fee to your Kayak Ontario account, redeemable on anything with no expiry. Whether we convert or credit is Kayak Ontario's decision. Do I need my own kayak and gear? This advanced trip assumes you bring your own expedition kayak suited to the conditions. Everything else (dry suit, paddle, spray skirt, camping kit) is available to rent, select at checkout. If you need a boat, contact us before booking so we can confirm a suitable rental. Shared group camping gear is included; personal camping and paddling layers are yours to bring. How does food work? All meals from Days 1 to 5 are provided and prepared together as a group, except Day 1 breakfast and Day 5 dinner, which are on you. Snacks are your own, so bring plenty, you want more than enough to stay fuelled and happy on a hard-paddling week. Can I earn a certification on this expedition? Yes. This expedition suits the KT2 and KT3 levels of the ORCKA Kayak Tripping and Guiding program (the KT3 online module is coming soon). Pair it with the matching module to be assessed and certify. This is not a KT1 trip. Prefer just the paddling? The trip stands on its own with no assessment. See the pathway below. Certification Pathway This is an advanced expedition for the KT2 level and, when it launches, KT3, of the ORCKA Kayak Tripping and Guiding pathway. It is not a KT1 trip. If you're building toward it, a KT1-2 route like Philip Edward Island is the step before this. Come to tour with no assessment, or pair it with the matching online module to certify. Either way, the kilometres, nights, and leadership you log here count toward your progress. Counts toward KT2 and KT3 KT2 KT3 · soon Online Module + This Expedition Kayak Tripping Level 2 Expedition leadership and guiding certification: advanced decision-making and group management on multi-day trips. Complete the module and this expedition together to earn your ORCKA Kayak Tripping Level 2 certification. View KT2 module → KT3, the capstone (coming soon). This route's exposure and rough water make it a strong home for KT3, where you cross from skilled tripper to trip leader and earn an ORCKA trip leader designation. See how the full pathway works → We acknowledge that this expedition on the Bruce Peninsula and the waters around Tobermory takes place on the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, including the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation, who have lived on and cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. This acknowledgement, accompanied by action, includes contributions to Indigenous-led organizations that make a lasting impact.