
Bancroft Rock & River Trip
Distance from Toronto
2h 15m
About this Trip
Bancroft is the gateway to a land of wild rivers, lush forests and stark Canadian Shield cliffs. On this trip we’ll learn to paddle whitewater rapids, explore the wild rivers of the Ottawa Valley and learn the basics of rappelling and rock climbing from a historic lookout point just meters from the scenic town of Bancroft.
Highlights
+ Whitewater canoeing clinic
+ Wilderness river trip
+ Rock climbing adventure
+ Beautiful Ottawa Valley views

Photo Gallery
Sample Itinerary
The trip begins in the evening before our first day of adventure, you'll check into your lodge in the late afternoon where your guide will meet you for a drink and to chat about what to expect over the next few days.
Day 1 - Day 1 starts fresh and early with our drive out to the river for a whitewater paddling clinic. We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast and some coffee on the riverbank as we’re sorting out our gear for a day of paddling. Coffees in hand, the clinic begins with an introduction to whitewater and river safety, including some basic ground rules to ensure a safe, fun and exciting day. After that, it’s time to get wet. We’ll wade into the slow moving water and start getting comfortable in the river, learning how to safely swim, read and navigate the rapids. As the day progresses we’ll slowly move onto more challenging sections of whitewater, building confidence and experiencing the thrill of skilfully navigating a canoe through fast-moving water.
Day 2 - Today we put our newly learned paddling skills to the test on a day-long river trip. We’ll park our cars at the gear shop where we’ll grab our boats and shuttle to the put-in to begin our day-long adventure through the wilderness. We’ll paddle a 10-20 km section of wilderness river, with rapids ranging from Class I all the way to Class III. Before each rapid we’ll pull over to the river bank and practise scouting a route through the whitewater. If you're feeling intimidated you can always walk around, but by the end of the day we’ll have explored a spectacular wilderness river-route while scouting and paddling a wide variety of whitewater features. Tired and satisfied at the end of the day, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and some local drinks to celebrate our adventure.
Day 3 - After two days learning to go downstream, our last day is all about defying gravity and moving up. We’ll start with a fresh-cooked breakfast on the beach before heading to town to meet our climbing guide. There we begin with an introductory clinic focussing on climbing techniques, movement and safety, as we try a series of warm up routes to get comfortable on the rock. After a short lunch break, we’ll have the opportunity to dig a little deeper on our climbing by trying some more challenging routes or we can change into our hiking shoes and explore the trails and views at historic Eagle's Nest lookout point. As the climbing day winds to a close, we’ll share one last local beer or hot chocolate and toast to a fantastic adventure before heading home.
Sample Itinerary
Dates Available
August: 20 - 23, 26 - 29, 29 - Sep 1
September: 1 - 4, 4 - 6
Sample Itinerary
Trip Length
3 Days & 3 Nights
Accommodations
Somerset Lakeside Resort - Somerset Lakeside Resort is a unique getaway located on the shores of Paudash Lake featuring newly renovated rooms and cabins. The resort is located in a serene setting just minutes from Bancroft.
What's Included | What to Bring
Whats Included
+ Accommodations
+ All meals except for dinner upon arrival and departure
+ Private whitewater paddling and climbing guides
+ Whitewater equipment rentals
+ Climbing equipment rentals
+ Applicable park permits and fees
What to Bring
+ A packing list will be provided upon booking
Additional Information
Safety Information
All guides leading the Bancroft Rock & River Adventure are experienced white water and rock climbing guides with appropriate certification and with wilderness first-aid training and certification.