Bruce Peninsula National Park and Flowerpot Island Backcountry - Instructional Tour
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.
Itinerary
The route and pace are driven by conditions. On this coast, that is the whole point.
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?
What happens if the weather cancels the expedition?
Do I need my own kayak and gear?
How does food work?
Can I earn a certification on this expedition?
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.
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.