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Think you can camp anywhere for free on Ontario’s Crown land? We dig into the real rules, the best regions, and the prep that turns a risky guess into a confident adventure. After a quick year-five milestone shoutout, we map out what Crown land actually is, why so much of it sits north of the French River, and how local restrictions shape where you can pitch a tent, light a fire, and stay legally.

We walk through the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas and the 21-day rule, including the must-move 100 metres requirement. Then we tour standout regions with very different vibes: Temagami’s classic canoe routes and remote islands, Algoma’s quieter lakes and fewer crowds, Killarney-adjacent granite shores like Philip Edward Island when reservations vanish, cottage-country pockets near Bancroft that demand careful boundary checks, and the wild northwestern stretch around Dryden and Vermilion Bay where water access and fly-ins raise the stakes. Along the way, we call out the no-services reality—no toilets, no bins, often no cell service—and what that means for wag bags, food storage, navigation skills, and first aid readiness.

This conversation is for campers who crave solitude and can handle self-reliance. We’re honest about who should embrace Crown land now—experienced paddlers, anglers, and backcountry travellers—and who should build skills in managed parks first. Expect practical, respectful advice on fire bans, Leave No Trace, logging roads, and why good etiquette keeps spots open for everyone. If you love freedom, pair it with responsibility and you’ll find the wild corners of Ontario that feel like your own. Subscribe, share with a camping friend, and tell us: which region are you planning to explore next?

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A last-minute curveball from VIA Rail threatened to kill a long-planned Spanish River trip. We refused to pack it in. Instead, we pivoted north to the lower Temagami River, launching from Red Cedar Lake and finding warm days, calm nights, and a crew that just clicked. That shift became a reminder that great canoe trips hinge on nimble planning, weather grace, and teammates who keep it light when logistics go sideways.

We dig into what made Temagami shine, then map out Spanish River Take Two this June with a moving water certification led by an ORCKA instructor. Bill shares how becoming an ORCKA instructor transformed his own paddling—turns that used to feel “fine” suddenly needed cleaner torso rotation, tighter stern work, and better trim. Efficiency becomes the real safety net when rapids stack up. We talk guiding on the French River, especially the South Channel and five-mile rapids—quieter stretches where boat traffic fades and the landscape opens up. The theme is consistent: seek solitude, read water, and save energy for the moves that matter.

The trail talk widens to hiking windows along the Bruce Trail and Niagara Escarpment, a late-light glacier hike in Iceland, and the growing appeal of crown land access near Georgian Bay and Philip Edward Island. Overlanding gets a nod for freedom and a caution for cost. We share fishing highs and humbling blanks, including the fly rod cameo after a spinning setup sank in the French. Fly casting shines as craft and meditation, even when the net stays dry. Bill explains the cheeky origin of Thunderbox Diaries and why storytelling through images still feels like a living logbook.

Gearheads will appreciate the shoutouts: compact lights and pumps from Flextail, backcountry meals from Wanderlost Kitchen and SLY Foods that taste like real food, and a fresh collaboration with Ostrom Outdoors. Watch for a prototype debut at the Hamilton Adventure Expo at the Organic Boat Shop booth. If you love canoe tripping, whitewater progression, better trip food, and hearing how a busted plan turned brilliant, this one’s for you. Enjoy it, then share it with a paddler who needs a nudge. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: when did your plan B beat plan A?

https://www.instagram.com/thunderboxdiaries/

https://www.hamiltonadventureexpo.com/

https://www.organicboatshop.com/

https://ostromoutdoors.ca/

www.wanderlustkitchen.ca

www.slyfoods.com

https://www.flextail.com/

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

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Want a better definition of a “good” camping trip? Try this: safety, comfort, joy, and connection. We take a human-centred approach to planning inclusive outdoor adventures, showing how small choices—like site surfaces, seating height, and sound levels—can unlock the outdoors for every ability and energy level.

We start with place and pace: how to choose accessible frontcountry sites with firm ground, curb-free paths, and nearby washrooms; why cabins, yurts, and tent trailers make great stepping stones; and when to go “backcountry light” with short walk-ins, minimal portages, and base camps that swap daily moves for real rest. From quiet loops to shade and cell coverage, we share the little details that make a big difference when health or mobility needs are in play.

Then we dig into practical tools. Mobility-friendly gear like chairs with arms and higher seats, raised cots, walking sticks, and portable ramps reduce strain and increase independence. Activity tweaks keep the fun without the fatigue: fish from docks, observe nature from camp, or make evenings campfire-centred. For neurodivergent campers, we map out routines, campsite previews, sensory supports like dimmable lights and white noise, and reset spaces stocked with familiar bedding, fidgets, headphones, or weighted blankets. Food, medication, and power planning round out the safety net—think familiar meals with one new treat, temperature-safe med storage, clear labels, and tested backups for devices.

Healthy group dynamics hold it all together. We set expectations ahead of time, normalise opting out, assign flexible roles so everyone contributes, and practise what-if scenarios to replace worry with readiness. Caregivers get strategies to prevent burnout—rotate tasks, slow the schedule, and celebrate small wins. Start small, expect learning, and keep a backup plan. The outdoors gets better when more people can access it, and adaptive camping is how we make that happen—gracefully, thoughtfully, and together.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us your best adaptive camping tip. Your stories help more people feel welcome outside.

Support the show

CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping

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