CIRCUIT
CHAMPLAIN
Over 400 years ago, French explorer and cartographer, Samuel de Champlain,
made his passage through Ontario. Follow his route via today’s highways and
discover the waterways, landscapes and First Nations’ cultures that left him
with such an indelible impression.
In the early 1600’s, voyageur and adventurer, Samuel de Champlain navigated the Ottawa River, the Mattawa River, Lake Nipissing, the French River and the waters of the
Georgian Bay in search of a suitable site for a trading post and a viable path to the ‘northern sea’. He paved the way for future French explorers and fostered friendships
with indigenous First Nations peoples. Follow in Champlain’s footsteps on this five-day trip, and chronicle your own expedition through Ontario’s legendary waterways.
Duration: 6 days
Best suited for: families with older children, couples and/or friends
DAY 1: OTTAWA (A)
Stay at the historic Lord Elgin Hotel. Visit the Canadian Museum of History to find out why Champlain is memorialized as the ‘Father of New France’. Stop at Nepean
Point, located beside the Alexandra Bridge, to view the statue of Champlain, commemorating his exploration of the Ottawa River from 1609 to 1615. Find great food,
drink and shopping in the ByWard Market. Spend the afternoon at the National Gallery of Canada’s Collection of Indigenous Art. The success of Champlain’s expeditions
relied heavily on the assistance of Indigenous guides; learn about Ontario’s First Nations at this fascinating exhibit. Celebrate today’s treasured Franco-Ontarien culture at
le Festival Franco-Ontarien in June. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas and craft beer at locally-owned Crust and Crate Public House in the Glebe. See what is on at the La Nouvelle
Scène Francophone théâtre.
DAY 2: THE OTTAWA RIVER (B)
Sign up for a wild ride with Wilderness Tours and take on class III and IV rapids on the Ottawa River in a sport raft. Champlain travelled up the Ottawa River and described it as “filled with a vast number of rapids, which are very difficult to pass.”* Choose from cabins, cottages or camping accommodations for the night.
DAY 3: SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN PROVINCIAL PARK AND THE MATTAWA RIVER (C)
Travel north to the Canadian Ecology Centre, an outdoor education complex located within Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, near the town of Mattawa. Glimpse into
the region’s voyageur and logging past at the Mattawa Museum. Rent one of their comfortable on site cabins. Embark on a one-day guided paddle with Algonquin North on
the Mattawa River, a natural passage between the Ottawa River and Lake Nipissing.
DAY 4-5: THE FRENCH RIVER (D)
The Discovery North Bay Museum offers insight on the past, present and future of North Bay. Stop for lunch in Sturgeon Falls; visit the Sturgeon River House Museum for
a look into the life of the area’s pioneers and fur traders. Continue on along the French River, the first designated Canadian Heritage River. Champlain was impressed with
the abundance and variety of fish in the region, in fact he described the trout as ‘monstrously large’. * Experience world-class fishing at Crane’s Lochaven Lodge, a family
owned and operated angling retreat located on a private island on the French River.
DAY 6: THE GEORGIAN BAY AND MIDLAND (E)
The “Voices of the River” exhibit at the French River Visitor Centre tells the river’s story. Enjoy lunch at Bistro By the Bay in Parry Sound. When Champlain explored the
waters of Lake Huron he is quoted as saying; “This country is beautiful and good, and we must follow its course.” * Nothing can be truer of the scenery in the Georgian
Bay. He also formed friendly relations with the Huron people. Make your next stop at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a reconstructed French Jesuit mission in Midland,
established after Champlain’s visit. Tour the Champlain-Huron/Wendat legacy park in Penetanguishene, a tribute to the communities’ unique history, and specifically to the
indigenous people of the area.
* Champlain, Samuel De. The Voyages and Explorations of Samuel de Champlain, 1604-1616. Vol. 2
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