Super Good Camping Podcast

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You can plan a better camping trip in five minutes with one simple habit: check the park’s events calendar before you pick your dates. We dig into the seasonal programs happening across Ontario Provincial Parks and why they can turn a basic overnight into a weekend you’ll actually remember, whether that’s Thanksgiving, Halloween events, fall colour hikes, or winter festivals and outdoor skating.

We talk through real examples, starting with Bronte Creek and the way a quick e-bike camping plan led us down the rabbit hole of park programming, from dog-friendly events to holiday traditions like Victorian Christmas and the First Day Hike. We also share what makes Bronte Creek feel surprisingly wild for a park so close to the GTA, including open savannah-style views and two distinct park areas with different activities.

From there we zoom out to the bigger Ontario adventure calendar: chasing Algonquin fall colours (and dealing with the Highway 60 madness), winter camping at Mew Lake, Arrowhead’s torch-lit skating trail, cross-country ski and snowshoe options across the province, and even the early spring shift into maple syrup season, ice-out, and fishing. We also point you toward “Friends of” park groups that sometimes post the best local updates when the main listings look quiet.

If you want more Ontario camping ideas and practical trip planning tips, subscribe to the show, share this with a camping buddy, and leave a review so more people find the outdoors year-round.

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Whitewater can look like a wall of noise and consequences, right up until someone hands you the map, the language, and the habits that make it feel possible. We’re joined by Jacob, Stefan, and Tim from Split Rock Outdoors, a Southern Ontario paddling crew with a deep love for rivers like the Madawaska and a mission to help more people get outside safely.

We talk about how the three of them met, why “Split Rock” is more than a cool name, and what it feels like to go from anxious scouting to confidently running a rapid you once avoided. They also explain why they describe what they do as facilitating rather than guiding, and how their website grew into a practical hub for trip planning tools, river resources, course recommendations, and beginner-friendly knowledge like river left versus river right.

Safety stays front and centre without killing the fun. We get into PFDs and helmets, communication on the river, learning on a budget, and why they link out to certified rescue training instead of pretending the internet can replace it. Then we widen the lens to the trips that surprise people: flatwater routes that still demand respect, big waves around Philip Edward Island, and the reminder that frontcountry camping counts if it gets you into nature. If you enjoy stories, real talk, and a few hard-earned “oops” moments, this one’s for you.

Subscribe, share this with a paddling friend, and leave a review so more campers and canoeists can find us. What river are you most curious to paddle next?

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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Forgetting a water filter in the backcountry sounds like a small mistake until you’re staring at a lake and realizing every sip is a gamble. We share the real story of arriving at camp, reaching for our usual gravity filter setup, and finding out it’s not coming to the rescue. From there, we walk through what actually worked, what tasted terrible but kept us healthy, and how to think clearly when clean water suddenly becomes the most important task of the day. 

We get practical about boiling as the most universal camping water purification method, including how long to keep a rolling boil, why open-fire boiling can be trickier than a stove, and how fuel planning can make or break your backup plan. We also cover chlorine dioxide water purification tablets, why we like them as a lightweight emergency option, and why we do not recommend experimenting with bleach or guessing doses when the stakes are your throat and stomach. 

Then we zoom out to a full backcountry water safety strategy: pre-filtering with cloth or coffee filters to remove debris, understanding the difference between filtering and disinfecting, and carrying redundancy like purification straws or spare squeeze filters. We also talk water source selection, since clear or fast-moving water can still carry pathogens, and we call out the persistent myths that do not make water safe. If you camp, canoe, or hike anywhere remote, this is your reminder to pack backups of your backups. Subscribe, share this with your paddling partner, and leave a review with your own best “what saved the trip” water tip.

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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A hypothermia scare on a winter mountain. A “routine” knife slip that turns into major blood loss. These are the kinds of outdoor moments that cut through ego fast, and they are exactly why we wanted bushcraft educator and author Ryan Marshall on the Super Good Camping Podcast. Ryan joins us to unpack what actually keeps you safe and confident outside, especially when conditions change and mistakes stack up.

We talk through his near-miss hypothermia story, the early warning signs many people ignore, and why survival priorities start with fire, water, and shelter rather than food. From there, Ryan shares the hand injury that pushed him toward wilderness first responder training and explains how quickly an everyday camp task can become a serious emergency. If you camp, hike, or canoe in Canada, this is a practical reminder that nature does not care how experienced you feel.

Then we get into the skills that pay off on every trip: a small set of reliable knots for tarps, bear hangs, and gear repairs; fire-starting that works in wet weather; and wildfire awareness so you do not become the problem. Ryan also drops a few MacGyver-ready tips, like using hand sanitizer as a fire starter, plus a look at natural adhesives such as pine resin glue. Along the way, we dig into why he wrote Fire, Water, Shelter, how he thinks about planning to avoid survival situations, and why he avoids rigid “always” and “never” rules in the outdoors.

If you like bushcraft, survival skills, camping safety, and real-world lessons you can use right away, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a camping buddy, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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A hornet sting that blisters in minutes is not the kind of souvenir anyone wants from a camping trip, but it makes for a brutally honest lesson from the backcountry. Tim is flying solo as Super Good Camping returns from a 7 to 8 week hiatus, shaking off the rust and catching up on what the crew has been doing outside while life keeps moving. If you love Ontario camping, canoe tripping, and real-world outdoor stories, this one is a quick hit of summer truth. 

We look back on recent trips that span the Spanish River and a five-day base camp at Red Horse Lake in North Frontenac, including the practical stuff that makes or breaks a site. Tim talks island camping realities like tougher wood collection, plus what happens when a torn meniscus suddenly swells up and turns uneven ground into a challenge. It is a reminder that backcountry travel is not about perfection, it is about adapting, sharing the load, and still finding the moments that make you exhale. 

The episode also tees up what is next: an eight-day Barren Canyon adventure with a relaxed pace, a hopeful eye on fall colours, and a lineup of upcoming guests from the outdoor community, including Ryan Marshall of Marshall Bushcraft, Split Rock Outdoors, and Camper Christina. There is even a side trail into camping books and the creative work behind them, because sometimes the best way to stay connected to nature is to read about it when you cannot be out there. 

If you enjoy thoughtful camping stories, practical lessons, and the kind of humour that only shows up after a few hard-earned trips, subscribe to Super Good Camping, share this with a camping buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What is the most painful or funniest thing the outdoors has ever “taught” you?

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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

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WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

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

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We wrap the season by looking back at recent family trips and laying out what we’re planning for the rest of the summer and beyond. We also preview next season’s first guest, then ask you to tell us what you’re doing outside and what you want to hear next. 

• season wrap-up and a quick look ahead to September 
• Spanish River recap and an August North Frontenac backcountry trip plan 
• six-day menu planning and dehydrating shrimp, scallops, vegetables, and fruit 
• Barren Canyon plans after two cancelled attempts 
• early Yukon trip planning for a longer, epic adventure next year 
• next season kickoff with Ryan Marshall, bushcraft and survival guest 
• listener questions about softwater season plans and what inspires you 
• ways to message us on Buzzsprout, Facebook, Spotify, Apple, Instagram, and email 
• suggestions for guests, topics, and how we can improve after nearly six years 

Please reach out to us. As always, our email is hi at supergoodcamping.com. If you like and subscribe and give us a five star review and all of those things, it helps us and it helps other people find us. And also you can donate to us on Buy Me Coffee. 

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: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

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

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A “bear barrel” that is not bear proof sounds like a problem until you understand what it is really for. We sit down with Andy Baxter, owner of Recreational Barrel Works, and talk through the real-world reasons paddlers rely on barrels for backcountry canoe camping: keeping food dry, keeping smells contained, and cutting down on the critter chaos that can wreck a campsite. Along the way, Andy shares the kind of tripping stories you only earn through distance, weather, and the occasional route that turns into a bushwhack.

We trade memories from Algonquin Park style portaging to a smoother payback paddle down the Key River and out along Georgian Bay. Andy also breaks down what happens on remote fly-in routes north of Red Lake when the “portage” is basically a rumour. The physical effort is one thing, but the bigger challenge is the mental math when your planned kilometres stop being realistic and you have to slow down, stay safe, and adjust without letting frustration take over.

Then we nerd out on paddling gear design in Canada: why Recreational Barrel Works started in 2001, how canoe packs and lightweight waterproof liners solve everyday packing problems, and why a truly waterproof map case needs the right zipper and real testing. If you care about canoe tripping gear, food storage, bear safety habits, and smart solutions built by paddlers who actually use them, you’ll get plenty to take back to your next trip. Subscribe, share the episode with a canoe buddy, and leave a review with your go-to food storage setup.

https://recreationalbarrelworks.com/

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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A paddleboard in the backcountry sounds like a stunt until you hear the method behind it. We sit down with Marybeth from Paddle Adventurer, an adventure guide and outdoor content creator who’s been running backcountry stand-up paddleboard trips for years and showing Canadians what’s possible with an inflatable SUP and the right skills.

We get practical about what makes backcountry paddleboarding work: choosing a durable inflatable board, understanding volume and weight limits, packing so your camping gear stays secure on the deck, and using bungees, D-rings, and smart weight placement to help your board track straight. Marybeth also explains why you don’t always need to stand, how kneeling or adding a seat changes stability, and why practising falling off and self rescue is part of responsible paddling, not an afterthought.

Safety comes up again and again, from Transport Canada requirements like PFDs and whistles to leash choices, including quick release systems for moving water. Marybeth also shares what winter paddling looks like on Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes, why shoreline ice can be deceptively dangerous, and how to decide when turning back is the best call. Along the way, we talk about learning in public, embracing failure, and trying new things even when you feel like Bambi on day one.

If you like canoe camping, SUP touring, outdoor safety, Ontario paddling routes, or you just want a new way to get outside, you’ll get both inspiration and real-world tactics here. Subscribe, share this with a paddling friend, and leave a review with your biggest question about backcountry paddleboarding.

https://paddleadventurer.com/

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

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The Spanish River has a way of teaching fast. On days three and four of our canoe trip, we went from “pretty comfortable on lakes” to getting humbled by rockered whitewater boats that love to wander. With about 25 kilometres on day three, we felt every little twitch in the hull, zigzagged more than we’d like to admit, and learned how much energy it takes to find a clean rhythm when the boat is built to turn. The good news: moving water gives back. Once we started trusting the current and making smarter choices, the kilometres stopped feeling impossible.

A big part of the growth came from structured practice. Beth coached us through ferry angles, eddy entries, and the kind of boat control that turns swifts from stressful to satisfying. We also talk candidly about mistakes, including dumping three times over four days and the fully loaded swim that came down to miscommunication, a bad angle, and one classic error: grabbing the gunnels. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens to your gear in a flip, we get into what stayed put, what popped out, and why packing discipline matters on river trips.

We wrap with the practical stuff that doesn’t make highlight reels but absolutely matters: low water scraping, getting hung up, spacing your group so nobody is out of reach, and the value of a guided trip where the guide can also cook. (Bill’s camp meals deserve their own segment.) If you’re planning a Spanish River canoe trip, levelling up your moving-water skills, or just want an honest triplog with real lessons, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode with a paddling buddy, and leave a review so more Canadian campers can find us.

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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Smoke-choked skies, waves breaking over the canoe, and a plan that has to work even when there’s no cell signal. That’s the reality of the kind of wilderness canoe tripping Eric and Hillary from Tailwinds North love most, and they join us to share what it actually takes to travel farther off the beaten path without turning every day into a crisis. 

We start with how their story grows from paddling around Bancroft and Algonquin into bigger routes like the Yukon River, the Snake River, and a fly-in canoe trip to the East Arm of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. They walk us through the trip planning process they use each winter: researching maps and trip reports, checking satellite imagery, sorting logistics like boats and access, and then getting into the gritty details of backcountry food prep and dehydrated meals. If you’ve ever wondered how people make 11 to 15 day trips feel manageable, you’ll hear the systems and habits that make the difference. 

Then the conversation turns to the moments that test your judgement. Eric and Hillary describe paddling through heavy wildfire smoke in the Yukon and how they used an inReach device, firefighter guidance, and constant observation to stay safe. We also unpack a humbling Great Slave Lake launch that goes sideways fast, plus what they learned about wind, cold water, spray decks, and when to call it and head for shore. Along the way we talk flatwater versus whitewater, fishing plans that assume you’ll catch nothing, and why time is the hardest resource to budget. 

If you’re into canoe camping, remote paddling routes, Ontario Crown land, or Yukon and Northwest Territories adventures, you’ll leave with practical planning tips and a clearer sense of what “prepared” really means. Subscribe for more, share this with a paddling friend, and leave a review, what’s the biggest trip you’re planning next?

https://www.youtube.com/@tailwindsnorth

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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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