Super Good Camping Podcast

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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 choice...

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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...

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A train drops us at Cartier, we heave canoes and packs onto the gravel, and suddenly we’re committed. No road noise, no easy exits, just a rail stop, a portage, and the start of our Spanish River canoe trip. We’re Tim and Thomas, and we’re recording from camp on a cool, overcast June day in Northern Ontario with rapids behind us and a whole lot of bug pressure in the air. 

We break down the travel day in plain language: the train timing, meeting other riders, unloading fast, and pad...

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The internet makes backcountry adventure look effortless, but the real story is usually messier, colder, and a lot more human. We sit down with Marty Morissette to talk about what happens when the season of life that built your outdoor identity shifts under your feet and how you choose what to carry forward.

We dig into the Hamilton Adventure Expo, the outdoor community that keeps people coming back, and why Marty builds his talks around storytelling instead of “perfect” trip reports. He shares how a mentor’s stories lit the spark when h...

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A canoe shop owner admitting he’s not in the “canoe business” so much as the “canoe logistics business” is the kind of honesty we love, and it’s exactly where this chat goes. We’re recording live from the Hamilton Adventure Expo with Greg Robertson from Organic Boat Shop, with a classic Ontario snow dump on the way, and somehow that makes everything feel even more Canadian: planning paddling season while bracing for winter. 

We get into how outdoor shows kick-start trip planning, gear research, and that first spark of motivation to b...

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Ontario just opened the door to drinking throughout provincial parks, not only at your own campsite, and we can’t stop thinking about what that changes on the ground. We’re Pamela and Tim from Supergoodcamping.com, and while we understand the appeal of relaxing outdoors, we’re worried the new Ontario Parks alcohol rules will bring more than “summer vibes.” When alcohol shows up on trails, at busy beaches, and around launch points, it can shift a park from peaceful to unpredictable, especially for families who come for quiet, nature, and a sense of s...

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Old growth forest, forgotten portages, and the kind of canoe routes that only exist as long as people keep travelling them. We’re live at the Hamilton Adventure Expo talking with Mike from Friends Of Temagami, a 100% volunteer-driven nonprofit founded in 1995 that works to protect Temagami’s remaining old growth and keep backcountry access from quietly disappearing.

Mike breaks down what stewardship looks like in practice: choosing where trail maintenance matters most, clearing tough routes in places like Solace Wildlands, improving campsites, and installing thunder boxes they build themselves. We also get...

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Your phone shows sunshine, the clouds look wrong, and you’re two days deep into the backcountry with no signal. Now imagine the one tool that could confirm what’s coming next goes silent. That’s the gut-level concern we dig into as we talk about Environment and Climate Change Canada winding down the weather radio network and pushing Canadians toward online updates like the WeatherCAN app and the ECCC website.

We get specific about why weather radio has mattered for camping safety in Canada, not just as a nice-to-have, but as a b...

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A stranger walks up holding an old canoe book and says, “You signed this to my dad 35 years ago.” Minutes later, Kevin Callan signs it again for the next generation and the whole Hamilton Adventure Expo suddenly feels like a small world. That’s where our livestream chat begins, and it sets the tone for a conversation about how canoe camping stories stick, how outdoor skills get passed along, and why community is the real reason these shows matter.

We dig into Kevin’s idea of “ultimate canoe routes” and why he opens his...

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A carbon fibre canoe paddle can sound like something meant for elite racers, but Chris from Ripple FX Paddles makes a convincing case that the right design is actually about making paddling simpler, smoother, and less punishing on your body. We’re live at the Hamilton Adventure Expo as he shares what it’s like to bring a new gear business into the real world, talk face-to-face with trippers, and watch people’s reactions when they pick up an eight-ounce paddle for the first time. 

We get into the story behind Ripple...

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Your meals can make or break a camping trip and most problems start before you even leave the driveway. We walk through the no-drama way we plan and prep food so we can spend more time hiking, paddling, swimming, and hanging out with the kids, and less time digging through a soggy cooler. Tim shares his old-school grid method for mapping breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks by day, plus how that single sheet of paper prevents overpacking, forgotten ingredients, and last-minute “what’s for dinner” stress.

We get practical about the differ...

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A long haul trip can hand you the best view of your life, then toss you onto an overnight bus that makes you question every choice you’ve ever made. We sit down with Toronto author and Fly Travel Radio host Melissa Rodway to talk about the kind of travel stories that don’t fit on a postcard: chaos in Southeast Asia, the strange kindness of strangers, and the moments that turn into the memories you keep for decades.

We also get practical. Melissa shares how she builds meaningful adventure into a re...

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Ontario camping can be magical right up until the black flies find you. We get honest about what really happens from May to mid-July and beyond, then lay out a simple, workable bug plan you can actually use on your next canoe trip, backcountry route, or family car-camping weekend.

We start with a few shout outs from the broader camping community, including a lightweight carbon fibre paddle we’re excited to test on an upcoming Spanish River trip, and an epic Canada By Canoe challenge aiming to break the world record fo...

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A good wilderness trip can change your mood in a single day, but planning one can feel like a puzzle: where do you go, what’s realistic with kids, and how remote is too remote? From the floor of the Hamilton Adventure Expo, I’m flying solo while Pamela rides out a storm at home, and I sit down with Robin Sutherland of Northern Skies Resort to talk through a northern Ontario getaway that blends real backcountry energy with practical comfort.

Robin walks me through Northern Skies Resort in Algoma Country, set...

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Your phone shows a dot on a screen until it doesn’t and that’s usually the exact moment the trail splits or the shoreline stops making sense. We’re Pamela and Tim from SuperGoodCamping.com, and we’re on a mission to help families get outside with more confidence. Map skills aren’t old-school trivia; they’re the difference between a stressful guess and a calm, clear choice when you’re hiking, camping, or paddling with no service.

We dig into why paper maps still matter, especially in places where coverage is do...

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A canoe trip can be a quick highlight reel, or it can be a true short film that feels like you’re sitting in the boat, hearing the water, and watching the light change minute by minute. We sit down with Pete Park from Latitude Wilderness Films to get the inside story behind The Canoeist, his new cinematic wilderness film built around a solo paddler’s journey for peace, solitude, and meaning far from cell service and noise. 

Pete shares why he wanted to go beyond the usual first-person canoe tripping forma...

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The difference between a good camping trip and a great one is usually a few minutes of research. We’ve both shown up thinking we made a smart choice, only to learn the hard way that “quiet” depends on where your site sits, what the washrooms are like, and whether you accidentally booked beside the generator crowd.

We walk through how we research a camping destination step by step, from choosing the right park based on driving time, crowd levels, dog friendliness, and the best season to go. We share where we act...

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What if camp food didn’t taste like compromise? We sit down with Camp Kitchen’s trio—chef-driven recipes, camera in hand, design chops at the ready—and trace how a home-based certified kitchen turned into a thousand-meal launch at the Hamilton Adventure Expo. This is a ground-up build: dense proteins cut to rehydrate on time, short noodles that won’t pulverize in a pack, and breakfasts that greet you with a wave of berry aroma the instant hot water hits the bag.

Tyler walks us through the freeze-drying science that keeps flav...

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Frost on the tent, mist on the lake, and a quiet trail all to yourself—edge-season camping can be magic if you prepare for it. We break down how to stay warm, dry, and confident through early spring, late fall, or a surprise cold snap, drawing on decades of trips and a few hard-won lessons.

We start by defining what shoulder season really looks like: freeze–thaw cycles, mud and slush, shortened daylight, and the way wet gear can turn a good plan sideways. From there, we dive into practical systems. You’...

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The show floor is buzzing, but we carve out a quiet corner to trade notes with Will from Bowman Gear—a maker who turns fabric and stubborn ideas into gear that actually solves trail problems. From the first cut to the final stitch, Will walks us through two and a half months of prep for the Hamilton Adventure Expo, including a two-week, all-in push and a smart shop setup that brought his family into the flow. This isn’t factory talk; it’s real-world craft where every seam has a reason and every pocket...

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The forest is never silent; it’s full of signals that make camping safer and more meaningful once you know how to listen. We unpack a clear, field-ready approach to wildlife tracking that swaps fear for understanding—reading prints, scat, and soundscapes to predict movement and avoid conflict. From deer edges and coyote straight-line trails to the unmistakable hand-like raccoon prints that circle docks and campsites, we show how to piece together clues and build a picture of what passed by, when, and why.

We also get into the messy but usef...

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Ever dreamed of pulling a bubbling lasagna or a crispy pizza from a campfire on day five? We sit down with Denis from Kid Product to unpack the gear that makes real backcountry cooking possible: a reflector oven that turns radiant heat into even baking, a twig stove rigid enough to hold cast iron, and smart fire tools that simplify the whole routine without adding weight.

We start with the reflector oven, a compact, fold-flat design that sits in front of your fire and works like a home oven by reflecting...

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Doors opened, snow started flying, and the Hamilton Outdoor Adventure Expo doubled down on scale and energy. We walked into two buildings packed with makers, guides, and paddlers, plus a winter courtyard alive with cooking demos, hot tents, dog sleds, and even knife forging. The growth wasn’t just bigger booths; it was deeper conversations and a stronger sense of community that’s hard to capture online.

We share how our weekend unfolded: a recording sprint with creators and speakers, a hard pivot when YouTube sabotaged our livestream audio, and the reli...

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We shift from Crown land to conservation area camping and explain why these smaller, well-kept sites near Ontario’s cities are a smart choice for families, first-timers, and weekend warriors. We compare amenities, rules, and vibe, and share standout locations and booking tips.

• conservation authorities’ mission and why camping is secondary use
• southern and central Ontario locations close to cities
• highlights at Valens, Fifty Point, Guelph Lake, Rockwood, Elora Gorge, Albion Hills, Indian Line, Longwoods
• amenities that ease first trips, including showers and hookups
• reservations, quiet hours, alcohol rules...

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A rusty mug that cuts your lip. A wood stove without a door. Eighty days on Great Slave Lake will make you grateful for the little things—and will redraw your map of what matters. We sat down with winter guide and Alone Season 7 alum Kielyn Marrone to unpack how survival clarity and traditional craft can turn deep cold into deep comfort.

Kielyn traces the path from competitive athlete to outdoor educator to co‑founder of Lure of the North, guiding everyone from first‑timers at a cozy base camp to hardy...

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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 me...

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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...

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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 s...

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A beaver roommate, a septic disaster, and a storm barreling in at 2 p.m.—and somehow this became the most rewarding trip of the year. We sit down with Camper Christina to unpack a bold return to Quebec’s Route 61 after a confidence-shaking capsize, and follow her step by step through low-water puzzles, rocky R1s, and the moment she realized the “dump zone” was now a shallow wade. It’s a story about reading current, trusting training, and choosing to go anyway when life piles on.

We also wander through her new ru...

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What if your tent packed to a loaf of bread, your lantern doubled as a power bank, and your jacket helped manage heat without piling on layers? We dive into the gear that actually changes backcountry days: thin solar panels that keep phones and GPS units alive, ultralight shelters that shrug off storms, and smart fabrics that breathe, dry fast, and keep you moving when the weather flips.

We share real-world wins and pitfalls with panels from BioLite and Goal Zero, inflatable solar lights, and the trade-offs of flexible solar fabrics...

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The map looks simple until the trees vanish. Then the wind takes over, the horizon stretches for days, and every choice you make—gear, timing, route—has to respect a landscape that doesn’t bend. We sit down with Jim Gallagher and Brian Johnston, a two-person team with 16 years and 5,600 kilometres of Arctic canoe travel, to unpack how they keep remote trips calm, safe, and deeply rewarding.

They walk us through the real logistics of going north: choosing between floatplanes and wheel landings, why a pack canoe that fits in a hockey...

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You can feel the spark from the first minute: a morning coffee turned into a grassroots outdoor festival that now spans a Friday night film showcase, three packed halls, and a winter courtyard buzzing with dog sleds, fire pits, hot tents, and live demos. We’re joined by Jason and Bretton from the Hamilton Adventure Expo to trace how they kept the show independent, community-centred, and hands-on while doubling its size and raising the bar for Canadian outdoor events.

We dive into the new Adventure Film Festival at the historic Westdale Th...

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The camp stove shouldn’t be where flavour goes to die. We sat down with Liz and Wally from Wanderless Kitchen to share how they turned heirloom South Asian recipes into plant‑based dehydrated meals that pack light, rehydrate fast, and taste like home after a long day on the water or trail. Their journey starts in Lahore’s kitchens, winds through a windy first paddle on Georgian Bay, and lands in a commercial kitchen where “a pinch” gave way to spreadsheets, tilting skillets, and hard‑won texture tests.

We dig into what ma...

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What if the comfort you chase is the thing holding you back from real resilience? We sit down with Jay Carson—veteran of U.S. politics, creator behind House of Cards and The Morning Show, and now executive director of the Boulder Outdoor Survival School—to unpack how a minimalist 14-day course can reset your inner compass. From a pandemic power outage that felt apocalyptic to making friction fires and sleeping without a bag, Jay shares the skills and mindset that turned fear into capability.

We explore the philosophy behind Boss: keep...

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Ever wondered how to stay truly clean outdoors without messing up the places you love? We pull back the curtain on camp hygiene with no-nonsense tips for safe handwashing, smart dish systems, and bathroom choices that protect water, wildlife, and your stomach. From what “biodegradable” actually means to why distance from lakes matters more than you think, we break down simple routines that reduce impact and keep your campsite calm and critter-free.

We start with first principles: preventing GI illness, avoiding scents that draw animals, and making soil do the filtering work...

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A “short day” on the Temagami River can still knock the wind out of you. We set out expecting easy miles and found five portages, two line-throughs, low water, and a masterclass in patience instead. Between scraping rental hulls and threading skinny lines through swifts, we had to read the river moment by moment—scout when the tongue vanished, line when rocks stacked too tight, and save our pride for camp. It wasn’t epic in distance, but it was rich in decisions, teamwork, and small wins that add up.

We walk thr...

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Wildfire smoke, sudden downpours, and surprise park closures are rewriting the camping playbook—and we’re mapping a better way forward. From downbursts that flatten tree canopies to late-season black flies and fire bans that change by municipality, we share how our own trips have shifted and what actually works when conditions get weird. This is a practical, no-drama guide to staying safe, staying flexible, and still finding joy around the campfire when the rules of the outdoors keep changing.

We dig into the realities campers now face: how to check fire...

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Warm October sun, a gentle river, and the sweet spot between skills and ease—day two on Temagami delivered a slow-burn kind of joy. We kept the mileage short, dialled in our teamwork over breakfast, and spent the afternoon playing in friendly rapids with boats light and smiles wide. If you’ve wondered how to design a canoe-camping day that builds confidence without chasing distance, this is the blueprint.

We break down the day from a compact portage around a falls to the practical art of ferrying and S turns—how to set...

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Ready to fall in love with camping without the stress of a full-blown trip? We break down our favourite microadventure formula: a single midweek overnight at Ontario Parks within an easy drive of Toronto. Think quick packing, simple meals, and all the magic of a campfire, minus the overwhelm. Whether you’re testing the waters or introducing kids to the outdoors, this is a repeatable plan that builds confidence and joy.

We walk through how to choose parks within one to two hours of the city and why midweek bookings can tu...

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A broken train plan shouldn’t break a trip. When the Spanish River route vanished overnight after a baggage car mishap, we leaned on fast-moving outfitters, scanned our maps, and chose a new path that turned out to be exactly what we needed: Temagami by way of Red Cedar. What started as a scramble became a reminder that the best stories often arrive when the itinerary falls apart.

We walk through the decision tree—French River, Martin River, then Temagami—and why Temagami won on terrain, access, and spirit. From our Red Ce...