Next Summer I would like to give my wife the experience of a train in/out canoe trip but here are the problems.
She can paddle, but due to some mobility issues she can walk short distances with a cane so the days of portaging are behind her and white water is limited to maybe a little class 1 at the most. We are in Northern Ontario and about an hour from White River so the Budd car jumps out.
She is not big on traveling every day so it would be a travel day followed by a rest day type of trip. thinking of something along the lines of 4 to 5 normal travel days that we will stretch out.
Anyone more familiar with the area have any suggestions?

_________________
Cheers
Rob

You could easily spend 4-5 days paddling around Biscotasi. Great fishing, plenty of nice campsites, and the train drops you off in the small community where there is a general store with an LCBO

for some reason I never thought about just exploring one of the lakes. Bisco would work but maybe something a little more remote.
Anyone have any suggestions?

_________________
Cheers
Rob

Ramsey lake would be another good option, or get out at one of the stops on the Spanish where the raps aren't anything over an easy C2. You could slowly make you're way down a bit of the river and then get back on the Budd car to head home.

A friend and I did a trip on the Budd car this summer. We got on in Sudbury and rode to Ramsey Lake,(Turnbull Creek), We paddled the creek to Ramsey Lake, to Biscotasi Lake, to Indian Lake, back to Biscotasi Lake then into Biscotasing to catch the train out.
Ramsey Lake was quite busy with motor boats, and most sites were occupied. Biscotasi Lake was less busy, and had more campsites to chose from. Indian Lake was spectacular and only a short well maintained portage from Biscotasi Lake to get there. There was an old golf cart at the portage, if it was running it could have easily travelled portage. There is also rail cart in the water to portage between the lakes, we did it one way, but coming back it was decided that walking was faster.
In your situation, I would suggest the Budd car to Biscotasing, then paddle around and camp on Biscotasi Lake going in the direction of the portage to Indian Lake, There is a dock there as well. At that time you could check out the portage and decide if going to Indian Lake is possible. Indian Lake is worth the trip and we only saw one other boat in there. I have a video on YouTube if you are interested I could send a link.
Good Luck.

Thanks for asking this question. I am curious about going from the stop at Ramsey or Turnbull creek train stop to the Biscotasing and hoping to see some more responses to you question.

tlcasper thanks, if your video is four parts, I watched it last night and by what I saw, starting at Turnbull Creek looks doable for us. My wife is not afraid of a little work and ya, it may take her some time to do a short portage but I an not as young as I used to be and would probably be triple carrying the ports so she would have the time taking breaks as needed.
Any more info you have would be greatly appreciated.
My wife has been back country camping with me for y

_________________
Cheers
Rob

Hi, Rob. That was my video. The train portion of the trip is quite fun, loading your gear on the train and then taking a seat to relax and enjoy the scenery, to the chatter with other passengers about their plans, to unloading and seeing the train go off into the distance, these were all highlights.
The portages are short and well maintained, and from the train to the water at both ends was short yet the lakes were great interesting paddles. I would do this trip again, and possibly explore Indian Lake more. We never felt rushed at all, with the only time consideration being, getting back to catch your train. We spent our last night about 10km from Biscotasing to ease the concern of bad weather on extraction day.
I would love to hear about the trip, good luck.