High Falls Paddle, Explore & Dine
Check our our most popular guided adventure!
4071 Elephant Lake Road, Harcourt, ON
Choose a Kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard
$50 Children/$159 Youth/$189 Adults
5 hours - 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
48 hours pre-registration required
Details & Itinerary
This 5 hour guided adventure will have you paddling up the York River into Algonquin Park in your watercraft of choice (kayak or paddleboard) and then hiking up the gorgeous boulder-strewn banks of the York River past rapids and waterfalls until you get to High Falls! There guests can enjoy time in and around the waterfall and a sumptuous meal provided by our partners AM/PM Outdoor Gourmet! After lunch and time with the water we will hike and paddle back to the Outpost.
Departs 10:30 am
From 4071 Elephant Lake Road.
Available any day that the guide and equipment are available. Groups may be on their own or with other groups depending on who books each day. This day trip is a wonderful team building and bonding activity for work, family or friends! Please note there is a 10% discount when you book 8-12 people and a 15% discount when you book 13-20. (Discounts will be seen on your invoice.)
Please note that a minimum 48 hour pre-registration is required.
Schedule
- 10:15 am – Group meets at Deep Roots Adventure to sign waivers and be outfitted with safety equipment.
- by 10:30 am – Group departs from dock.
- 3:30 pm approximate return time from trip.
What You Should Bring
- Weather appropriate clothing for paddling and hiking
- Sturdy hiking shoes for portion on foot
- Refillable water bottle
- Sunhat/Sunglasses
- Bug Repellant (esp. in spring)
- Sunblock
- Bathing Suit/Towel
- Small Bag for transporting items
- *Sunblock, bug repellant, sunglasses and other things are available in our retail shop.
What About The Weather?
You should check the weather the day before to ensure you dress appropriately. As weather is so changeable, and is often predicted differently one day to the next, we ask that you don’t look at it too far in advance. We go rain or shine unless it is scheduled to downpour all day, or if there is a very high risk of Thunderstorm. Talk to our team if you have any concerns. If we have to cancel the event due to weather we will offer to reschedule or refunds if rescheduling is not possible.
Frequently Asked
- Q. Are there biting insects? A. Yes. They are the most present early in the spring, after Mother’s Day into June. Not as many through summer, and almost none in the early fall. We recommend finding an insect repellant that you like, and wearing long, loose, light coloured layers and/or bug jackets to make bug season more enjoyable.
- Q. Is this an appropriate trip for beginners? A. Yes! This is a great trip for beginners!
- Q. Is this trip not recommended for anyone? A. Yes, if you have knee or hip problems, injuries etc., this trip may be uncomfortable for you as we hike over roots and rocks and it is very uneven.
- Q. Can I bring my pet? A. Yes. So long as your animal is well behaved, used to people and the water, and can be kept on a leash they are welcome. We reserve the right to refuse any animal that we think may cause issues for the group.
Cancellation/Refunds
Refund Policy
PLEASE BE ADVISED that we will only issue a 50% refund for cancellations within 72 hours of your reservation, and there is no refund available if you cancel within 48 hours of your scheduled rental or event.
High Falls Paddle, Plein Air & Dine
A guided adventure for people who want to paint and sketch in nature!
4071 Elephant Lake Road, Harcourt, ON
Kayaking and Hiking
$204 Youth/$224 Adults
Various Dates Available
10 am to 4 pm
Details & Itinerary
Fall Dates: Sat, Sept 16 & Sat, Oct 14
Join local artist Gary Blundell of Hotspur Studio for a paddle up the York River into Algonquin Park by kayak, to a beautiful section full of tumbledown, moss covered boulders, crevasses, beautiful flora and fauna and waterfalls!
Here you will be able to chose your spot(s) for the plein air medium of your choice (please bring your own personal painting or sketching materials and equipment). Gary will assist guests in learning and embracing plein air.
Our guide will set up a gourmet meal provided by AM/PM Outdoor Gourmet at the waterfall for guests to enjoy midway through the day.
Schedule
- 10:00 am – Group meets at Deep Roots Adventure to sign waivers and be outfitted with safety equipment.
- by 10:15 – Group departs from dock.
- 4:00 pm approximate return time from trip.
What You Should Bring
- Art supplies and equipment of your chosen medium
- Weather appropriate clothing for paddling and hiking
- Sturdy hiking shoes for portion on foot
- Refillable water bottle
- Sunhat/Sunglasses
- Bug Repellant (esp. in spring)
- Sunblock
- Bathing Suit/Towel
- Small Bag for transporting items
- *Sunblock, bug repellant, sunglasses and other things are available in our retail shop.
What About The Weather?
You should check the weather the day before to ensure you dress appropriately. As weather is so changeable, and is often predicted differently one day to the next, we ask that you don’t look at it too far in advance. We go rain or shine unless it is scheduled to downpour all day, or if there is a very high risk of Thunderstorm. Talk to our team if you have any concerns. If we have to cancel the event due to weather we will offer to reschedule or refunds if rescheduling is not possible. *For this event we do have a rain day scheduled for the Saturday after the date booked. We will change dates if there is risk on ongoing rain.
Frequently Asked
- Q. Are there biting insects? A. Yes. They are the most present early in the spring, after Mother’s Day into June. Not as many through summer, and almost none in the early fall. We recommend finding an insect repellant that you like, and wearing long, loose, light coloured layers and/or bug jackets to make bug season more enjoyable.
- Q. Is this an appropriate trip for beginners? A. Yes! This is a great trip for beginners!
- Q. Is this trip not recommended for anyone? A. Yes, if you have knee or hip problems, injuries etc., this trip may be uncomfortable for you as we hike over roots and rocks and it is very uneven.
- Q. Can I bring my pet? A. Yes. So long as your animal is well behaved, used to people and the water, and can be kept on a leash they are welcome. We reserve the right to refuse any animal that we think may cause issues for the group.
Cancellation/Refunds
Refund Policy
PLEASE BE ADVISED that we will only issue a 50% refund for cancellations within 72 hours of your reservation, and there is no refund available if you cancel within 48 hours of your scheduled rental or event.
Gary Blundell - Hotspur Studio
Guest Artist
We are very excited to welcome guest artist, Gary Blundell to host a Paddle, Plein Air and Dine this year!
Gary and his wife Victoria Ward have a wonderfully simple way of putting what they do. “We are painters and live in rural Ontario, in a log cabin, in the Boreal Forest.”
They have been exploring the area around the Deep Roots Adventure Kingscote Outpost for many years, and in particular have been documenting the old Martin Lumber Mill and the beauty of the machinery and buildings left behind against the natural flora and fauna creeping in around it.
They have an exhibition on now called ‘Sourcing the Canal’ at the Bytown Museum in Ottawa that runs until October 8th. Their exhibition ‘(Re)inventing Wilderness’ is on at the Tom Thomson Gallery in Owen Sound from September 9th through December 2nd. It will feature their work and paintings and photographs by Tom Thomson from their permanent collection.
Check out Gary’s CV and Artist Statement to learn more about him, and you can find more of his (and Victoria’s) wonderful work all at http://www.hotspurstudio.com/. If people need help with selecting art materials they are more than welcome to contact Gary at garyandvic65@yahoo.com.
Upcoming Events
Check out our events calendar (below) for all pre-scheduled guided hikes (in hikers or snowshoes), guided day trips, workshops and other events!
Pre-registration is required for all guided day trips and events.
You can book a custom workshop or guided day trip for your group any time if we have equipment and guides available. Please email us with custom inquiries at info@deeprootsadventure.com
