What this is
River & Loom is a documentation archive for canoe and kayak routes in Canada. The information here draws from actual trips on Ontario waterways, British Columbia lake circuits, and Quebec river systems. Route notes are updated after new paddling seasons, and gear references reflect what has held up over multiple years of backcountry travel rather than what is currently marketed.
The focus is practical: portage distances, campsite quality, water levels by month, and gear that has proven itself in cold Canadian conditions. Nothing here is sponsored. Route assessments reflect what a solo or small-group paddler will encounter, not what a guided tour company would highlight.
How content is organized
Articles fall into three categories. Route guides cover specific waterway systems with access point coordinates, portage difficulty ratings, and seasonal notes. Gear references compare equipment categories — paddles, PFDs, dry bags — based on field use rather than retail specifications. Safety documentation follows Transport Canada guidelines and incorporates feedback from the Ontario Recreational Canoe and Kayak Association.
Internal links connect related topics. A guide to the Algonquin interior links to portage technique notes; water safety articles reference gear selection. The goal is a usable reference that rewards reading across topics rather than treating each article as isolated.
The team behind it
Marcus Tully
Routes editor. Has paddled the Bowron Lakes circuit four times and the Temagami interior annually since 2014.
Priya Shenkar
Gear documentation. Cold-water kayaker based in Winnipeg. Contributes PFD and dry-suit reviews.
Claude Renard
Quebec river systems. Focuses on the Ottawa River tributaries and whitewater grading methodology.
Contact and corrections
Route conditions change between seasons. If a portage landing has shifted, a campsite has been decommissioned, or a regulation has been updated, corrections are welcome at info@riverandloom.org. Response time is typically within one week during spring and fall paddling seasons.