The Tobeatic Wilderness Area(Wiki link) is a 120,000 hectare are in southwest Nova Scotia adjacent to Kejimkujik National Park. It’s protected from industrial use and development, leaving it for low impact recreation only. It is the largest and most spectacular forested area in the Maritime provinces and makes for amazing canoe trips. This is my third multi-day trip here.

On the Easter Long weekend we hit the water at Jake’s Landing for a canoe trip across the Tobeatic Wilderness Area in rural Nova Scotia. We planned on an adventurous 4-day trip, with supplies for 5 just in case. I’ve been back here before, although not on this exact planned route. At the last minute we made plans to meet up with good friends from Cape LaHave Adventures on the first day through Keji.

We were ahead of them as we each planned our car shuttle separately and differently due to last minute planning. The Cass and Doug team made arrangement for our car to be moved after we were on the water. The Cape LaHave team had to do the shuttle in the morning before starting, so they were a bit delayed.

The first day was blowy. Even with our early start, Kejimkujik Lake was a bit more rowdy than usual and made for a tough crossing. We managed. The rest of the day was blowy but easier on the smaller lakes.

The next two days were blowing hard. We ferried across lakes from one island or erratic to another and stayed close to the leeward side of the lake as much as possible.

Our trip was full of portages, wind, and ticks, but also full of adventure, paddle strokes and beautiful scenery. Every time I come back here I am always surprised at the size of the erratics on the land and in the lakes. Such a unique landscape not found in other areas of the province. Two lakes in particular, Siskech and House, really shine on the erratic display.

As a bonus Cass got to experience her first whitewater. She did some swifts and some class 1! Learned how to scout, and portage around too. It’s all about decisions. After-all, this was at the end of a long tiring day.

We ended our trip on the morning of the fifth day at an area called Indian Fields where our car was waiting. Although we did opt to walk a 5km road to the car instead of doing a number of portages for minimal paddling in a particularly rowdy area of the Roseway River. Driving back up to where we left our gear, made the ending fairly easy.