The wilderness park itself is over 3,000 acres and is named after gold rush pioneer John Bowron. The world-famous Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit takes you through six major lakes: Indianpoint, Isaac, Lanezi, Sandy, Spectacle and Bowron. To make the circuit you’ll also pass through several more smaller lakes and streams, with a few portages along the way. Total length is 72 miles (116km) with about 6 miles (10km) of that being portages. You can complete the circuit in six or seven days, but once you experience the beauty and excellent fishing, you’ll probably extend your stay.
Hugging the border between the United and States and Canada is the most incredible series of lakes, rivers and streams carved out of the Earth by glaciers. This is wilderness at its most pristine, so don’t be surprised if you never see another human being. There are more than 1,200 miles of canoe trails to choose from. We’ve mapped out a route that would take you from Gunflint in the East all the way to Ely in the western portions of the boundary waters. If you want to go extremely remote, you’ll need to be flown in. If you don’t want to carry much food, be sure to bring your fishing pole and enjoy the smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and lake trout.
One of the island groups that make up the Aegean archipelago, Cyclades literally refers to the islands surrounding the sacred island of Delos, the destination of this particular route through the islands. Delos has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC, and was already a holy place a thousand years before Olympian Greek mythology came along and claimed it as the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. Of course, you can stop anywhere and everywhere you want. The islands offer deep blue seas, sandy beaches and whitewashed fishing villages for the quintessential Greek experience.
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway offers hundreds of miles of paddling through a network of lakes, streams and rivers. We’ve laid out a route that takes you from Chamberlain Lake in the south to where the Allagash River meets up with the St. John River. There are a few stretches of whitewater on the Allagash, so novices should plan their trip for mid-June or later, after all the snowmelt has made its way through and things mellow out a bit. This is northern wilderness, so you’ll be keeping an eye out for bald eagles, moose, bear, bobcat and osprey.
More than 40 islands forming an archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand, the Ang Thong (Golden Bowl) National Marine Park has more pristine white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, mysterious caves and amazing snorkeling than you can shake a fin at. Be sure to put in at Ko Mae Ko (Mother Island) and hike up over the limestone cliffs to behold Thale Nai, an emerald saltwater lake. Other highlights include Ko Sam Sao (Tripod Island) with its extensive coral reef and Wua Talap Island (Sleeping Cow). On the latter, take the time to climb up to the island’s high point to get a panoramic view of the entire archipelago as well as the mainland.
The St. Regis Canoe Area is the largest wilderness area in the northeastern US devoted solely to paddling, which means no cars, no motorboats, no airplanes. Ask a few different people about the path of the Seven Carries Route and you’ll get as many answers. We’ve laid out a trail that connects two historic inns: The Paul Smith’s Hotel (which burned down in 1930 and is now the site of Paul Smith’s College) and the Saranac Inn. This is a relatively short trip with just one overnight. Once you’ve had a taste of what this area offers, you may want to go deeper into the backcountry with the Nine Carries Loop. And if you’re wondering why the word “carries” is in the title, you probably need a bit more experience before taking this trek.
Most people don’t know much about Siberia and even fewer ever make the journey, but it’s worth it to paddle Lake Baikal. This lake is massive – it’s the world’s deepest and oldest, holding one-fifth of all the world’s fresh water. We’ve laid out a journey that takes you around one of the lake’s largest islands, Insel Olchon, which is just one of a nearly endless array of canoeing opportunities. Of the 1,700 species of plants and animals in the area, nearly two-thirds are found nowhere else in the world. It takes a lot of work to keep a lake that deep full – Baikal is fed by several rivers and more than 300 mountain streams.
Florida’s southern tip can be paddled two different ways: Following completely inland routes or weaving in and out of the Gulf Coast. The route laid out here roughly follows the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway along the coast. Overnight camping occurs on chickees, platforms whose design comes from the traditional homes of the Seminole Indians. They will keep you out of reach of the alligators. Looking for wildlife? Here’s the rundown: 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals (including the elusive Florida panther) and 50 species of reptiles. With that kind of diversity, you’re bound to see something interesting.
The Galapagos are a collection of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean scattered around the equator to the west of Ecuador’s mainland. It was the high numbers of species unique to the island that prompted Charles Darwin to spend time exploring the area. What he observed in the Galapagos contributed to his theories of evolution and natural selection. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the most fascinating wildlife in the world, including the Marine iguana (the only iguana that feeds in the sea), Blue-footed booby and Galapagos giant tortoise. There’s even the world’s only tropical penguin called, of course, the Galapagos penguin.
This seaside adventure will take you from Vietri Sul Mare, known for its ceramics, to Amalfi and then on to the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula to the Baia di Leranto Natural Area. Be sure to make a pit stop in Ravello, considered by many to be the most romantic and picturesque town in southern Italy. You’ll enjoy vistas with terraced vineyards and fishing boats as you paddle along this beautiful coastline. Indulge yourself all along the way with shore-side gelato, cappuccino and fine seafood – you’ll be working it off when you get back in the canoe.