Canoe Trip Packing List: Everything You Need for a Canoe Camping Trip

Looking for a great canoe trip packing list? Here are the best tips for how to pack for a canoe trip!

Canoe camping is one of the most fun outdoor adventures you can take! I’ve been canoe camping since I was a child and I’ve learned a lot over the years. Lucky for you, I’ve made all of the mistakes one can make when it comes to packing, and I’ve narrowed my canoe trip packing list down to perfection!

This post is all about the best canoe trip packing list.

Canoe Trip Basics

The first item on our list will be a canoe. If you don’t own a canoe I recommend checking your local outfitter for their rental options. You should rent a canoe that weighs 50 pounds or less, especially if you’re doing a lot of portaging. Most local outfitters include canoe paddles, lifejackets and a bail kit with each rental. Ensure your paddles are appropriate for your height, that your lifejacket is the correct size and inspect your canoe for any damages before beginning your trip.

Safety

Safety is a really important topic when in the backcountry and when on the water. Canoe camping can be a challenging but really fun experience and it’s really important to have all safety items in place so that you are prepared if an issue comes up. Whether that be bad weather and water conditions, an injury or illness, or a bad encounter with wildlife. You can’t always control these things from happening but you can be prepared when they do.

Location Research

One of the most important things to do before leaving on your trip is to research the location thoroughly and develop a complete understanding of the area and the trail you are taking. Identify camp locations, distances, a turn back point, and water sources. Other important items to research include who to call for help, identify threats to safety such as understanding wildlife behaviour, what to do if you encounter them and how to store food safely, and research weather warnings including storms, aggressive winds, flooding and fire rules.

Each location has their own challenges and things to be aware of. Researching the location in advance both on the organization’s website and reading past experiences from other travellers will allow you to be prepared for your trip.

Navigation

When it comes to navigation most people think of a map and compass which is great! It’s essential to always bring a hard copy of a map even if you have a copy on your phone. Additionally, I never enter the backcountry without my SOS device. An SOS device is a satellite messenger meaning that it can be connected to emergency services regardless of if there is cell reception available (and there usually isn’t). There are multiple device options available. Some only let you contact EMS (when needed) and others allow you to message with family and friends in addition to having an SOS button.

I own the Garmin inReach Mini and I love it. I can send messages to my parents with a trip update and my exact GPS coordinates so they know I’m safe. The other great thing about the Garmin devices is that they can be used for navigation via the satellite connection. I use this as my main source of navigation and have my paper map as back-up.

Water Safety

1) Lifejacket

When canoe camping we obviously spend a lot of time on the water each day. Regardless of swimming ability, everyone in the canoe should be wearing a lifejacket. As a certified lifeguard myself, I have seen way too many situations where a strong swimmer gets into a bad situation because they rely on the fact that they can swim. Even if you can swim, water currents, weather, physical ability and health risk factors all come into play. Being in the backcountry, where you don’t have easy and quick access to help, it’s so important to ensure you are wearing all necessary safety equipment any time you are on the water.

Not all lifejackets are made equal. If you are looking to purchase a lifejacket, make sure you look to buy a paddling one as it gives you more range of motion for long days in the canoe. Here is a great affordable paddling lifejacket option.

2) Whistle

Many lifejackets come with a whistle, but if your renting one or yours doesn’t have one, it’s important to also be wearing a whistle to call for help. This classic Fox 40 whistle is a great and affordable option. It also works after it’s been wet which is essential.

3) Emergency Bag

Every canoe camper should carry an emergency bag that can be used if you had to ditch your boat in an emergency and could only grab 1 thing. This bag should have everything you need to survive at least 1 overnight. My emergency bag is a bright yellow dry bag. It includes the following:

• 1-2 emergency meals
• Tarp for a temporary shelter
• Rope
• Fire starter & lighter
• Hand saw
• Emergency blanket
• Water filtration system
• SOS device
• First aid kit

4) Canoe Recovery Practice

You never know what can happen on the water. It’s important to know how to recovery your canoe and practice this before you go out on your trip. I’ve linked some of my favourite resources below. If it’s your first trip I highly recommend a guide or group trip lead by a guide as they will help you develop these skills.

• Tandem Paddling and Basic Rescue Techniques
• How to Deal with a Flipped Canoe
• How to Empty a Swamped Canoe from the Water
• How to Keep Your Canoe From Flipping

First Aid Kit

You can purchase a small and ready made first aid kit online or you can make your own. If you’re making your own you should include the following at a minimum:

• Bandages
• Gloves
• Adhesive tape
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Triangular bandage & safety pins
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauze rolls and pads
• First aid manual
• Medication (pain, cold, allergy, nausea/upset stomach pills and epi-pen if needed)

Campsite Safety 

1) Location Specific Items

Based on your earlier research of the trail and wildlife, you can add in here the specific items that you might need. For example, if you’re in bear country, you will need to bring bear spray or if there are poisonous snakes on trail, a snake bite kit.

2) Food Storage

Again, depending on the location you will need to plan for food storage. Some places require bear canisters, some have bear lockers or bear hang available and some places require you to bear hang yourself. I did bear hangs for years and find it quite tedious now. I prefer to travel with a bear canister (if permitted). It might be a little extra weight but it makes your life way easier at camp! See below for more information on food storage in bear country:

• Backpacking Food Storage
• What to do in a Bear Encounter (And How to Avoid One)
• Bear Spray Scenarios & Demonstration

3) Leave No Trace Principles

Following the Leave No Trace Principles is an essential part of being in the backcountry. These guidelines help everyone understand how to enjoy the environment in a responsible way and take action to protect it for years to come. To learn more information about Leave No Trace, I highly recommend checking out this REI video.

Backpack

At least a 40L backpack is required on most trips. If you’re going for longer you might want to look into a larger bag. Depending on the type of outdoor adventures you plan to do in the future you have a few options. If you only plan on canoe camping then I’d recommend a canoe pack. This bag is waterproof and will serve you well on all canoe camping adventures by keeping your camp equipment dry no matter the conditions. If you plan on doing a little bit of everything (backpacking, canoe camping, overseas travel), then I’d recommend a backpacking backpack. This type of bag is designed for any excursion and built to carry weight really well. If you’re using this kind of bag while canoe camping, I recommend putting gear that must stay dry in dry bags and using a packliner.

Shelter

There are many options for a shelter when canoe camping. The shelter you choose will depend on the time of year, weather conditions, landscape and what you feel most comfortable with. Of course, there is the classic tent set-up but there are also hammock camping options and tarp tents. I spent one summer hammock camping and I loved it! But then a little puppy joined my family and I reverted back to the classic tent shelter option. I bought my tent on Amazon 3 years ago and it has held up so well in all kinds of weather, I highly recommend checking it out!

Sleep System

You might be wondering – what is a sleep system? A sleep system is a combination of gear that helps you have the best sleep possible in the backcountry. After a long day of paddling or hiking, it’s essential to get a good night’s sleep which means being as comfortable as possible while sleep on the ground. The essentials include a sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Depending on your camping habits you will want to consider the type of sleeping bag and pad you are looking for, they are not all the same. Both have temperature ratings for warm or cooler weather. In addition, it is important to think about the weight of these items. If you plan to do long trips in the future, it’s important to purchase light and packable items.

I opt for a 3-season sleep system as this allows me to sleep comfortably in spring, summer and fall in Canada. This is my favourite 3-season sleeping pad – it’s also really affordable. This is my favourite 3-season sleeping bag. A packable pillow is also a really nice item to have but it’s not essential. If you’re on a budget, put your clothes in a pillowcase or your pack liner and use that as your pillow. This is my favourite packable pillow, fun fact – they upcycle bits of sleeping pads to make this!

Camp Kitchen

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to a camp kitchen. Some campers like to do a full meal prep in the backcountry, some like to simply eat freeze dried meals (me) and others sit somewhere in between. Depending on your preferences you can add to this set-up as needed:

• Pot
• Stove
• Spork
• Fuel
• Lighter
• Water bottle
• Foldable sink
• Microfiber cloth
• Garbage bag
• Biodegradable soap
• Food storage container (dry bag, bear resistant bag, bear canister)

Water Purification

The great news about canoe camping is that you will have easy access to water. There are many options for filtering or purifying water. My favourite for canoe camping is the Platypus GravityWorks System. It is great for long trips and large groups. For backup I always carry water purification tablets. I include these in my emergency bag and they are also good to have incase something goes wrong with your filter system. For more information about water treatment I highly recommend reviewing this REI video.

Another item I keep with my water filtration kit is electrolyte tablets. These are great for two things, the first being that they help with hydration after long days in the sun, and the second is that the taste of warm lake water gets old, really quickly. Electrolyte tablets like, nuun tablets, are great to help with the taste of water and also with hydration.

Food

The key thing about packing food for your canoe trip is that you need to plan a menu for each day. Throwing random ingredients into a food bag will have you dragging around way too much food and trust me, you’ll regret it on the long portages. I recommend planning breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and at least 3 snacks for each day. In addition, depending on the length of your trip and how deep you are in the backcountry, you should account for at least 1 emergency meal, incase you have to spend an extended period of time waiting for rescue. I opt for freeze dried meals as they are lightweight, easy to prep and clean up and most of them taste pretty good.

Personal Care

This category will change from person to person and in different seasons. This is what I recommend bringing as a baseline and you can add or take-away items as needed.

• Mineral sunscreen (it is important to wear mineral only as it’s safest for waterways)
• Toothpaste tabs – lightweight, low waste and you can bring the exact amount that you need
• Biodegradable soap – Campsuds can be used for dishes and body/hair as needed
• Quick dry towel
• Hairbrush & hair ties (if needed)
• Toilet paper
• Portable bidet
• Trowel – learn more about the backcountry bathroom situation here
• Prescription medication
• Lip balm with SPF
• Bug spray
• Hand sanitizer

Electronics

When it comes to electronics on the water, the most important thing is to store them in a dry bag to ensure they do not get water damage. I don’t bring many electronic items into the backcountry but these are the ones I recommend bringing:

• Head lamp – I got this amazing rechargeable headlamp on Amazon and I’ve been using it for years
• Powerbank – this cool solar one is a good option
• Phone – I recommend using your phone for photos but if necessary you could also bring a camera
• Phone charger

Clothing

When canoe camping you want to pack clothing that I call “outdoor clothes” meaning that they are either built for the outdoors (durable) or its clothing that you don’t mind if it gets ruined. It’s important to avoid cotton for all clothing items as it holds smell and doesn’t dry quickly. Here is an outline of what I pack on each trip:

• Swimsuit – depends on season
• T-Shirt x1
• Shorts x1 
• Sleep clothes x1 
• Thermal layer x1 – depends on season 
• Under garments – avoid cotton if you can
• Socks x1 for camp
• Hiking boots/shoes – depends on season (I wear a hiking sandal in the summer and a boot in the off-seasons)
• Camp sandal (light flip flops, because you don’t want to be in your wet shoes/sandals all evening)
• Hat
• Sunglasses (polarized is best)
• Raincoat + pants – this doubles as bug gear 
• Bug net – depends on season (necessary in June and July in Canada)

There you have it! This post was all about the best canoe trip packing list. Happy paddling!