Kevin Callan

1 week ago | explore-mag.com | Kevin Callan

I went on my first solo canoe trip of the season last week. It was to Mair Lake—a stunning turquoise coloured lake that is part of the North Frontenac Parklands in southeastern Ontario. I didn’t choose the best weather to experience this crystal-clear waterbody. It rained, and the smoke from the western forest fires clouded up the skies as well.

2 weeks ago | explore-mag.com | Kevin Callan

I spent a week in the woods, finally! It was my annual spring canoe/fishing trip in Algonquin with my regular buddies—plus my partner’s son Jesse joined me in the canoe this season. Kristine’s son was a nice addition. It was his first extensive backcountry trip in the park. I needed a trip. I had spent most my time since late February on the road, presenting at outdoor shows, chatting on podcasts and radio… basically spreading the word on how time outdoors is good for the soul.

3 weeks ago | explore-mag.com | Kevin Callan

Is it just me or are the ticks worse than ever this season? I recently spent a day out in the woods north of Frontenac Park in Ontario. I needed a day to soothe my soul and calm my nerves after a number of weeks travelling to shows to present on the joys of time spent in nature. I found myself talking about it more than doing it. So, I went off to search out a remote Crown land or lake that could quite possibly be home to some brook trout.

1 month ago | explore-mag.com | Kevin Callan

Always check your gear list before heading out on trip. Why? Well, there’s been a few times when I hadn’t and suffered greatly from it. I once drove all the way to Temagami for a canoe trip and didn’t realize that I had left the paddles on my front porch back home. I had to rent some cheap one’s off an outfitter. Last year, I had the job of bringing the coffee for our entire group on a canoe trip and discovered that I had packed whole beans instead of grounded java.

1 month ago | explore-mag.com | Kevin Callan

Great news! The renowned Ontario based map maker Jeff McMurtry has just released three new/updated maps to his series for paddlers. Maps by Jeff updated a map of Killarney Provincial Park and the West French River Provincial Park, including a brand-new map of East French River Provincial Park. They have the same look and feel to his adored Algonquin map series he released in 2024, and they have already been labelled by canoeists and kayakers as the most detailed maps of these parks ever created.