The sky was grey, the water restless, and the loons were calling.
From the bow of the canoe, I spotted three black silhouettes bobbing on the choppy surface. Their calls echoed across the misty lake, loud and resonant.
My guide was Colin Bruce, operations manager with Algonquin Outfitters.
I reached out to the Muskoka-based outdoor adventure store the week before asking to be taken on a spring canoe ride. While I’ve kayaked and taken out the SUP board many times before, I’m a novice in a canoe.
The route Colin chose for our May paddle began at Algonquin Outfitters on Oxtongue Lake. We paddled across the open water to a river system, eventually reaching Ragged Falls.
It was on our return trip when we spotted the trio of loons, and I asked Colin if we could paddle closer. He obliged, and we carefully made our way toward them, eyes tracking as they disappeared below and popped up in new places.
The closer we got, the more in awe I felt.
One burst out of the water less than 10 feet away. A wild, electric feeling washed over me. I couldn’t look away. I wanted more. And the loons delivered.
For several minutes, they put on a show. Two of them dove and resurfaced, heads jerking, calls turning into screeching chaos. One flapped its wings wildly, running across the water. Maybe it was two males chasing a female. May is peak loon breeding season, according to Birds Canada.
Eventually, it felt like we’d seen enough. Colin and I agreed — time to paddle on, back toward Algonquin Outfitters.
“This is all you’re going to remember now, huh?” he asked while smiling. “Completely forgot about the waterfall.”
He was joking, but it was true. I’d been caught up in the moment with the loons. Still, the waterfall stayed with me.
The weather wasn’t on our side — overcast, with rain in the forecast — but the journey was worth it.
“This trip — it’s a very good gateway to building confidence,” Colin said. “It’s achievable. It’s enjoyable, right? So that’s what the appeal is.”
Depending on your pace, the round trip can take three hours — or longer, if you paddle leisurely.
Colin described two ways to experience the waterfall:
- By water: Our canoe ride was slow and immersive. The journey was filled with conversation and personal stories — meaningful and unhurried.
- By vehicle or foot: Driving down Ragged Falls Park Road and taking the short hike offers near-instant gratification — quick and easy, but still worthwhile.
“This is more of a sense of accomplishment because you’re taking the route less travelled,” he said.
Oxtongue Lake is a quiet, respectful cottage community, Colin said. Locals avoid noisy watercraft and embrace the natural setting, often helping out paddlers if needed.
He mentioned how visiting city kids often express amazement and curiosity about rural life, asking innocent but eye-opening questions.
“Some of us (locals) take it for granted, I’d say … because we don’t get to experience it for the first time,” he said.
Apart from the loons, we initially spotted other wildlife on our way to the falls. Perched atop a small mound of sticks, a Canada goose sat quietly. As we paddled closer, she kept a watchful eye on us, but showed no signs of aggression while nesting on her eggs.
Colin reflected on how most people encounter geese in urban settings — hissing, chasing, and causing a nuisance — rather than witnessing them peacefully tending their nests in the wild.
“This one is literally incubating eggs on a river minding her own business,” he said.
While wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed, birders are in luck: more than 250 bird species have been recorded in Algonquin Park. Visitors might also spot moose, wolves, or black bears. Smaller animals like otters, foxes, chipmunks, squirrels, and raccoons are common, too.
After we’d returned from the canoe ride, I was giddy — not just from seeing the loons in action or viewing the raging Ragged Falls, but because we had accomplished something. Colin and I had made that trip exciting. We connected through stories and observations.
Colin hoisted the canoe onto his shoulders and carried it to the washdown station. I thanked him for the adventure and drove off.
After three hours on the water, sitting behind the wheel felt dull.
Something Colin had said lingered: the canoe trip was a “gateway” to confidence.
He was right. I felt hooked — and ready to get back out there.
