Located immediately south of, and at times bordering, Ontario’s Wabakimi Provincial Park, the Kopka River runs 142 miles from its headwaters, a 17-day paddle.
We started downstream, taking a float plane in a light rain with low cloud cover to Redsand Lake to begin what was to be a 10-day trip.
The Kopka is a series of lakes and rapids with scenery typical of the massive Canadian Shield but with far greater variances than other Ontario parks, like Quetico. Its waterfalls are immense. Its sheer granite canyons, inspiring. The spruce and jack pine forest is thick at the water’s edge. Portages will challenge you. A few are particularly difficult and require patience. One very nearly requires rappelling skills.
We made it to Day 8 and the most difficult portages. That’s when I did something stupid.
If you’ve ever walked across rocky terrain after a rainstorm, you know the rocks are slippery. I did. But I stepped on one anyway while carrying our canoe. Hear the story, with audio from the trip, on WTIP’s Boundary Waters Podcast, episode 81.