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Why Wild Swimming in Almaguin Should Be on Your Summer Bucket List
"When you enter the water, something like metamorphosis happens. Leaving behind the land, you go through the looking-glass surface and enter a new world,” Robert Deakin wrote in his book Waterlog, A Swimmers Journey Through Britain.
The same thing happens when you find a secluded spot, nestled between rocks and a riverbend, in Almaguin. You’re in luck because today, nobody is at the rapids and the sun glistens off the water. It’s just you and the Magnetawan River. You dip your feet in, it’s a little cold still but that’s okay because you’re going to brave it. You get up to your waist, a raven quarks from the forest around you. The wind rustles the trees. You dive in.
It might come as a shock if you live in northern Ontario that some people have never swam in a lake or river before. Given that here in Almaguin, every road leads to a lake or river, the term “wild swimming” might sound like regular ol swimming. However, instead of being skeptical of those looking to wild swim, let’s take a moment to reflect on the amazing connection you get to feel with nature when you find one of the beautiful spaces to swim in the region.
What is Wild Swimming?
Wild swimming is more than just taking a dip. It’s submerging yourself in the raw, unfiltered elements of nature. It starts with that first sharp inhale as the cold water hits your skin, your heartbeat quickening with a mix of thrill and calm. You float on your back while dragonflies skim the surface and clouds drift above the treetops. Out here, you’re not just swimming — you’re reconnecting. In Almaguin, wild swimming feels like a return to something we’ve nearly forgotten: how good it feels to simply be in the water, surrounded by forest, with no sound but the wind and your own breath.
What do you need?
The ability to swim is a good start but depending on the time of year - if you’re considering a polar-y dip, you might want to invest in a wetsuit and some thermal swim socks/gloves for where the wetsuit stops. But otherwise, if you’re just going for a dip as you would in a swimming pool, then just be mindful of the river currents, local wildlife and boats.
Here’s our picks for the best spots to “wild swim” in Almaguin.
LYNCH LAKE
Lynch Lake Road, Township of Joly
Out in the beautiful deep woods of Joly Township you will find one of the more secluded lakes in Almaguin. Lynch Lake offers a tranquil space where you can imagine you’re one with nature. This is what Almaguin is all about. The experiential forests and lakes.
BROOK'S FALLS
690 Deer Lake Road, Emsdale, Perry Township
Don’t go chasing waterfalls — unless you’re in the Township of Perry and you stumble across Brook’s Falls because it is beautiful this time of year. There are spots to take a dip when the river runs lower in the summer months.
RICHARD THOMAS MEMORIAL PARK
134 Pickerel & Jack Lake Road (before the bridge), Armour, ON
This cute little spot along the Magnetawan River is just outside of the Village of Burk’s Falls in the Township of Armour. The main attraction is a beautiful flat rock that juts out into the river offering a wicked spot to chill for the day. There is an outhouse on site.
LONG LAKE
733 Long Lake Road, Novar, ON
If you’re looking for a secluded spot and you’re a big fan of smooth rock beaches then Long Lake offers a stunning vista. Parking space is limited at Long Lake Beach, but the view is worth the trip. There are no washroom facilities on site.
These are just the top four spots but really, every spot in Almaguin is the best spot to dive into the wild magic of the waters that run through this beautiful land.
