Kejimukujik is a magical place. There is nothing remotely like it anywhere else in Atlantic Canada as far as backcountry camping goes.

I have canoe camped at Keji many times and stayed at almost every backcountry site in the park, even a few in the mighty Peskowesk.

During the summer the entire park feels like a nature nursery. The woods host a huge amount of migratory breeding birds who arrive in spring, raise their young in the park, and fly south in the fall. One of my favorite birding moments in Keji was discovering a family of Black-throated Blue Warblers making their way out of their breeding location to fly south.

The park is also home to many other critters and I’ve been fortunate enough to see Black Bear and Blanding’s Turtles and even a Marten. You can hear the Coyotes singing at night off in the distant on the high ground. I’ve lost many hours watching the 7 species of frogs in the park and listening to them counter-sing.

The trees in the park are simply majestic. Old-growth forest throughout much of the park so tall you can hardly ID the birds at the top. Flowers and insects are also incredible in the park. Some favorite memories are of camping on an island covered in Lady Slippers, and being surrounded by hundreds of Swallowtail Butterflies while camping on a river site.

Time moves slower at Keji. The spirits are close. The magic is real.

I can’t wait to get back there one day as a piece of my heart resides there.