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The Grand River watershed is located approximately 100km, or about a one hour drive, west of Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Grand is just under 300km long and travels from north to south. It starts as a small stream in Dundalk, just south of Collingwood, Ontario and enters Lake Erie to the south at Port Maitland. The Grand River was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1994. It contains the largest and one of the last remaining Carolinian Forest zones in Canada. The Grand and Nith Rivers offer some of the best paddling in Ontario. The stretch between the village of Paris and the town of Brantford is known for the scenic beauty of hills and Carolinian Forest. This stretch has been designated as an "Exceptional Waterway" and offers some of the best paddling, fishing and wildlife viewing on the Grand River.
The Grand River watershed is managed by the Grand River Conservation Authority and in 2000 they won the prestigious Thiess River Prize for "Excellence in River Management".
When paddling the Grand River it may be best to rent a canoe or kayak as opposed to bringing your own, unless it is made of ABS or polyethylene. Though the Grand does not have any significant rapids to speak of it can put lots of scrapes, scratches and even cracks in fiber-glass or Kevlar boats.
Most outfitters' rentals are made of these durable materials. Canoes, kayaks and rafts can be rented from Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company in Brantford. Contact us toll free throughout North America 1.800.350.2268. The great thing about doing a trip with Heritage River is that they offer shuttle service. Heritage River will meet you at the finish point of your chosen route and shuttle you up river and you paddle back to where your vehicle is parked. Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company also offers shuttle service for those wishing to use their own canoe or kayak. Fishing kayaks can also be rented from this outfitter.
With an average water depth of about 3 feet or 1 meter (in normal flows) the Grand River has a great reputation as a safe and fun family paddling destination.
The river banks abound with wildlife such as: Beaver, muskrat, mink, white-tail deer and possum.
The Grand River too is a bird watchers paradise. Throughout the watershed of this Canadian Heritage River there have been 292 bird species recorded. Many of these species breed along the banks of the Grand River.
In the area between Cambridge and Paris, 114 species have been confirmed with approximately 64 of these breeding in this area. With the breeding season between mid May and August there is plenty of opportunity to observe several species.
Some of the larger common birds you will see include Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawk and Osprey. Common smaller birds include Baltimore Orioles, Cardinals, Kingfishers and the tiny Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. A detailed list is available on the Grand River Conservation Authority's web site. Print it before going - see how many species you can find.
Great resource material for planning a Grand River trip is the book Paddling the Grand River published by the Grand River Conservation Authority. It has route descriptions and topographical maps as well as public access points with GPS co-ordinates to make them easy to find. Paddling the Grand can be found at Chapters, Coles and other book stores. It can also be ordered directly from the Grand River Conservation Authority and outfitters such as Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company.
So if you are looking for fun things to do this summer, come canoe, kayak or raft Grand River. Being just a couple of hours drive from such large metropolitan centers as Toronto and London paddling the Grand is great for day and weekend getaways. Brantford is a hub of outdoor activities being accessible from highway 403 and is on the main rail line from east to west with the train station being with a couple of kilometers from the river and Trans Canada Trail system.
The beautiful and historic Grand River is truly one of Canada's wonderlands.
About the Author
Since 1999, Adam Fernley and his family have owned and operated the Heritage River Canoe &
Kayak Company on the beautiful and historic Grand River in Southern Ontario, just one hour west of Toronto. Since opening,
Heritage River has been able to provide thousands of people with safe, fun and educational canoe, kayak and raft trips on the
near wilderness of the Grand River Watershed. They have always provided their customers with the best outdoor experiences
possible. Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company offers a full outfitting and shuttle service.
We're not the largest outfitter on the Grand... Just the best!
www.heritageriver.com
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