Paddling
Discover the beauty of paddling in the County of Brant, where the Grand River and Nith River offer scenic routes and memorable experiences for paddlers of all skill levels.
On this page:
River Access Points
The County of Brant has three (3) river access points open during the summer months:
- Eric Thomlinson River Access - Forbes Dr, Glen Morris
- Penman's Dam (north of the dam) - 116 Willow St, Paris
- Bean Park River Access - 4 Spencer St, Paris
River Access Points can be found further down the river in the City of Brantford:
- Brant Conservation Area
- Ballantyne Drive
- Gilkison's Flats
- Cockshutt Bridge
- Ohsweken - Chiefswood Tent and Trailer Park
Additional paddling information can be found in the Outdoor Adventure Map (link).
Paddling
The Grand River has stretches of both fast and slow current, allowing paddlers to enjoy a slow sightseeing canoe/kayak ride or an exciting whitewater rafting adventure on the Grand and Nith Rivers.
| Glen Morris to Paris - 13 km |
|
Paddle time: 2.5 to 3.5 hours Points of Interest: Three Sisters stone bridge columns from the 1850’s, 300 year-old sycamore tree, Carolinian forest. |
| Penmans Dam (Paris) to Brant Park - 14 km |
| Paddle Time: 3 to 4 hours Experiences: Gentle rapids are great for body surfing, Exceptional Waters section of the Grand are excellent for fishing. Points of Interest: Paddle through downtown Paris and the “Forks of the Grand” where the Nith and Grand River meet, Blue Heron Rookery, see a Gypsum mine from the 1830’s. Map the Penmans Dam to Brant Park Route |
| Brant Conservation Area to Cockshutt Bridge - 7 km |
| Trip Time: 1.5 hours Experiences: Paddle under bridges in downtown Brantford, be surrounded by forest along the bluffs of Tutela Heights. Points of Interest: Watch for bald eagles nesting along the river, Bell Homestead National Historic Site. Brantford to Chiefswood National Historic Site 30 km Trip Time: 7 - 8 hours |
| The Oxbow - Cockshutt Bridge to Newport Bridge - 14 km |
| Trip Time: 3 – 5 hours Experiences: Leisurely route, good water conditions for persons with disabilities, a few fun swifts. Points of Interest: Wildlife, including turtles, herons, raccoons, deer by the water’s edge. |
| Nith River - Canning to Paris - 19 km |
| Experiences: White water route in early spring or during high waters, Class 1 and 2 rapids, paddle by Devil’s Cove then get ready to tackle a 3 km section of rolling waves & rapids like an amusement park’s “flume ride” Points of Interest: Canning, where Wayne Gretzky skated on the river while visiting his grandparents, unique Carolinian forest |
Local outfitters
Additional Resources
- Grand River in between Penmans Dam in Paris and Cockshutt Bridge in Brantford is an ‘Exceptional Waters' area. View the Grand River Conservation Authority's Exceptional Waters webpage for more information.
- For parking information and restrictions, visit our Parking webpage
- For public washroom information, visit our Public Washrooms webpage