Kayak and Canoe down the Grand River (4/30/2016)

About This Event

A guided day paddle down the scenic and historic Grand River between Glen Morris and Paris - suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers alike. We'll carpool to the outfitter's shop, sign in/gear up, take a school bus up river and paddle back down with lunch and breaks along the way, and finally back to our parked cars as we exit the river and do a short portage! This adventure-filled paddle is a popular introductory river-run with some smaller rapids that add fun & excitement, interspersed with leisurely paddling through scenic woodland, making this a great trip for beginners & requires no special paddling skills.

More details:

Led by experienced Paddle Canada Instructors & interpretive guides, we will leave civilization behind & we paddle downriver to experience nature with plenty to see & do. You can view Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, Mallard ducks, turtles & perhaps white-tailed deer along the riverbank with an occasional Bald Eagle. We will stop & explore rare Carolinian forest lining the banks of the Grand, plus enjoy a campfire BBQ with BBQ Chicken-on-a-bun plus Maple Chilli. You will Experience the Grand as First Nations people did hundreds of years ago.

Guides will provide instruction along the way. Even experienced paddlers with their own gear can benefit from some tips from an instructor. Instructors will also perform as interpretative guides helping the group find points of interest, leading a short hike into the forest and telling stories/legends about the river. On our short hike you will encounter one very special and very old Sycamore tree, rare to the area.

Next is a picnic lunch on the riverbank or on one of the many small islands before plunging into the trip's most enjoyable set of rapids. Before paddling into picturesque Paris, you'll pass by the majestic 3 Three Sisters's - haunting remnants of the Industrial Era and the railway system that was so crucial to the formation of our nation.

Arriving back in Paris you can finish your adventure with the Après Paddle at 1 of Paris’ many establishments. Cobblestone Pub is right next door to us & across the road is the Spoke & Paddle at the historic Arlington Hotel. Just down the street is Brown Dog Café, Two Rivers Café & the Pub at Stillwaters Plate & Pour, most with great views of the river. As well, Chocolate Sensations, a boutique chocolate shop. Paris is the Aprés Paddle capital of the Heart of Ontario.

Grand Experiences is one of the leading canoe & kayak training centers in Southern Ontario.They work with schools, scouts & guides, corporate groups & individuals to provide canoe, river kayak & sea kayak training. They are fully insured on the road and the water. All guide staff is certified in first aid/CPR and The Ontario Recreational Canoeing & Kayaking Association (ORCKA) certifies our wilderness guides and instructors.

The Grand River flows 300 kilometers through southwestern Ontario from the highlands of Dufferin County to Port Maitland on Lake Erie. Few rivers in Canada have seen as much of the flow of history as the Grand. Native cultures flourished in the watershed for more than 10,000 years, but the last three centuries brought an influx of settlers, most seeking agricultural land. The river achieved a Canadian Heritage River Status in 1994.

Please note and review:

Photo Credits: Ghanesh Das

If this event is canceled by the service provider, it will be rescheduled and/or a refund given if you cannot make the rescheduled date(less TOC transaction cost).
- Registration is NOT COMPLETE until you've signed up and paid by the registration cut off date. The money must be in the TOC's possession by that date. No exceptions.
- When a minimum group size appears, this is to let you know that the event will be cancelled with full refunds to those who have already paid, if the minimum number of registered participants is not met. For any events where TOC needs a minimum number of participants, there will be absolutely no refund of money if you cancel.
- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in TOC events.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@torontooutdoorclub.com.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Stacy, at content@torontooutdoorclub.com.

Total Cost for Kayak option is $89.61 and Canoe is $79.31 and if using your own gear is $44.50 and includes: