Looking for a lazy river to kayak in Southern Ontario? Read on to find out why this gentle stretch of the Grand River, which meanders through Brantford, might be just what you’re looking for!
Our Recommended Trip
Put In:
Take Out:
Trip Length: 15km, approximately 3-4 hours
Take Out:
Trip Length: 15km, approximately 3-4 hours
Shuttling Optional: There are lots of stretches of the Grand River that are great for kayaking but this stretch of river is unique amongst the Grand trips and most other river trips, because you don’t need a shuttle and it still doesn’t require any up-river paddling! The Oxbow is a large horseshoe-shaped loop that spans 15km in Brantford, yet the put in and take out points are just over 1km apart. If you’re up for a short walk at the beginning or end of your trip, you can decide which end to leave your vehicle and walk back. We opted to move the car at the beginning, when the road-side parking along the takeout wasn’t as busy to drop car and trailer. We unloaded all the boats and gear at the Put In and then I left, and by the time I got back, the gear was all sorted and the kids were sunscreened up. Win! We do recommend that you paddle with someone who can stay with the gear while you move your vehicle, and hopefully it goes without saying that it’s not recommended to leave either kids or gear unattended at either end! :)
Cost: There are no admission or launch fees.
Degree of Difficulty: Intermediate. The launch and river are fairly straight forward and there are no swift moving spots. This stretch of the river is wide and mostly fairly deep, but it has steep, muddy banks that make it very hard to get out after about the first 45 minutes. This means that if you fall out, you will likely need to be able to re-board from the water. It also means if you want to picnic, you will likely need to do it from your boat!
Note that water temperatures in the spring are cold, so you need to be able to re-board in moving water quickly. Please read more below in the Gear Recommendations section and use caution if you decide to paddle this section of the Grand.
Gear Recommendations
Life jackets and all Transport Canada required safety gear are always a must. Sunscreen and sun hats are definitely recommended when you're on the water.
Be sure to dress for the water temperatures, not the air temperatures, when paddling in the early spring. Immersion, even for short periods, can be dangerous. A wet or dry suit is ideal for this trip if you decide to do it before the water reaches warmer Sumer temperature. As this stretch can be hard to find a safe spot to get out mid trip, you should prepare for the chance that you could end up in the water if you try to step out.
A throw rope and and extra paddle are always recommended for paddling on moving rivers.
Be sure to dress for the water temperatures, not the air temperatures, when paddling in the early spring. Immersion, even for short periods, can be dangerous. A wet or dry suit is ideal for this trip if you decide to do it before the water reaches warmer Sumer temperature. As this stretch can be hard to find a safe spot to get out mid trip, you should prepare for the chance that you could end up in the water if you try to step out.
A throw rope and and extra paddle are always recommended for paddling on moving rivers.
Turtles Galore
While this stretch of the Grand meanders along the urban boundary of Brantford, you’d never know you were close to the city when you’re on the water. The shores are lined with towering hardwood and willow trees, and you may see farmers working in the nearby fields. For the most part, the banks are high enough that you won’t see far from the shoreline at all.
The muddy banks are cut deep by the raging Grand during its peak in the spring run-off, but by the time we paddled this stretch in Late May, the water was slow and lazy, with very little current, and no rapids. The steep sides were home to lots of holes - for muskrat at the bottom and bank swallows nearer the top. We saw loads of song birds, including blue jays, killdeer, cardinals, robins, common grackles, and more. High above, turkey vultures soared. We spotted several Canada Geese families sitting on the sunny banks.
And all along the river, sitting on the clay in the warm sunshine, and nestled upon almost every floating log we came to, were turtles. We started out counting them but soon stopped… we couldn’t keep up!
The muddy banks are cut deep by the raging Grand during its peak in the spring run-off, but by the time we paddled this stretch in Late May, the water was slow and lazy, with very little current, and no rapids. The steep sides were home to lots of holes - for muskrat at the bottom and bank swallows nearer the top. We saw loads of song birds, including blue jays, killdeer, cardinals, robins, common grackles, and more. High above, turkey vultures soared. We spotted several Canada Geese families sitting on the sunny banks.
And all along the river, sitting on the clay in the warm sunshine, and nestled upon almost every floating log we came to, were turtles. We started out counting them but soon stopped… we couldn’t keep up!
Additional Reading
