So many places... so little {kayak} time.

Looking for a spot to kayak in Southern Ontario or the GTA?  You've come to the right spot!  I started this blog as a way to keep track of the spots we'd tried and wanted to try, and to share some of the great waterways we have locally with others who are taking up kayaking.
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Destinations Organized by Region

We've organized our list of Ontario kayak and canoe launches and trip destinations by region.  This list includes destinations we've already visited and destinations we are interested in visiting in the future.   I love searching for new destinations, and always wish there was an easy way to hone in on the geographic location of the launch since we're often looking for spots close to home.  This should help you narrow down your options without having to click through dozens of pages of trip reports to find out.  If you know how much time you have and are looking for a spot to fit, I've also included the trip duration.  Of course, duration can vary quite a lot - it's all dependent on how long you spend gazing at birds, or picnicking on the shore, but it will give you a bit of a sense of how long you can expect to spend at each spot.

Regions of Ontario (map courtesy of Government of Ontario website)

Central-West Ontario

Dark Blue - Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, Waterloo, Wellington

Places We've Kayaked in Central-West Ontario

• Bruce Peninsula National Park
  • Cyprus Lake (1-2 hours)
  • Emmett Lake (2 hours)
• Christie Lake Conservation Area (1-2 hours)
• Grand River
  • Wilson's Flats to West Montrose Covered Bridge (2-3 hours) (Spring only)
  • Winterbourne to Bridgeport (4 hours)
  • River Bluffs Park (1-2 hours)
  • Cambridge (Galt) to Paris​ (5+ hours)
  • Glen Morris to Paris (3-4 hours)
• Guelph Lake Conservation Area (2-3 hours)
• Pittock Lake Conservation Area (2-3 hours)
• Rockwood Conservation Area (1-2 hours)
• Valens Conservation Area (1-2 hours)
• Wildwood Conservation Area, St. Mary's (2-4 hours)

Places We Want to Kayak in Central-West Ontario

• Bell's Lake Conservation Area
• Conestogo Lake & River, Mapleton
• Eramosa River, Guelph
• Eugenia Lake
• Laurel Creek Conservation Area
• McCulloch Lake
• Nith River
• Old Ausable Channel, Pinery Provincial Park
• Saugeen River
• Shade's Mills Conservation Area, Cambridge
• Speed River

South Central Ontario

Green - Dufferin, Halton, Ontario, Peel, Simcoe, York

Places We've Kayaked in South-Central Ontario

• Kelso Conservation Area (1-2 hours)
• Luther Marsh (5+ hours)
• Sixteen Mile Creek, Oakville (1-2 hours)
• Belwood Lake Conservation Area (2-4 hours)

Places We Want to Kayak in South-Central Ontario

• Credit River
• Fairy Lake, Acton
• Grindstone Creek, Burlington
• Humber River
• Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville
• Minesing Wetlands, Barrie
• Rattray Marsh
• Rouge River National Urban Park, Toronto
• Scarborough Bluffs
• Toronto Islands

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Niagara Peninsula

Light Blue - Brant, Haldimand, Lincoln, Norfolk, Wentworth, Welland

Places We've Kayaked in Niagara Peninsula

• Big Creek (2-3 hours)
  • The Marsh at Big Creek (2-3 hours)
• Binbrook Conservation Area/Lake Niapenco (3-4 hours)

• Cootes Paradise / Princess Point (1-2 hours)
• Grand River
  • Paris to Brant Conservation Area (5+ hours)
  • The Oxbow, Brantford (3-4 hours)
  • Dunnville (2-3 hours)
• Jordan Harbour (3-4 hours)
• Richardson Creek (1-2 hours) - this is a side trip off of Martindale Pond in St. Catharines
• Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area (1 hour)
• Waterford Ponds (2-3 hours)
• Welland Recreational Canal (3-4 hours)
• Welland River, Wellandport (2-4 hours)

Places We Want to Kayak in Niagara Peninsula

• Big Fork Creek, Fenwick
• Black Creek, Port Dover
• Deer Creek Conservation Area
• Lake Gibson, Thorold
• Lynn River & Silver Lake, Port Dover
• Martindale Pond, St. Catharines
• Tunnel of Love, St. Catharines

Southeast Ontario

Yellow - Durham, Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Peterborough, Prince Edward, Victoria

Places We've Kayaked in Southeast Ontario

• Bon Echo Provincial Park
  • Bon Echo Lake, Bon Echo Provincial Park (1-2 hours)
  • Joeperry Lake, Bon Echo Provincial Park (3-4 hours)
  • Mazinaw Lake, Bon Echo Provincial Park (3-4 hours)

Places We Want to Kayak in Southeast Ontario

• Thousand Islands National Park

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Mid-North Ontario

Orange - Haliburton, Nipissing (see Northern), Muskoka, Parry Sound, Renfrew

Places We've Kayaked in Mid-North Ontario

• Barron Canyon, Algonquin Provincial Park (4+ hours)
• George Lake, Killarney Provincial Park
• Grundy Lake Provincial Park
• George Lake, Killarney Provincial Park (3-4 hours)

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Places We Want to Kayak in Mid-North Ontario

• Arrowhead Provincial Park (Huntsville)
• Barron Canyon (Algonquin Provincial Park) another link for a day trip with one 400m portage
• Hardy Lake, Hardy Lake Provincial Park - about 8km perimeter paddle
• Huntsville - launch at River Mill Park (45.3280801, -79.21704713), go to Fairy Lake, and then back over to Gallaugher Island and take out back at same launch point. (13 km)
• Oxtongue River & Ragged Falls, Algonquin Provincial Park

Southwest Ontario

Purple - Elgin, Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford

Places We've Kayaked in Southwest Ontario

• Point Pelee National Park (2-3 hours)

Places We Want to Kayak in Southwest Ontario

• Big Otter Creek, Port Burwell
• Catfish Creek, Port Bruce
• Fanshaw Lake, London
• Sydenham & Snye Rivers, Wallaceburg
• Upper Thames River, Ingersoll
• Wheatley Provincial Park
• Hillman Marsh
• Cedar Creek Conservation Area
• Sturgeon Creek

East (red)
Carleton, Dundas, Glengarry, Grenville, Lanark, Leeds, Prescott, Russell, Stormont

Northern (pink & dark orange)
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