19 Best Day Trips by Canoe and Kayak in Ontario

A paddling getaway, even for a day, will make you feel better both physically and mentally. Feel the stress melt away as you dip your paddle into the pristine water. Renew your sense of wonder as you watch ravens soar high above you, playful otters slide down a riverbank or magnificent loons glide silently by. Breathe in the fresh air and marvel at the incredible beauty of nature.   

Beginner to advanced paddlers will enjoy escaping into the wilderness on these nine canoe day trips and kayak day trips in Ontario but there are many more options to choose from. Just google ‘canoe day trips near me’ or ‘kayaking in Ontario day trips’ to find more. 

Don’t worry if you are a beginner and don’t have your own equipment—we've provided some guided options and included destinations where gear rentals are readily available. Read on to find some of our favourite destinations for paddling day trips. 

Mattawa River

Explore the Mattawa River, a rugged and historic waterway that’s been travelled for thousands of years. As you paddle this Canadian Heritage River, virtually untouched by development, you’ll learn about Indigenous people, explorers, voyageurs and courers des bois who travelled before you. There are a variety of access points along the river (read our Guide to Canoeing the Mattawa River to find out where) or you can also paddle out from the beach at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.

Plan your trip

• Algonquin North Outfitters provides inspiring guided canoe day trip packages on the Mattawa River. Their Aboriginal guides share their skills, experience, traditions, culture and beliefs as you paddle down the river. Lightweight canoe equipment and a delicious shore lunch are provided. If you prefer to go on your own, a total outfitting package is available. 
• You can camp at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and visit their Mattawa River Visitor Centre to learn about the historical, cultural and natural features. 
• Nature’s Harmony Ecolodge, outside of the nearby community of Mattawa, offers unique off-grid glamping and cabin rentals.
• Visit the nearby quaint and friendly town of Mattawa.

French River

The French River, a Canadian Heritage River and Ontario Park, offers paddlers stunning scenery, abundant fishing opportunities and incredible wildlife viewing as it cuts through the beautiful Canadian Shield landscape. It is one of the best and most easily accessible wilderness river trips in Canada. Day-trippers can put-in at Hartley Bay Marina west of Highway 69 to explore the island-studded waters of Wanapitei Bay—locals recommend the loop around Boom Island. Or launch east of the highway at French River Supply Post to paddle the passages around Fourmile Island.

Plan your trip

• Canoe and kayak rentals are available from Hartley Bay Marina or French River Supply Post. Stay in comfort at Wolseley Lodge or The Lodge at Pine Cove and enjoy day paddling trips.
• A visit to the French River Visitor Centre on Highway 69 is a must. While there, enjoy a 1.5-kilometre hike to the beautiful Recollect Falls. 
• Read The Ultimate Guide to Planning a French River Canoe Trip to learn more.

OSA Lake, Killarney Provincial Park

This is one of the most spectacular spots to visit in Killarney Provincial Park and it only takes four to five hours of paddling to complete the round trip. Although there are three easy portages that you will do twice, there are no steep climbs to worry about. This turquoise lake, surrounded by white quartzite mountains and towering pines, was a favourite of Group of Seven painter A.Y. Jackson and will become your favourite too. The route starts at George Lake Campground. Paddle northeast to the first 80-metre portage into Freeland Lake. Paddle northeast to the 455-metre portage into Killarney Lake then head west to the 455-metre portage to OSA Lake. After soaking in the beauty, the return trip to George Lake is the reverse route. 

Plan your trip

• You can camp at the George Lake Campground or visit the Park for the day. Either way, it's a good idea to reserve your campsite five months in advance of your arrival date, or reserve your day permit up to five days in advance. Both can be done via the Ontario Parks reservation website.
• Killarney Outfitters can provide planning services, full outfitting, maps and supplies for all your canoe trip needs. 
• In the town of Killarney, be sure to visit Herbert Fisheries, rated as one of the top 10 fish and chip restaurants in Canada. 
• You can stay and enjoy fine dining at Killarney Mountain Lodge or Sportsman’s Inn.
• Read our Guide to Canoe Tripping in Killarney for more trip planning help.

Lake Superior Provincial Park

You could easily spend a week day-tripping by canoe, kayak and standup paddleboard in Lake Superior Provincial Park, located just south of Wawa. This large protected area offers both the intimacy of canoeing on inland lakes and the vast horizons of Lake Superior. Great fishing and cultural highlights like Indigenous pictographs only add to the Park’s appeal.

Launch at Fenton Lake in the north end of the Park for an excellent canoe day trip that offers fishing for trout, walleye and pike and a glimpse of Canada’s boreal forest. Adventurous paddlers can portage into nearby lakes for an added challenge and sense of discovery. Canoe rentals are available on-site. Sea kayakers can feel humbled floating beneath the towering cliffs of Old Woman Bay or make the pilgrimage to the Agawa Rock pictographs, just north of the park’s scenic Agawa Bay Campground.

Plan your trip

• Lake Superior Provincial Park’s two campgrounds offer distinctive experiences. Lake Superior looms large at Agawa Bay, featuring a massive beach and open water. The Rabbit Blanket Campground is more intimate, set on a picture-perfect inland lake surrounded by tall hills.
• Lake Superior Provincial Park offers canoe rentals, with pick-ups available at several popular lakes.
• Check out Naturally Superior Adventures for canoe and sea kayak rentals, outfitting, shuttles and guided trips. The company also operates Rock Island Lodge, which offers stunning Lake Superior accommodations just north of Lake Superior Provincial Park.
• Read our Guide to Visiting Lake Superior Provincial Park to help plan your trip.

Grand River

This popular Southern Ontario river offers something for everyone. Above the village of Paris, the Grand River flows at a consistent two to three kilometres per hour and tumbles over stony, shallow rapids, making for an exciting and fast-paced day trip. Below Paris, the river mellows for the scenic stretch into Brantford. Paddlers can arrange a shuttle back to their trip start, or leave a bicycle at their finish and pedal back to the put-in along the adjacent Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail and SC Johnson Trail.

Allow a full day to make the 17-kilometre paddle from Cambridge to Paris, or put in at Glen Morris for a shorter trip (11 km) with pretty consistent swiftwater. The gentle 13-kilometre paddle from Paris to Brantford takes most folks three to four hours. Farther upstream on the Grand, the Kitchener to Cambridge route provides convenient access points for urban paddlers.

Meanwhile, the Elora Gorge offers spectacular scenery, 22-metre-high limestone cliffs, and thrilling rapids—making this three-km run a premier destination for whitewater paddlers. 

Plan your trip

• More information is available for all routes at the Grand River Conservation Authority.
• Book a guided or self-guided trip on the Grand with Grand River Rafting or Grand Experiences operated out of Paris, and Canoeing the Grand operated out of Cambridge. 

Barron Canyon, Algonquin Provincial Park

The Barron Canyon is located in the east side of Algonquin Provincial Park. Paddling through the two-kilometre-long Barron Canyon, a spectacular 100-metre-deep granite canyon, is breathtaking. Drift slowly between the rock walls, enjoying the ravens soaring overhead. Watch for nesting swallows in the spring. Most canoeists take two to three days to complete a backcountry paddling trip through the Barron Canyon; however, it is possible to do a canoe day trip up the canyon from Squirrel Rapids. Strong canoeists can complete the route from the Achray access point to Squirrel Rapids in a long day trip. A shuttle will be required to return to Achray. 

Plan your trip

• Algonquin Portage offers boat rentals. You can also stay in the rustic lodge or tent camp at Algonquin Portage before or after your trip.
• Camping is available at Grand Lake in the Algonquin - Achray Campground. 
• Algonquin Bound Outfitters offers gear rentals and shuttles.
• Be sure to hike the 1.5-kilometre-long Barron Canyon Loop Trail which will provide an excellent view of your canoe route far below. 
• Read our Guide to Canoe Tripping in Algonquin Park for more assistance with trip planning.   

Goulais River

Near Searchmont, in Northern Ontario, the wild and scenic Goulais River cuts through the dense forests of the Canadian Shield as it flows towards Lake Superior. Sault Ste. Marie area paddlers who are comfortable in moving water and rapids up to class II can enjoy a couple of terrific day trip options on the Goulais.

North of Searchmont, the Goulais is an intermediate to advanced river—the portages are not maintained and are often located very close to the brink of large rapids and waterfalls. Below Searchmont, the lower Goulais is a novice-friendly run with a mix of class I–II and flatwater.

Put in south of Searchmont off Highway 556 (Ranger Lake Road) and paddle west to the bridge on Highway 552. Prime water levels for this stretch are 7.8–8.1, with a minimum of 7.65. Check current levels here. 

Plan your trip

• Canoe rentals, accommodation, shuttle and route suggestions are available through the riverside Mountainview Lodge on Highway 556.
• Forest the Canoe offers a four-hour guided canoe trip on Goulais Bay and the Goulais River.

Restoule Provincial Park

Restoule Provincial Park is often overshadowed by other destinations in Ontario’s Near North—which makes it the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for an off-the-radar camping vacation. This Park, located in the headwaters of the historic French River about 45 minutes southwest of North Bay, is also a gem for paddlers.

Launch from the Park campground on Stormy Lake and trace narrow channels north to Clear Lake, or south to Restoule Lake on easy, no-portage routes that are suitable for canoes and kayaks. 

Plan your trip

• Camping at Restoule Provincial Park is the best way to discover the area on paddling day trips. The Park’s campground offers hundreds of sites in three areas, with options for electrical and tent camping.
• Canoe rentals are available at the park office.
• Barton's Bistro at Buck's Lodge offers nearby dining.
• Read our Guide to Visiting Restoule Provincial Park for help in planning your trip.

Mississagi Provincial Park

This underutilized provincial park north of Elliot Lake has many great options for paddling day trips. The easy, one-portage out-and-back route from Mississagi Provincial Park’s quiet campground on Semiwite Lake to undeveloped Helenbar Lake provides an excellent introduction to backcountry canoeing in stunning Canadian Shield surroundings. Meanwhile, nearby Flack Lake is an aquamarine gem that’s perfect for kayaking.

An excellent 10-kilometre day trip departs from the public access on Highway 639 and traverses the lake to the western shore, where a challenging trail ascends the bare rock summit of Mount Baldy.

Plan your trip

• Besides camping at Mississagi Provincial Park’s comfortable, 60-site campground on Semiwite Lake, check out Laurentian Lodge on Flack Lake for an upscale waterfront stay. The lodge features great meals in a classic dining hall, as well as on-site trails and a waterfall on the Boland River.
• Canoes be rented at the provincial park.
• Read our Ultimate Adventure Guide to Mississagi Provincial Park to help you plan your trip.

Thames River

In Southwestern Ontario, the Thames River offers a multitude of options for short and sweet paddling adventures. Most section can be paddled early spring through late fall—check the river flow data (real time, with recommended minimum flows for each route) before heading out. You can find popular paddling routes and river information at the Thames River Paddling Routes Facebook page.

For kayakers and canoeists with some experience paddling swiftwater, the seven-kilometre run from Fanshawe Dam to North London produces the most rapids (class I–II) of any section of the Thames. Large woodland parks on both banks give this urban paddling route a secluded feel. Get more detailed route info and download a map here.

Just west of the city of London, the 12-kilometre Kilworth to Delaware route features unexpectedly wild landscapes—including undeveloped islands and the cliffs and mature hardwood forest of Komoka Provincial Park. The paddling is exciting too, with frequent swifts and several class I–II rapids. Autumn is a great time to paddle this section, when shorter days and cool nights set the forest canopy ablaze with colour.

Plan your trip

• Rent kayaks from the Riverside Social Club in London.
• Take advantage of a free kayak borrowing program in collaboration between Discover St. Mary's and the Yak Shack.

Dogtooth Lake, Rushing River Provincial Park

Kenora’s Rushing River Provincial Park is one of Ontario’s best kept paddling secrets. The Park offers abundant opportunities for paddling day trips by canoe, kayak or standup paddleboard on Dogtooth Lake. It’s easy to see why this intricate body of water, which captivates the imagination with its islands and diverse shoreline, is central to the Path of the Paddle, part of the Trans-Canada Trail. Plenty of other surrounding lakes can be reached by portage (or short drives to public launches), and expansive Lake of the Woods offers incredible sea kayaking.

Plan your trip

• Rushing River offers a popular campground with options for all types of camper, from RV sites to tent- and group camping, as well as trailer-equipped sites.
• Kenora is a bustling mid-sized town with plenty of attractions, including the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company.
• You can rent canoes directly from Rushing River Provincial Park. Canoes can also be rented from the Rushing River General Store, located less than one kilometre south of the Park entrance. 
• Check out Green Adventures in Kenora for canoe and kayak rentals, outfitting and guided trips.
• Learn more about the Path of the Paddle canoe route by reading How to Plan a Path of the Paddle Canoe Trip.

Oxtongue River

Located on the western edge of Ontario’s favourite park for backcountry camping, Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park offers a great canoe day trip that rivals anything in Algonquin. Rent a canoe and launch from the docks at Algonquin Outfitters and paddle upriver on the Oxtongue to stunning Ragged Falls, one of Ontario’s prettiest waterfalls. Or for a downriver trip (with a few sections of swift water and a portage around Ragged Falls), get a shuttle from Algonquin Outfitters and trace the river downstream back to Oxtongue Lake.

Either way, expect classic Canadian river scenery with gravel beaches, wetlands and densely wooded shores, with the potential to see wildlife like moose, beaver and a variety of songbirds and waterfowl.

Plan your trip

• Nearby Algonquin Provincial Park is a renowned camping destination, but you’ll have to book early to reserve a site at a drive-in campground or in the park's backcountry.
• Check out the Wolf Den Nature Retreat for glamping options on Highway 60 with easy access to the Oxtongue River and Algonquin Park.
• Besides canoe rentals and shuttles, Algonquin Outfitters offers guided day trips throughout the region.
• You’ll find plenty of cottage country cuisine in the nearby community of Dwight, including fresh baking at Henrietta’s Pine Bakery.

Whitesand Lake & Lake Superior, Rainbow Falls Provincial Park

Located about two hours east of Thunder Bay, Rainbow Falls Provincial Park offers two drive-in campgrounds on Highway 17, each with unique opportunities for paddling day trips. Whitesand Lake is a good destination for a canoe day trip, with plenty of shoreline to explore—including cliffs, waterfalls and hiking trails. The Park’s Rossport Campground, meanwhile, is located right on Lake Superior, which makes it a mecca for sea kayaking.

Launch from the campground’s sand beaches to access the stunning Rossport Island archipelago. But watch the weather carefully, be honest with your skills, and make sure you’re dressed for the chilly water temperatures and paddling a seaworthy craft; the shoreline here is exposed and can be unforgiving to the unprepared.

Plan your trip

• Each of Rainbow Falls’ campgrounds provide a unique experience: campers at the Rossport Campground have a front row seat on the Lake Superior shoreline, with great sunsets and refreshing breezes; the Whitesand Campground is nestled in the boreal forest, with immediate access to hiking trails and family cycling in the campground.
• The nearby village of Rossport is known for its cozy bed and breakfast accommodations. Check out The Willows for a great view of the island-studded Rossport Harbour or Nestled in Nature for a stay on Nicol Island. 
• You can rent a sea kayak or canoe for the day from Such a Nice Day Adventures in Rossport. Guided sea kayak explorations of the archipelago—from two-hour sunset harbour tours to challenging full-day ventures to the outer islands—are also available.

Black River

The Black River is a near-north gem offering tranquil beauty, energetic rapids and outstanding wildlife. Almost forgotten since the turn-of-the-century—when the river served as a transit corridor between logging operations in the Algonquin Highlands and sawmills on lakes Simcoe, Couchiching and St. John—today the Black meanders through peaceful, mature forest and rocky outcrops. The river holds its water well and can be paddled all season long.

Starting near the hamlet of Cooper’s Falls, paddlers can view the impressive chutes before enjoying a scenic float 14-kilometre downriver to the Highway 169 bridge. Note that a 100-metre portage is required around an unrunnable rapid at Fairgrounds Road. 

Plan your trip

• Riverside camping, rental yurts and cabins are available at the newly renovated Black River Wilderness Park. From late spring through early summer, the park makes an ideal base for whitewater paddlers to enjoy the class I-II+ rapids that form at higher flows. Launch from the campground or the nearby Highway 169 bridge and take out at McMillan Side Road bridge for this exciting 1.5-hour play run.

Northeast Arm of Lake Temagami, Finlayson Point Provincial Park

Northern Ontario’s Temagami area is a renowned paddling destination. You’ll get a taste of the area at Finlayson Point Provincial Park, which offers access to the Northeast Arm of sprawling Lake Temagami. You can launch a canoe right from the Park beach and experience the old-growth pine that makes the region famous. Lake Temagami’s big water makes it well-suited to kayaking, and nearby islands are equally attractive to explore on a standup paddleboard. Simply put, there’s something for everyone at Finlayson Point.

Plan your trip

• Book a campsite at the Park campground and have easy access to the water.
• The town of Temagami caters to paddlers, with canoe and kayak rentals, as well as vehicle shuttles and trip planning advice, available at the Temagami Outfitting Company.
• Several local lodges offer upscale accommodations. Check out the Temagami Shores Inn and Resort and Northland Paradise Lodge, both of which are close to Lake Temagami. Meanwhile, Smoothwaters Outfitters and Lodge, located about 20 minutes north on Highway 11, is a paddlers’ favourite, with rentals, outfitting and vehicle shuttles also available.  

Moon River

Short, steep, and very pretty, the Moon River distills the classic Canadian Shield canoe route into an easy day trip. Expect tumbling waterfalls, smooth-rock portages and wind-skewed white pines. The scenery climaxes at Moon River Falls, where the river spills 10 metres over granite ledges into Georgian Bay.

Popular starting points for a day trip to the Moon River Falls are Arnold’s Bay or Woods Bay, both of which provide easy access to the Moon River Basin from relatively sheltered inlets of Georgian Bay. Expect a paddle of 2.5 to 7.5 kilometres each way to reach the falls, where swimming and picnicking are a summer must.

Those willing to portage can continue upstream above the falls, exploring the Moon’s many smaller cascades and enticing campsites. 

Plan your trip

• Parking, launching and canoe rentals are available at Moon River Marine.

Humber River

The Humber River is an oft-overlooked gem for Toronto-area paddlers. Tucked into a leafy and surprisingly wild ravine at the city’s west end, the Humber is home to a remarkable variety of wildlife, including deer, beaver, mink, raccoon, coyote, great blue heron and swans. It’s also free of ice much of the year, making the river a great place to dip your paddles early or late in the season.

For an easy, two-hour round-trip, launch at King’s Mill Park off Bloor Street West and paddle south to Lake Ontario. Along the way, paddlers can explore the lower Humber’s meanders and lily pad-filled marshes, hidden from the frenetic bustle of the city. 

Plan your trip

• Conveniently located right on the Humber, Toronto Adventures offers canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, as well as instruction and guided tours.

Blue Lake, Blue Lake Provincial Park

Blue Lake Provincial Park is renowned as a summer destination in Northwestern Ontario’s Sunset Country—largely because of its great potential for paddling day trips. Located between Dryden and Kenora, north of the Trans-Canada Highway amidst a labyrinth of freshwater lakes, Blue Lake is a paddler’s paradise. Launch from the Park beach to explore its namesake lake, which features a towering 25-metre rockfall and portage access to several adjacent lakes. The Park offers canoe and kayak rentals.

Plan your trip

• The Blue Lake Provincial Park campground is perfect for families, with quiet sites and easy access to an impressive sand beach. Waterfront group campsites are also available. 
• Canoes and kayaks can be rented directly from the provincial park.

Nipigon River

The mouth of the Nipigon River is a fascinating day trip for Northern Ontario paddlers. Slip into the river at the Nipigon Marina and explore along this scenic stretch of the Trans Canada Water Trail. If the wind is up, stick to the quiet waters of the Nipigon Lagoon or the mid-river islands just downstream.

When calm conditions favour a longer voyage, head down to the village of Red Rock at the river’s mouth and look for a spectacular pictograph panel on the namesake bluffs across the river. This 15-kilometre round-trip can also be paddled in reverse, starting at the Red Rock Marina.

Plan your trip

• Rent canoes and kayaks from Nipigon River Bait, Tackle & Souvenirs.

Escape now

If you are new to paddling or just looking to get away for a day, it’s easy to explore Ontario’s beautiful landscapes on a canoe day trip or kayak day trip.

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