Canoe, Kayak, SUP, and Raft Events in Ontario in 2025

It’s never too early to plan a summer’s worth of paddling events. Whether your preferred scene is a gruelling race or a casual festival, there are plenty of events to choose from. All the events below are designed to get you in a canoe, kayak, raft, or on a paddleboard floating on a lake or river. And in a few cases, they’ll even get you in a comfortable theatre seat, dreaming of being in a boat. So start scrolling to discover the best canoe, kayak, SUP and rafting events of the year—and when you’ve found a few to jot on the calendar, use a pen, not a pencil.

FEBRUARY

Paddling Film Festival World Tour

February–November, 2025
Multiple locations, ON – See Tour Schedule

Kick off Ontario’s paddling season with a night of inspirational paddling films. The Paddling Film Festival travels to 135 cities across Ontario and around the world to showcase the very best paddling films. Local hosts select each evening’s lineup from the festival’s shortlist of category winners. Each year, the premiere is hosted by The Complete Paddler in February in Toronto. See the website for the dates of in-person screenings all over Ontario and the world, or stream the festival from the comfort of your couch. 

Wilderness Canoe Symposium

February 22, 2025
Toronto, ON

Since 1986, the Wilderness Canoe Symposium has been an annual celebration and exploration of ambitious canoe tripping. This year, the festival continues its tried and true formula of presenting a speaker roster that’s heavy on first-person accounts of recent adventures. You must register in advance.

APRIL

M.A.C.K. Fest

April 11-13, 2025
Marmora, ON

The ever-keen Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers club waits all winter for this kick-off to the spring whitewater season. Strictly speaking, the actual event is hosted off-river Friday and Saturday night at the Marmora Curling Club (2 Crawford Dr.) where paddlers enjoy dinner, drinks, music and raffle draw prizes. By day, the assembled organize themselves into unofficial groups for trips down local rivers like the Salmon, Beaver, Moira, Skootamata and Black, plus local play spots. Find your own local lodging or pitch a tent on-site.

Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny

April 12, 2025
Port Hope, ON

This 10-km race on the Ganaraska River might be overshadowed by the build-your-own Crazy Craft race that follows, but is a good fit for novice to intermediate paddlers who want to try a race. It welcomes double or single canoes and kayaks and, now, SUPs. Participants can opt to take out above the more difficult section through town.

Raisin River Canoe Race

April 12, 2025
Cornwall, ON

The Raisin River Canoe Race recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, making it one of the province’s longest running. At 30 km long, it's also one of the longest canoe races in eastern Ontario. The race runs from St. Andrews to Williamstown and is held during spring freshet when the water levels are high. 

Upper Jock River Race

April 26, 2025
Ottawa, ON

The Upper Jock River Canoe Race is a fun, 12.5-km paddle race with a history dating back to 1971. The course is tame enough for families and recreational paddlers to use it as a first opportunity to get out on the water. The shallow, current-aided course is generally free of portages and runs through the beautiful Richmond Fen with several swifts or class I rapids. Open to all paddlers, including canoes, kayaks, outriggers and SUPs, this event attracts over 250 participants.

MAY

Marsh Mash Canoe Race

May 10, 2025
Bradford, ON

The Marsh Mash Canoe and Kayak Race uses as its course the New Canal of the Holland Marsh. It’s a very safe course, with no rocks, no rapids or portages, and forms a circle so the start and finish are in the same spot. There are enough classes and choices of race distances to suit a range of paddler abilities. Sanctioned by the Ontario Marathon Canoe and Kayak Racing Association (OMCKRA).

Saugeen Bluffs Canoe Race

May 24, 2025
Paisley, ON

This new race boasts a great location on the scenic Saugeen River. The event is aimed at paddlers of all experience levels, with two distances to choose from: a shorter 8.5-km race or a longer 19-km race finishing at the Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area.

Hell or High Water

May TBD, 2025
Petawawa, ON

Billed as Canada’s largest whitewater race, Hell or High Water also features standup paddleboard demos, flatwater paddling, camping, a photo contest, and loads of family events including inflatable fun. Most activities are free of charge. It all takes place at Petawawa Centennial Park at 18 Park Drive.

High Water Run Race

May TBD, 2025
Kirkland Lake, ON

This is a recreational race and suitable for all skill levels. It runs 13 km on the winding Blanche River, with two small portages and no whitewater. Organizers describe the race route as family-friendly. Classes are solo canoe, kayak, men's canoe, women's canoe, and mixed couples canoe.

JUNE

Canoe The Nonquon

June 7, 2025
Port Perry, ON

This well-attended race has a history in the community that dates back to 1969, making it Ontario’s longest-running race. The 20-km course starts with 12 km of river paddling, complete with tight turns and dead-end channels before entering the lake for an 8-km sprint along the shore of Lake Scugog. There are no portages, but the beavers can usually be counted on for a few liftovers. There is also a shorter 12-km course. Classes include marathon or recreational tandem or solo canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. All funds raised benefit the Scugog Shores Museums.

Saugeen Paddlers Voyageur Canoe Race

June 7, 2025

Paisley, ON

Celebrating the freight canoes of Canada’s historic fur trade, this event features North Canoes, 26 feet long and crewed by six or eight paddlers, reminiscent of the birchbark craft used by the North West Company two centuries ago. Get a crew together for racing and feasting on a post-race BBQ and potluck supper; the Saugeen Paddlers Canoe Kayak Club provides the big canoes.

Mattawa River Canoe Race

June 14, 2025
North Bay, ON

The Mattawa River Canoe Race classic returns in 2025. Racers can do the historic 64-km Voyageur Route or opt for the 13-km Junior/Family course. There is a huge range of team compositions and craft requirements for different classes. No matter your class, make sure you stay for the awards banquet, which coincides with the Mattawa Lumberjack Festival.

Ontario SUP Race Series

June TBD, 2025
Multiple locations, ON

The Ontario SUP Race Series is a competitive and fun summer event series aimed at raising the profile of standup paddling in the province. In 2024, the series hosted five races across southern Ontario, including in Muskoka, Niagara, Kincardine, Collingwood and Caledon. Race distances have included 2 km for novices, 7 km, 12.5 km and 20 km for elite racers. Registration is typically around $50 per race. 

Sudbury Canoe Club Marathon

June TBD, 2025
Sudbury, ON

The Northern Water Sports Centre at Ramsey Lake is the setting for this event with three distances. Distance options are 6, 10 and 20 km. Classes include men’s, women’s and mixed in tandem canoes, recreational and open racing kayaks and sea kayaks, SUP and sprint. 

JULY                   

Lock & Paddle

July 20, 2025
Peterborough, ON

The free Lock & Paddle event celebrates the Peterborough Lift Lock and Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site. Paddle on the Trent-Severn Waterway with hundreds of other canoes and kayaks before packing into the world’s tallest hydraulic lift lock and being raised 65 feet into the air to continue paddling on the waterway above. All ages and skill levels are welcome, note that SUP and inflatables are not permitted. 

Two Row on the Grand

July 16-25, 2025

Cambridge, ON

Canoe and kayak down the Grand River from Cambridge to Port Maitland with Haudenosaunee Nations in celebration of reconciliation. The paddle is a symbolic embodiment of the original Two Row Wampum treaty, put in place more than 400 years ago. Paddlers will travel in two rows when possible—one Indigenous row, and one ally row—to embody the concept of the Two Row Wampum Treaty. Educational events, traditional teachings, interactive dancing, storytelling, meals and sharing circles are included as you camp along the river each night. Join for part or all of this 10-day paddle.

Temagami Canoe Festival

July TBD, 2024
Temagami, ON

On hiatus since 2019, the Temagami Canoe Festival hopes to make a comeback in July 2025. The two-day event includes canoe displays, demos and workshops, historical talks, birch bark canoes, guided old growth forest hikes, live music, food and more. 

Parry Sound 50

July TBD, 2024
Parry Sound, ON

Hosted by the Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre, the Parry Sound 50 welcomes all self-propelled watercraft and features three event distances: 5 km, 17 km and 50 km. The friendly course on Nine Mile Lake is deep water and sheltered from most wind directions with little boat traffic.

AUGUST

Kingston to Ottawa (K2O)

August 9, 2025
Kingston/Smith Falls, ON

The K2O is an ultra-endurance marathon race through the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site. Racers of all skill levels vie to complete the 90-km or 40-km distances without stopping. The race is open to canoes, kayaks, SUPs and surf skis and can be raced with or without support.

Wai Nui Why Not Race

August 10, 2025

Oakville, ON

Hosted at the picturesque Wai Nui club in Oakville, the Wai Nui Why Not Race embraces Hawaiian-themed outrigger culture. Race distances are 5 km or 12 km and are open to SUP, surf ski and outrigger paddlers. Following the races, participants can enjoy lunch, awards and swag.

Water And Dirt Festival

August 8-17, 2025
Pembroke, ON

The week-long Water And Dirt Festival celebrates the 900 lakes and four major rivers of the Ottawa Valley. It features multiple events, including a fundraising Doggy Paddle in support of the local OSPCA, a morning regatta on Golden Lake with pancake breakfast, and paddleboard water polo tournament. The festival also hosts the Upper Ottawa River Race, which includes canoes, kayaks, outriggers and SUPs in 4 km and 10 km distance races, plus a 1-km kids race. 

York River Race

July or August TBD

Bancroft, ON

Billed as the Ontario Marathon Canoe/Kayak Championship, this race on the York River starting in downtown Bancroft is open to anyone, with classes for tandem canoe, kayak and SUP. The river has deep and shallow sections, twists, current and other technical elements. Event distances are 12 km or 24 km, with some shorter races as well.  

SEPTEMBER

Paddlepalooza

September 5-7, 2025
Parry Sound, ON

Ontario’s largest annual sea kayak event uses its impressive assembly of instructors to offer skills clinics for paddlers of all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned experts. The festival takes advantage of its setting at Killbear Provincial Park to offer classes on both protected bays and the open waters of Georgian Bay. Meals are included and rentals are available. Registration: $369.

Gull River Open Canoe Slalom

September 6-7, 2025
Minden, ON

Bring your open canoe, your serious race face, your silly helmet, your friends and your family for this welcoming mainstay of the open boating community. For most open boaters, it’s their only race of the year. For others, it’s just their favourite.

Muskoka River X

September 12-14, 2025
Muskoka, ON

The world's longest single-day expedition paddling race is 90 km long and takes adventure racers into the heart of Algonquin Park on a maze of lakes, rivers, marshes and portages in less than 24 hours. No outside assistance is allowed, including support teams, resupplies and electronic navigation. Considered by some to be the toughest single-day paddling race in the world. The event is open to solo or tandem canoes, kayaks, surf skis or SUPs.

Toronto International Outrigger Canoe Race

September 13, 2025

Toronto, ON

Based out of the Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club, this popular event attracts an international field of outrigger canoe, SUP, surf ski and kayak paddlers. Race distances range from 5 km for newer paddlers to over 20 km around Toronto Islands. The event concludes with a luau featuring food and drinks. All paddlers and spectators are welcome.

Thessalon River Paddle

September TBD, 2024
Thessalon, ON

Light up the Thessalon River with this once-a-year paddling event. Launch at 8 pm from the Peace Park in Thessalon with a decorated kayak, canoe or paddleboard and float on the river with style. Battery-powered or solar-powered mini lights and glow bracelets and necklaces are encouraged. 

OCTOBER

Nottawasaga Fall Classic

October 18, 2025

Wasaga Beach, ON

This fun race welcomes all paddlers to the scenic Nottawasaga River in downtown Wasaga Beach. Kayaks, sprint canoes, paddleboards and surf skis available from the Collingwood Paddling Club. All boats racing the same distance will start together, heading upstream. 

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