Easy Paddling!

When you are planning your next visit – whether for the day or longer, consider adding on a paddling experience – stretch your limits! Check out our convenient boat launch sites, rentals – everything you’ll need to enjoy an outing on the water! Our handy Park Locator tool allows you to find parks with the amenities and services you require to get you started.

You can find easy paddling in most provincial parks. Explore meandering rivers for great opportunities to see wildlife. The Bonnechere River makes for a great family paddle, close to shore, interesting vegetation and the chance to see turtles, fish, ducks and deer. The family cabins at Bonnechere make for a great getaway! Or check out Emily northeast of Toronto, a perfect spot for novice paddlers and the wetlands along the wide Pigeon River provide a habitat for many unique frogs and birds. If you do not have a canoe, you can rent one at the Park Store.

Motorboat free lakes provide peaceful, easy paddling for novice paddlers and nature enthusiasts. The collection of picturesque lakes in Esker Lakes, the quiet, pretty Kettle’s Lake at Awenda or the peaceful waters of MacLeod in northwestern Ontario offer a relaxing option for a day of canoeing. Some parks like Silent Lake offer great home bases to explore. Try a quiet and relaxing paddle across the 2.5 km long Silent Lake. The adjoining Quiet Lake and Soft Lakes can be accessed (depending on water levels) by completing a short portage.

More parks are beginning to offer “Learn to” programs – including Earl Rowe where you can learn to paddle. Be sure to check out “What Happening” highlights for each park. And park staff are excellent sources for advice on paddling and services available.

Please visit the Ontario Parks blog for articles on the benefits of being in nature. From the Ontario Parks Blog;

“Connecting with nature has lots of benefits. It keeps us healthy by lowering our blood pressure and strengthening our immune system. It reduces our stress levels and keeps us physically fit. It’s good for our emotional wellbeing too. Children who play in natural environments are more resilient and develop skills for dealing with stress later in life. Parks provide unparalleled natural classrooms and recreation opportunities for people of all ages. And now there’s a new initiative – developed jointly by federal, provincial and territorial governments – that focuses on the importance nature plays in our lives. Ministers responsible for parks across the country recently met in Ontario to finalize the Connecting Canadians with Nature report, which was co-ordinated through the Canadian Parks Council. The report builds on what Ontario Parks is already doing.”