Canoe Adventures in Muskoka
Enjoy the beautiful Muskoka river in a canoe right from our waterfront at the confluence of the North and South Branch. Canoes are a Canadian tradition dating back to the early explorers and our indigenous people. It is the perfect craft for discovering new places and was used by David Thompson when he first explored and mapped our river. If you want to discover the area for the first time and are bringing a child, or a dog or if you would prefer to stay drier, a canoe is the best option. We launch you from our on-site dock towards beautiful destinations along the river. You can explore from our site for up to 4 hours and discover 3 different routes to area waterfalls and wildlife. There are 2 local parks, 3 waterfalls, a variety of wildlife as well as other areas for shore up for a wilderness lunch and a swim. In addition we do offer multi day canoe rentals for exploring other area routes and wilderness parks within a short drive.
Our Equipment
Most of our canoes are from Old Town Canoe and vary in length from 15-17’ depending on the participants. Some are more stable while others are designed for more efficiency. Our staff will discuss which model would be best for you. Our canoes are durable and ideal for our river environment and day tripping and not ideal for lengthy portaging due to the weight of the construction. Our Canoes are best suited for 2 adult padders and either 1 child or a dog.
On-Site Tours
When you place your reservation you can choose from a Self Guided trip from 1 to 4 hours which you can also add a 15 minute instruction option if you are new to paddling. We also have guided trip options on weekends which will include your instruction and a guide to show you the best parts of the river!
Off-Site Rentals
If you are an experienced paddler looking for equipment for a multi day canoe adventure you can reserve equipment under our Summer Rentals! Our waterfront has all the equipment to safely load a canoe onto your vehicle and assistance from our staff to get you efficiently on your way to your next destination. Note that our canoes are best suited for our local environment and are durable but not designed for lightweight portaging. Perfect craft for exploring the Muskoka Lakes and Rivers, Big Wind Provincial Park and the Poker Lakes Wilderness
Book Your Canoeing Adventure
FAQ - Paddling a Canoe - Read before reserving
For general reservation FAQ’s please visit our Summer Adventures page
We have never paddled before. Can we participate?
If you have never paddled before we are here to help so you should either reserve our 15 minute instruction course with a self guided trip or choose a guided trip which includes instruction and a guide to show you the river safely.
Where can we put the Canoes in the water?
We are located at the confluence of the beautiful North and South Muskoka river and have docks on the waterfront to launch the canoes. Our staff are here to assist you for both self guided trips, instruction classes and full guided experiences.
Where can we paddle from your location?
The River offers a calm environment most of the year and to enjoy a calm environment to be enjoyed by the first timer as well as the seasoned paddler. There is everything from a 1 hour trip to Bracebridge Waterfalls up to a full day of exploring to three different waterfalls!. The river is very sheltered and have very little/restricted boat traffic so we are Ontario’s best destination for new paddlers!
How many people can fit in a Canoe?
A Canoe is designed for 2 people. Our 3-seat canoes are available for 2 adults and 1 or 2 small children. This is at our discretion if we determine you are safely able to paddle self-guided with all participants.
How Deep is the water and do I need to know how to swim?
The River depth varies between 5 - 20 feet and 30 - 80ft. across. You are provided with and expected to wear the life jacket provided at all times while visiting the river. If you do not swim or are concerned with your abilities we recommend choosing a guided trip or our instruction course option with your reservation.
Are there places to stop and have lunch or swim?
There are two different local parks accessible from our site as well as a few wilderness spots up river which are available for swimming and lunch stops. We also offer a picnic area on-site which you are free to use following your trip.
We want to explore other areas. Can we take the canoe away for the day?
We offer multi day rentals for use at surrounding parks, cottages and to access other wilderness areas. For reservations and rates visit our Summer Rentals page. We provide all the equipment and assistance required to rack a canoe on your car or truck for your trip.
What should we bring for the day?
We would recommend you wear quick drying clothing and protection for a day in the sun. Pack snacks, water (in a refillable container please) Don’t forget to bring your swim suit and some sunscreen, especially on sunny days. If you forget we also have these items available in our kiosk at check in.
How long can we paddle for?
The river offers fairly endless paddling options though we rent our canoes by the hour so you can select from 1 to up to 4 hours of paddling and we offer multiple options for routes.
What model are your canoes?
Most of our canoes are from Old Town Canoe and vary in length from 15-17’ depending on the participants. Some are more stable while others are designed for more efficiency. Our staff will discuss which model would be best for you. Our canoes are durable and ideal for our river environment and day tripping and not ideal for lengthy portaging due to the weight of the construction.
What if I have other Questions?
Many of our general FAQs can be found on our summer adventures page for reservations and we recommend you check them out. We have tried to outline most of the questions we receive in detail here in order to save our staff from repeating these details while our shop can be very busy servicing customers on-site.
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