Whitewater

Looking for a boat or two for a run down the West branch of the Spanish River, July 1st to July 6th. Plan is to meet the train on Canada Day, take it up to Sinker Creek and paddle out to Agnew for the 6th. My son and I will be tandem paddling and hammock camping. We're pretty laid back, and easy going, looking for some like minded folks to come along. This is a whitewater river, so trip participants should be comfortable in moving water with tripping boats. We are not pushing very hard each day, so tandem or solo boats are welcome. Train costs $20+HST/adult and $100/canoe

This is potentially the third of a bunch of whitewater one day trips on the MAD River (Creemore) in the spring of 2025.. Signup is now open. Every time I run this river, I scout it from shore from more than eight different road bridges and shoreline access points (because I live local and can do so easily) . Due to the recent ice storms over the past few weeks ,I will need to be more methodical in my scouting, walking a lot more shoreline than usual, before the trip. I have already walked the shoreline once, we are good to go for the lower section (Carruthers to Glencairn). I will inspect for the upper section in the final days before the trip (and subject to water levels) . Typically I look for flows of 7-8 cubic meters per second on the upper section (Riverview Drive down) and love to do the full top to bottom at 11 cu M /s, however this spring's ice storm warrant extra caution, so extra scouting will be done by me prior to the day. If high flow conditions are predicted (above 11.5 cu M/s) , the trip may run just the lower section: Avening to Glencairn, at the discretion of the trip leader. If you need a seat in a boat, contact me and I will pair you up. I also have a spare canoe to lend. Due to the damage to the trees in the watershed from ice storm and high water levels, I will only be accepting tandem canoe for this first trip on the MAD this season. I will try to add more trips later that take both tandem and solo boats. thanks for understanding

This will be the second one of a bunch of whitewater one day trips I plan to on the MAD River (Creemore) in the spring of 2025. The channel of this river is narrow, fast flowing and the top half has poor visibility on the corners. For this reason, every time I run this river, I scout it from shore from more than eight different road bridges and shoreline access points (because I live local and can do so easily) . I will inspect for the upper section in the final days before the trip (and subject to water levels) Typically I lo ok for flows of 7-8 cubic meters per second on the upper section (Riverview Drive down) and love to do the full top to bottom at 11 cu M /s, however this spring's ice storm warrant extra caution, so extra scouting will be done by me prior to the day. If high flow conditions are predicted (above 11.5 cu M/s) , the trip may run just the lower section: Avening to Glencairn, at the discretion of the trip leader. If you need a seat in a boat, contact me and I will pair you up. I also have a spare canoe to lend. Due to the damage to the trees in the watershed from ice storm and high water levels, I will only be accepting tandem canoe for this first trip on the MAD this season. I will try to add more trips later that take both tandem and solo boats. thanks for understanding. Too safely achieve a large group, we will split into two groups of five boats each, with two tandems in the forward group. This trip, I will take solo boats if .the river flows are low (7-8 cu M/s and we have enough tandem canoes

We will paddle the Upper portion of the Salmon River from Gull Creek (intersection with Hwy 15/Arden Road) to where the Salmon River intersects Woodcocks Mills Road, West of Hwy 15. Both the put-in and take-out are North of Tamworth.

Check out the WCA YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LllYMQ4OxVs

We plan to paddle down the Rouge River from Milne Dam Conservation Park to about Meadowdale Road , approx. 18 kms.  Last year we did this in 6 hours, which included lunch.   I think this year we will take out at Finch.   This should be a total of 14 km. 

The water level was at 3.36m and it was a bump and grind adventure.   I am hoping to do the river at a higher level this year.   Generally, the river was a classic class 1 to 1.5 creek, with lots of obstacles.

You will need a whitewater boat and prepared to jump in and out of your boat to get around sweepers and downed trees,rocks, etc.

Real-Time Hydrometric Data Graph for ROUGE RIVER NEAR MARKHAM (02HC022) [ON] - Water Level and Flow - Environment Canada (ec.gc.ca)

If you are looking for a canoe partner or canoe to sit in, let me know, and I will try and coordinate connected people with canoes with people looking for a canoe.  Send me an email or call me.

Check out last years YouTube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIglq057Rn0

The Black River empties into Lake Simcoe south of Washago. There is a fun short section from the HWY 169 bridge crossing to the next concession road crossing to the west where the river loops around through many small rapids separated by flat sections. The section ends with an optional more challenging technical chute, followed by a Class 2 rollercoaster ride. This is an ideal spot for budding moving water paddlers to get some experience, and practice ferries and eddy turns. I'm happy do give informal pointers, and we're in no rush. The section of river is short enough that if you get cold or wet, you can quickly paddle out. However, if you want to work the section, you can play all afternoon. As a bonus, we meet at 11:00 so you don't have to haul yourself out of bed early to get there. We'll also finish around 3:00, so plenty of time to get back to the family dinner. Bring a lunch and we'll eat on the river. As the water will still be cold, you will need a dry suit or wet suit. This is a relaxed day of paddling play & practice on a fun, forgiving stretch of river.

On a spring day, the Moira River north of Belleville provides a fun paddling trip from Lost Channel to Latta.

The river provides a great opportunity for good novice moving water paddlers to move up to an intermediate level river. We'll meet at Chisholm's Mill at 9:30, do a car shuttle, and then warm up the easier lower section down to Latta. The rapids are not difficult; just a fun rollercoaster ride, with some surfing waves along the way. We'll go back to Chisholm's for lunch at the cars, and then do a shuttle to run the more technical and challenging Lost Channel section. We should finish up around 4:00, and then we traditionally hit the nearby Maple Dale Cheese store along the highway for ice cream and cheese. (Real Canucks can buy cheese curds here for homemade poutine.)
 

All canoes must have full flotation, and you are required to have a full wetsuit or drysuit as the water will be cold. If you arrive without these, you will not be able to participate.

Please note that as at the time of posting the river levels and weather cannot be predicted, the date could be changed if levels are not suitable or the weather is inclement. I like to play, and float along chatting with people. My idea of a fun outing isn't paddling in freezing rain muttering to each other "don't worry, we'll soon be finished if we hurry." So if you sign up, you needn't worry that you are committing to a survival exercise-just a fun day.

Join me on this classic early spring favourite of Toronto area paddlers. We’ll catch the Credit in Pinecliff Park, Streetsville and run down to Erin Mills Park.   There is bridge construction down river so we have to exit here.

The river is a delightful continuous Class 1 to 2 with lots big bouncy wave trains and play spots.There are loads of opportunities to practice easy ferries and eddy turns as we work our way down the river. However, downed trees over the winter can create sweepers, and participants need to be able to manoeuvre a canoe in moving water to avoid them.

As well, the water will be cold. You need solid basic moving water skills. A full wetsuit or a drysuit is required to participate (no exceptions). Boats should have air bags in them.

We'll have a late lunch on the river at Erin Mills so bring something to eat. We usually finish the trip around 3 PM.

Water levels; April 4, 2025 the water level is 5.4m /( in flood).  Predicting by April 6, 25 the water level will be ~5.2m (in flood). .  I did the river in 2019 at 5.3m level and it was in flood and big standing waves in the corners (these can be avoided with some planning you turns).

If you are looking for a canoe partner or canoe to sit in, let me know, and I will try and coordinate connected people with canoes with people looking for a canoe.  Send me an email or call me.

We will run the river on Saturday, camp on Saturday night, then do a second run on Sunday. Come for 1 day or both. Logistics to be worked out, but we will likely camp at Owl Rafting or Wilderness Tours. Rapids range from class 2-4 and most of the major rapids have easy scouting, portage trails and a pool at the end of each rapid to pick up swimmers and gear. We will run the middle or main channels pending group interest and water levels. This site has a good description of the river: https://paddlingmaps.com/trip/Ontario/45-main-channel https://paddlingmaps.com/trip/Ontario/46-middle-channel

Spring Run on the BigHead River located in Meaford Ontario Open to river runners and whitewater paddlers with experience in moving water. Paddlers should have experience in spotting sweepers and Strainers and avoid it. Meet 10 AM at Joe Park https://www.google.com/maps/place/Beautiful+Joe+Park/@44.6035876,-80.5962339,293m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x0:0xe5cf60dce065b4f8!2zNDTCsDM2JzEzLjQiTiA4MMKwMzUnNDYuMyJX!3b1!8m2!3d44.6037167!4d-80.5961833!3m4!1s0x882a082e28cc1363:0xb471720240139911!8m2!3d44.6031849!4d-80.596139 Drive to Put In: https://www.google.com/maps/place/44%C2%B034'33.1%22N+80%C2%B038'55.5%22W/@44.575859,-80.6509277,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x0:0xf55bc64679795e3f!2zNDTCsDM0JzMzLjEiTiA4MMKwMzgnNTUuNSJX!3b1!8m2!3d44.5758667!4d-80.64875!3m5!1s0x0:0xa6677efb0a2a1734!7e2!8m2!3d44.5758591!4d-80.6487393 Take out: https://www.google.com/maps/place/44%C2%B036'13.5%22N+80%C2%B035'46.8%22W/@44.603735,-80.5985267,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m23!1m16!4m15!1m6!1m2!1s0x882a082b8deae957:0x697663214e7aa935!2sMeaford,+ON!2m2!1d-80.5936871!2d44.6059438!1m6!1m2!1s0x882a07cb3f9a728f:0x223f15e391d6640c!2sBeyond+Meetings+%26+Events,+Meaford,+ON+N4L+1W6!2m2!1d-80.6495686!2d44.575234!3e0!3m5!1s0x0:0x35fac2affc9d8177!7e2!8m2!3d44.6037353!4d-80.5963377