Creeking on the Humber River

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Between Bolton and Weston, where rains brought by Hurricane Hazel washed away 14 homes in October 1954, the Humber River is now carefully flood controlled by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Though this stretch is completely open and accessible, the two dam projects along its length have successfully reduced the river to mainly a fast flowing stream. Successful passage requires the highest water levels, but this means several hours of nearly uninterrupted swifts and rock gardens with no actual classified rapids.

There are a couple of short portages around the old mill dam, cataract, and diversion project in the original Bolton village. After this there are no other man made obstacles for the duration, and it is 27 kilometres to Kleinburg.

Last years run took 6 hours including an hour on shore for lunch. The GPS track looks like a set of mountain switchbacks, so this will be a great opportunity to practice your turns.

If you don't mind, I would like to try the website functionality for this outing. Please sign up electronically.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Bolton to Kleinburg
Date(s) & Time: 
Sunday, April 3, 2011 - 09:00
Registration Cut Off: 
N/A
Event Duration: 
Roughly 6 hours on the river.
Difficulty Rating: 
Novice
Participant Info
Who's Invited: 
Everyone!
Maximum Group Size: 
6 boats
Minimum Group Size: 
Just Ginger and I
Itinerary
Itinerary description: 

We will meet at the put-in (Dicks Dam Park, Bolton) for 9am and shuttle to the take-out which is nearby. The boats should be back on the cars and headed home for dinner by 4:30pm.

Required Items to Bring: 

Bag lunch.
Dry change of clothes.
Water shoes, there is some wading.

Recommended Items to Bring: 

Rain gear just in case; it could be warm and sunny, it could be cold and raining.

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

Bolton is North on #50 past the end of #427, or at the junction of #50 & King Road.
The put in is from Dicks Dam Park. In Bolton, drive down into the Humber River valley and turn West at King St.
Turn Right at Deer Valley Drive. At the tennis courts, turn right onto Glasgow Road, cross the one lane bridge and park in the big lot on the right side. There is a second lot at the intersection of Glasgow and Hickman where the river access may be better.

The take out is at the end of Humber Bridge Trail outside of Kleinburg.
On the East side of #27 at Major Mackenzie Drive.

Cross between Highways #50 and #27 using Nashville Road.

See directions here.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Matthew Eberly
Phone: 
905-951-9386