Sat May 2 2026 MAD River (Whitewater) Creemore to Glencairn Ont. 14 km river. 90 min from Toronto

Submitted by HuetonAndy on
Updated on Sun, 04/26/2026 - 09:22
Outing Type → 
Whitewater

I    will be running the MAD River again from County Road 9 in Creemore to Glencairn  this year. r As usual I scout the river beforehand from ten different river access points.  I already ran a portion of this river from Riverside Dr (Creemore) to Mad River Park on Sat April 11.   If on May 2 the water levels on the flow gauge at Airport Road have settled to a comfortable 8 -9 cu metters per second, then I will be comfortable doing the full 14 km with Intermediate paddlers  (which means that  you have strong paddling skills on lakes, can maneuver in strong winds on lakes and have good communications skills with your partner.   (left , right, centre,  tell me what to do,  where to go)    We have one log jam after the South Nottawasaga Concession 3 / Nottawasaga 6 Sideroad 6 Nottawasaga ATV Access Trail as it meets the river. We will be scouting that piece before we canoe it.   We paddle 14 km from Riverside Dr in Creemore to Glencairn Conservation Area in Glencairn. Due to the spring 2026 ice scouring, there are a couple extra kilometers of real fun Class I swifts above Carruthers Park that I know you will like a lot. 14 km of river paddling in total.   The flow gauge is here: 

https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=02ED015

 

At flow levels below 8 cu meters per second, we will do the full route.    Above 9 cu M/s we will talk  about it, but probably only do the lower seven km.  If we only do the lower seven km, then we will make it learning day where all of us can practice  and learn river skills. 

The Basics
Event Location

Meet at Riverside Drive, one km north of Riverside Drive and County Road 9 in Creemore

Date(s) & Time
Event Duration
one day (six hours paddling including lunch)
Difficulty Rating
Intermediate
Registration Cut Off
Friday May 1 2026 6pm
Participant Info
Who's Invited
WCA Members and their guests
Maximum Group Size
5 boats can include solo canoe
Minimum Group Size
2 tandem canoes
Itinerary
Itinerary description

Meet at Riverside Drive , one km north of County Road 9 in Creemore, where the river comes closest to the road. 10am. Drop boats and gear and shuttle as many cars as we can to Glencairn Conservation Area on Webster Road in Glencairn (no parking fee) Lunch will be somewhere on the river, probably at Carruthers Memorial Park in Avening. From Carruthers the river slows down a bit until our takeout at Glencairn Conservation. For safety reasons, first trip on this river this season and no trip reports online, I want only tandem canoes this first trip. My other trips later in the season will take solo canoes, just not this first trip.

I like the river flow levels to be about 8 to 9 cu meters per sec. Environment Canada Flow Station 02ED015.
https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=02ED015

We often run it at 10 to 11 cu meters per sec.  Last year in April 2025, we ran the river at 5.7 cu meters per second and we still loved it. so the target flow rates for the  paddle will be above 5.5 cu meters per second and below 10 cu M /s. If on trip day, the flow rate is too high, we will talk about only doing the bottom half of the trip from Carruthers Park to Glencairn. Cold water. River has been scoured by ice thicker than it has been in 30 years. Lots of tree debris been relocated. That's why I did not want  solo canoes or kayaks  on the first trip on April 11.  

Required Items to Bring

Your own canoe (for tandem pairs) . I have an extra canoe to lend. Drysuit or wetsuit. (I have a spare to lend for 6 ft, 200 pound). PFD. Helmet. Close toe shoes (no flip flops) . Painters for both ends of the canoe. Throw ropes. Bring one, even if you don’t bring a canoe. Wee need extras. Also bring your Whitewater PIN Kit – carabiners, pulleys, accessory cord, webbing and throw bag, in case we wrap a canoe and good hand saw if you have one. Lots of sweepers and wood piles on this river, although the spring ice out event cleaned the river well, we won’t know where the wood ent downriver until we see it. Bring canoes that can handle hitting a few rocks (no kevlar or carbon fiber). Pac Boats? Call me first.

Recommended Items to Bring

SRT Trained paddlers, bring full kit. Others if you have it bring whitewater rescue ropes, carabiners, webbing. Spare clothes to leave in the car for ride home

How to Get There
Event Directions

 

From Barrie: Take County Road 90 (Dunlop St exit off hwy 400 to Angus. Turn right on County Road 10 (just after Yellow NO FRILLS) Building. Continue on County Road 10 to County Road 9 (for New Lowell and Creemore) Drive through New Lowell, continue past Airport Road (Cashtown Corners) to Riverside Drive. Turn Right on Riverside Drive. Drive one km to where the river comes closest to the road. Park. 10am

From western Toronto, drive up hwy 410 to hwy 89, right on hwy 89 to Airport Road. And drive north to Cashtown Corners (County Road 9). Turn left on County Road 9. Drive 4.5 km to Riverside Drive. Turn right on Riverside. Drive one km to where the river comes closest to the road. Park. 10am

Carpool Info

Contact Trip Organizer. Maybe I can connect you with someone

Other
Notes

 


I am flexible on days   (Sat / Sun)  on this   May 2/3 weekend. If enough people want the trip to run Sunday because you  already have plans for  Saturday, please let me know and I will keep your email and make a decision on the Thursday evening before the trip. Signing now means the trip  runs  Saturday. If enough people book the trip to make it run   (we meet the minimums) , then it runs Saturday. If only not enough people book Saturday  and lots of people want Sunday, then   say so and we do Sunday.  Also please if you book Saturday let me know if you are flexible for Sunday.    I want to

Cancellation Policy
Friday May 1 2026 6pm

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