Dip a paddle in the beautiful waters of Kawarthas Northumberland
“If it is love that binds people to places in this nation of rivers and in this river of nations then one enduring expression of that simple truth, is surely the canoe.”
— James Raffan, adventurer, acclaimed author and Director Emeritus of the Canadian Canoe Museum.
Historically, the canoe connected these lands. Originally a technology of Indigenous people, the canoe played a vital role in Canadian history. This, and much more, can be felt by a trip to The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. The canoe continues to connect us to the lands that have been inhabited by the Indigenous peoples from the beginning. Paddling offers a healthy social activity that connects us to each other. The canoe is a vehicle for creating unforgettable memories, exciting adventures, and your own sense of what it means to be Canadian.
Paddling throughout Kawarthas Northumberland’s wilderness inspires creativity and provides an immediate connection with nature. It teaches core values, skills, and inspires a love for nature, and is best shared with your loved ones. Paddling removes distractions and brings us back to the essential things in life—our relationships with each other and our sense of self.
A paddling trip to Kawarthas Northumberland can give you more quality time with your family and friends and less time in the car.
The Trent-Severn Waterway is full of hidden gems, places where you can take in the delicious food and fun activities of a small town, and also paddle around the corner to escape into a provincial park or other secluded wilderness area. Get out on the water. Disconnect from your daily distractions and forge unforgettable memories that connect us to who and where we are.
Check out these routes, each one selected because it offers a great escape into nature, has rental canoes and/or kayaks available right on the route, and accommodations nearby.
At the heart of all things Canadian, multi-cultural, and artisanal, The Canadian Canoe Museum is home to the largest collection of canoes and kayaks in the world—some of them several hundred years old. This is a museum that parents and kids will both enjoy.
The museum tells the remarkable story of paddling as a tradition which helped build Canada as a country. Home to Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s famous buckskin coat and some of the fastest canoes and kayaks in the world, it is also home to some of the world-class, finely engineered boats used by Canada’s many Olympic champions. There is sure to be something here that will make you proud to be Canadian.
Be sure to follow our blogs about paddling that include trip inspirations from local guides, videos, and different paddling routes and locations.
The Kawarthas Northumberland blog is the place to go for longer stories and additional recommendations. Browse the articles below to find out more about paddling in the region.
After just a short time on the water it’s clear Stony Lake lives up to the name. Pines lean dramatically from rocky islands as we glide past in our kayaks, en route to a high bluff overlooking scenic Burleigh Falls. Alex Grant, owner and lead guide of Lovesick Kayaking, shepherds us into a sheltered bay
We know there are people across the country and around the world who are not able to travel to Kawarthas Northumberland and experience the museum in person. To help, we’ve created a series of videos that show the museum is not just a collection of objects but a keeping place for the stories the vessels
Great paddling routes don’t just “happen.” It takes a network of people interested in developing them. There is an amazing network of cyclists in Kawarthas Northumberland, all of them discovering, developing and planning amazing cycling routes.