Make Memories on the Grand River

The recent beautiful weather and warm temperatures has reminded us of all the fun and exploration that comes from Brantford’s largest natural tourism asset – the Grand River.

Many of the over 70km of nature trails in Brantford overlook this serene Canadian Heritage River and its surrounding Carolinian landscape, providing unique views and excellent walking, hiking and biking opportunities. Visit our Tourism Directory for more information on outdoor recreational activities, food and drink options and local businesses that can help you plan a memorable day or weekend experience.

Residents and visitors can also take advantage of three river access points in Brantford that provide free parking for leisure and recreational activities such as kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding and tubing. 

Brantford’s River Access Points

Brant Conservation Area 
Located just outside the park entrance to Brant Park, this public river access point is an ideal launch point for paddlers to enjoy a wide array of scenery and a variety of currents to paddle. River access points for exiting are located downstream at 3km, 5km, and 10km, and with the average paddler travelling at 3-4km per hour, you can choose the trip length that best suits your experience and preference. Free, unmarked parking is available with a circle turn-around that can accommodate vehicles with trailers and a launch ramp suitable for non-motorized watercrafts.

D’Augbiny Creek Park
Located near Brantford’s top horticultural park, Lorne Park and downtown Brantford, with connections to Brantford’s shared use trails, this river access point is easily accessible by foot, bike or car. A gradual natural slope towards the water’s edge creates an ideal spot for a picnic with the family, letting the dog splash around in the refreshing waters or engaging in some recreational fishing.

Cockshutt Bridge
A popular landing point with recreational paddlers, this river access point consists of a paved laneway leading into and out of this access point and large paved parking lot for approximately twenty vehicles. An existing gradual slope to the water’s edge provides ample space for transport of canoes and kayaks and can act as a staging area near the shallow waters to board or disembark. This location, when used as a launch point, is unique in that it is the only location in Brantford and Paris that offers paddlers a greater than three hour paddling trip.

When participating in recreational water activities, safety should always be considered a top priority. If you are looking to explore the river through curated tours you can check out our local outfitters, Grand Experiences and Grand River Rafting. Local outfitters offer residents and visitors a convenient and comfortable way to participate in a paddling experience, including transportation, safety equipment, guided route maps and a variety of watercrafts to suit all experience levels.