Trip Rating: 4.0/5
For my first solo trip of the season, I decided to launch from E.C. Brown Park and travel west on the Welland River. It seemed like a good choice, the water was calm and flat and the sun was shining.
After about 3km of paddling I noted a small creek that branched off under a bridge. It turned into one of the coolest trips I have had in a while!
Launch Sites:
As mentioned, I launched from E.C Brown Park in Fenwick. The address is 536-544 River Rd, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0. There is a small parking lot and a gravel boat launch. I didn't see any washrooms anywhere, so make sure you take care of business before hand. Especially if you are wearing a wetsuit for the cold water 😅
Difficulty: This paddle wasn't overly technical. There is a easterly current in the river, and the creek also drains into the river. So it was a constant paddle upstream on the first leg of the trip. Under the bridge in the background was the only strong current to paddle through, but really not too much to write about. The good news was, you got to paddle with the current the entire way back. Be careful of flood water, make sure you pre-scout your trip and wear proper PFD and safety gear.
Trip Length: It's hard to say what it will be in the summer months. With all my exploring and weaving through trees, the trip came in at 18km and took about 3 hours.
Credits:
@kayakontario, @outboundontario