The Grand River valley is undergoing a massive sensory shift right now. The pale, hesitant greens of early May have completely deepened into a heavy, rich canopy that arches right over the water. When you look up from mid-river, it’s just a solid corridor of emerald.

Along the banks, the switchgrasses and reeds have shot up, anchoring the shoreline and rippling in the breeze. But what really hits you the moment you push off from the bank is the scent. It’s thick, sweet, and unmistakable—the heady smell of the Carolinian forest in full bloom. Between the wild black cherry trees, the blossoming locusts, and the damp, rich earth of the floodplain, the air on the water carries a fragrance you simply can’t get from the shore. It’s a brief, powerful window where the watershed isn’t just a landscape to look at; it’s something you completely breathe in.

It has been an incredibly busy May, and we have loved seeing guests from all around taking in this ever-changing beauty. Our waters have welcomed paddlers of every single skill level and background this month. We’ve shared the river with total newcomers finding their balance on the water for the very first time, retirees stopping by as part of an epic Cross-Canada tour, and seasoned adventurers who have paddled the glacial waters of Chile. We’ve even had expeditionists using our currents to train for a grueling 10-day trip on the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories.

Looking ahead to the upcoming weekend, our community’s enthusiasm for the river means we are operating at absolute capacity. Our team and fleet are fully committed, taking up every single one of our resources.

Here is what our availability looks like for the next few days:

• Saturday: Completely blocked off. No further bookings can be accepted.
• Sunday: Call-to-book inquiries only.

We are incredibly sorry for any inconvenience this might cause on such a beautiful weekend, but so many people had the great idea to plan far in advance. If you missed out on this round, we highly recommend locking in your upcoming dates early so you can experience this prime spring paddling before the season shifts again.