Join Grand Experiences at CanCast 2026 Join Grand Experiences at CanCast 2026: Your Gateway to the Grand River The countdown is on! This Sunday, March 29th, the biggest weekend in Canadian fishing arrives in Peterborough, and Grand Experiences will be right in the thick of it. We’re heading to the Peterborough Memorial Centre for CanCast […]
Field Notes on the Grand River
Your insider guide to the Grand River. From seasonal wildlife sightings to trip planning tips, get the expert advice you need to plan a safe, memorable escape from the city.
Why This Winter Was a Win
The Hidden Reservoir: Why This Winter Was a Win for the Grand River If you’re looking out at the Grand River this week, you’re seeing a lot of brown water and high banks. But the real story isn’t what’s flowing past Penman’s Dam right now—it’s what’s soaking in beneath your feet. After a winter that […]
Join the 2026 Crew!
Trade Your Desk for the River: Join the 2026 Crew! If the idea of spending your summer under fluorescent lights makes you wince, we have a much better view waiting for you. The 2026 paddling season is fast approaching, and Grand Experiences is officially building our core team. From May to October, we put thousands […]
Upcoming Dates: Nith Whitewater, Paddling Lessons
Upcoming Dates for Nith Whitewater, and Paddling Lessons The 2026 Nith Outlook The Nith River is a seasonal phantom. It doesn’t run all year—it only wakes up when the spring melt and rains align, offering a technical, splashy trek through deep Carolinian forests that feels completely disconnected from the rest of Southern Ontario. Because this […]
Announcement: Grand Experiences is Now Incorporated
Announcement: Grand Experiences is Now Grand Experiences Inc. After 29 years as a sole proprietorship, I am proud to announce that we have officially incorporated as Grand Experiences Inc., and I, Adam Merrifield, am stepping into the role of President & CEO. By formalizing our corporation, we are building a permanent foundation to take this […]
Mastering the J-Stroke
Mastering the J-Stroke The Secret to Effortless Steering on the Grand River If you have ever spent a day zig-zagging down the river, you know the frustration. When you are paddling in the stern of a canoe, there is a natural tendency for the boat to veer away from the side you are paddling on. […]
Flooded Forests in “Canada’s Amazon”
Flooded Forests in “Canada’s Amazon” Scouting Big Creek with Mike Farr In our recent field notes, we’ve talked a lot about the changing seasons, the “False Spring,” and the countdown to open water. Well, after the recent major melts and massive runoff, we didn’t just sit on the shore waiting for summer—we got out there […]
Why Whitewater Must Wait
Why Whitewater Must Wait Holding Your Horses on the Nith We’ve had a ton of rain and snow melt in a very short period of time, and we are starting to hear directly from the paddlers in the know—the ones who understand that when the water gets high, we run the Nith River. Trust me, […]
May 3rd Class: Learning to Paddle
May 3rd Class: Learning to Paddle If you’ve ever sat on the banks of the Grand River and wished you were out there—but felt held back by a lack of experience—this is your invitation to the water. On May 3rd, I am hosting a comprehensive Learning to Paddle clinic designed to take you from “never-held-a-paddle” […]
The Soundtrack of Spring: Welcoming the Birds Back to the Grand
The Soundtrack of Spring: Welcoming the Birds Back to the Grand After a long, quiet winter locked under the ice and snow, there is no greater feeling of joy and relief than stepping outside in Southwestern Ontario and finally hearing the merry chirping of birds returning to the trees. Between February and June, millions of […]