The Thames River spans nearly 400 km across southwestern Ontario's landscape, from headwaters near Woodstock to Lake St. Clair. This unique urban-to-rural paddling adventure features class 1-2 rapids in the upper sections and meanders through farmland, forests, and city corridors. The North Thames route from St. Marys to Delaware (71 km) is best for structured paddling with manageable water conditions. Scenery includes rolling farm fields, riverside forests, dramatic floodplain landscapes, and the urban character of London. Spring offers the best water flows, while summer provides easier access from multiple bridges. Wildlife includes deer, herons, turtles, and geese, though paddlers must carry drinking water due to agricultural runoff.
This route runs through crown land for nearly its whole length. Crown land is public land. In Ontario a resident of Canada may camp on most of it for free, up to 21 days on any one site in a calendar year. Being crown land is not the same as being open to camping: a provincial park or conservation reserve follows different rules.
Thames River Canoe Route is estimated at Intermediate. Whitewater ratings are not exact: grades change with water level and season. Verify current conditions locally before you paddle.
The best time is April-October.
Thames River Canoe Route is located in the Southern Ontario region of Canada.
thamesriver.on.ca · ontariossouthwest.com · novacraft.com · myccr.com
Conditions change with water level and season. Grades and positions are for planning, not navigation. Verify locally before you paddle. Terms of use
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