Paddle and Bike Adventure

Dunnville to the Port Maitland Lighthouse

10 km each way—2 to 3 hours paddling and 1 hour bike ride

START: At the Byng Island Conservation Area

For a unique adventure, leave your bike at the Port Maitland Lighthouse on the west bank of the Grand River.

Put your canoe or kayak in the water at the Byng Island Conservation Area. Here the Grand River is wide and slow as it makes its way to its meeting with Lake Erie. Sailboats and motorboats cruise on this stretch and the paddling is easy with no rapids or portages. Relax and have a picnic lunch (and maybe a swim) on the beach beside the lighthouse. Then pedal your bike back to Byng Island.

Dunnville to the Port Maitland Lighthouse

Interactive Map of Paddle and Bike Adventure from Dunnville to Lake Erie

PADDLE

Leave your canoe or kayak at the boat launch at the Sulphur Creek Campground (1), at Byng Island Conservation Area. After parking your bike at the Port Maitland Esplanade and Pier (2), return to the conservation area.  Park your car in the parking lot near the boat launch.

Launch your craft and paddle downstream, keeping to the right, past a series of islands on your left.  Look out for osprey perching in the trees and great blue herons fishing along the banks of the river, as well as turtles sunning themselves on the rocks.

As you approach Lake Erie, keep right and pull out just before the boat launch just before the Port Maitland Esplanade (2), just before the lighthouse.  Leave your craft parked at the esplanade. Have a picnic and go for a swim at the beach.

BIKE

Pick up your bicycle and ride up Port Maitland Rd (paved country road).  The road turns L in about 400 m and then R in 650 m. Continue on Port Maitland Rd. The Maitland Shores RV Resort (3) will be on your R in another km.   After another 450 m, stop at the No 6 RCAF Museum, (4) the site of a World War II flight training school.  

Then continue on Port Maitland Rd for another 4 km.  To reduce the length riding on busy Rainham Rd/Hwy 3, turn L onto Gamble St, just before the highway.  Turn R at the next intersection, onto Grant St, and then L at the next intersection onto Thrush St.  Turn R again at the next intersection onto Secord St.  Continue for 350 m and turn R onto Haldimand Trail (paved country road).  In 150 m, turn L onto Rainham Rd/County Rd 3 (busy road with paved shoulder).  Ride with care for 450 m, turn R onto County Road 20 (paved road).  The entrance to Byng Island Conservation Area is on the R in 230 m.

Spend some time at Byng Island Conservation Area.  Swim in the biggest outdoor pool in Canada, which also has a wading area and splash pad.  In spring and fall, birders will see many migrating birds that stop in the marshlands on the river around the park.  Visit the town of Dunnville, on the other side of the Grand River from the park.  Make sure to go to Centennial Park to see “Muddy”, the world’s largest statue of a catfish.

The End of a Long Journey, Approaching Lake Erie at Port Maitland