Paddle and Bike Adventure From Dunnville to Lake Erie

Paddle the last stretch of the Grand River before it enters Lake Erie Ride your bike back to Dunnville Approximately 10 km from Byng Island Conservation Area to the Port Maitland Lighthouse (2-3 hours paddling, 1 hour bike ride)

Here the Grand River is wide and slow as it makes its way to where it empties into Lake Erie.  Sailboats and motorboats cruise on this stretch of the river.  Start at the Byng Island Conservation Area (1) and finish your paddling trip at the Port Maitland Esplanade and Pier (2).  Relax and have a picnic lunch on the beach beside the lighthouse, before pedalling your bike back to your starting point.

PARK your bike at the Port Maitland Esplanade (6)  before you start your trip.  Then return to Byng Island Conservation Area (1).  Park your vehicle and launch your canoe or kayak from the boat launch at the Sulphur Creek Campground (this avoids having to portage).  Alternatively, you can park at the Grand River Marina and Café (2) (fee to launch).

STAY IN DUNNVILLE

Dunnville Inn Bed and Breakfast (8)

Riverview Motel (10)

Reeve Bed and Breakfast (11)


CAMP

Byng Island Conservation Area (1)  

Maitland Shores RV Resort (5)


Paddle and Bike Adventure from Dunnville to Lake Erie
(10 km, approximately 2-3 hours paddling and 1 hour return by bicycle)

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


Paddle

  1. After parking your bike at the Port Maitland Esplanade and Pier (6), return to Byng Island Conservation Area.  Launch your craft at the boat launch at the Sulphur Creek Campground (1).  If you launch at the main launch site in the park, you will either need to cross the Grand River to William Wingfield Park in Dunnville and portage the Dunnville Dam, or portage Weir 4 in the Conservation Area.  Alternatively, you can park at the Grand River Marina and Café (2) on Rainham Rd/County Rd 3 (there is a fee for launch and you will have to ride your bike for a short distance on County Rd 3 over a busy bridge—for safety, walk on the sidewalk).

  2. If you launch at Sulphur Creek Campground (1), paddle downstream past the island that houses the Grand River Marina and Café (2), to the main channel of the Grand River.  After about an hour of paddling watch for the Thirsty Mate Restaurant and Patio Bar (3)  at the Port Maitland Marina.  Take a break for a lunch of freshly caught local fish.

  3. As you approach Lake Erie, keep right and pull out just before the boat launch just before the Port Maitland Esplanade (6), just before the lighthouse.  If the lake is very calm, you can paddle past the Port Maitland Lighthouse (7) and pull out at Port Maitland Public Beach.

Bike

  1. Leave your craft at the boat launch at the Port Maitland Esplanade and Pier (6) or at the beach.  Have a picnic and go for a swim at the beach.  Pick up your bicycle and ride up Port Maitland Rd (paved country road).  At 450 m the road turns sharp L (the Esplanade continues straight on for 400 m to the Port Maitland Marina (3) and the Thirsty Mate Restaurant and Patio Bar (3).  Otherwise, continue on Port Maitland Rd and turn R in 650 m (still Port Maitland Rd).  The Maitland Shores RV Resort (5) will be on your R in 1.1 km.   After another 450 m, stop at the No 6 RCAF Museum (4), the site of a World War II flight training school.  

  2. Continue on Port Maitland Rd for another 4 km.  To shorten the bike ride 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).  In 450 m, turn R onto County Road 20 (paved road).  The entrance to Byng Island Conservation Area is on the R in 230 m.

  3. 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 (7) to see the Dunnville Catfish, “Muddy”, the world’s largest statue of a catfish.