 Hanover to Southampton
Distance: 102 kilometres *Time: 21 to 27 hours (3-4 days)
*The times listed are typical for late May. Actual times will
vary according to water conditions and the canoeist's ability.
The length of any outing can be extremely flexible, due to road
and public access along the route.
Section Descriptions
Hanover to Walkerton - 20 kilometres -- 5
hours
Three dams, once used for milling and hydro electric generation,
are located along this section. From Hanover to the Maple Hill
Dam, the water tends to be deep and slow moving. Downstream
several gentle rapids are encountered. This section of the route
tends to be the most heavily wooded.
Walkerton to Paisley - 39 kilometres -- 7
to 10 hours
Downstream of Walkerton, a number of high sand and clay bluffs
border the river, providing homes for swallows and kingfishers.
Caution should be exercised in portions of this section, as
many rapids, large rocks and flood debris are encountered. This
is the most challenging section of the route. In the downstream
portions of this section, the forest cover gives way to gently
rolling pastureland.
Paisley to Southampton (Denny's Dam) - 43 kilometres -- 9 to
12 hours
Several gentle rapids occur between Paisley and Southampton.
In the vicinity of Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area, the river
is bordered by clay bluffs, forming the edge of a well-defined
floodplain. Further downstream, the river is braided by sandy,
treed islands which are the remnants of a former delta.
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