Field Guides/Amherstburg/Paddling — Flatwater
Strong
Best WindowMay through October
Variantskayaking · canoeing
RegionAmherstburg, Ontario

Paddling — Flatwater.

The Detroit River along Amherstburg is a Canadian Heritage River — designated 2001, 51 kilometres in length overall, the most southerly Canadian Heritage River — with public shore access at Town of Amherstburg waterfront parks. Common routes circumnavigate Bois Blanc (Boblo) Island past the 1836 limestone lighthouse at the south end, or trace the Canadian shoreline through the Amherstburg waterfront with views across to Detroit and the international shipping channel.

Paddling — Flatwater in Amherstburg
01 — What to know

The brief.

Best paddling window is May through October. The Detroit River is one of the busier international border crossings in North America — shipping traffic transits the channels between Lake Erie and Lake St.

Clair through the season, so route choice and timing around freighters matter. Bois Blanc / Boblo Island is at the mouth of the Detroit River (don't confuse with Bois Blanc Island in Michigan's Lake Huron).

The Boblo lighthouse is not publicly accessible; viewing is from the water or the Amherstburg shoreline. Public access points come through Town of Amherstburg waterfront parks rather than a single dedicated paddle launch.

02 — Locations

2. places.

  1. 01

    Detroit River (Amherstburg shoreline)

    Canadian Heritage River; 51 km in length overall, with public shore access at Amherstburg town parks.

  2. 02

    Bois Blanc / Boblo Island viewing waters

    Detroit River island fronting the Amherstburg waterfront, with the 1836 lighthouse at the south end.

03 — Conditions

Today's read.

Air Quality
26
eu-aqi · low
UV Index
0.5
scale 0–11
Humidity
53%
relative
Visibility
32.9 km
clear
Temp
+4.0°
H 17° · L 2°
Sun
06:14 / 20:43
14h 29m daylight
C
Marginal conditions for paddling — flatwater

Temperature (4.0°C) below the typical range.