Paddling — Flatwater.
The Ottawa River through Arnprior runs as Lac des Chats — flatwater lake reach formed by hydroelectric infrastructure on the Ottawa — with named put-ins at Robert Simpson Park and the Arnprior Marina. The Madawaska River mouth at the eastern edge of town adds a confluence-water feature.
The brief.
Lac des Chats is sustained flatwater paddling along the Ottawa River below Arnprior — open water with full lake-reach exposure to wind, so check conditions before launching and stay close to shore in shoulder-season weather. Robert Simpson Park has a downtown shoreline launch; the Arnprior Marina provides a more developed launch with parking and slips.
The Madawaska arm at the river mouth is paddleable in summer flow but spring high water on the Madawaska elevates conditions and is worth checking. Note: the lower-Madawaska commercial whitewater runs (between Calabogie and the river mouth) are upstream of Arnprior in adjacent townships and are not Arnprior water — treat the Madawaska through Arnprior as flatwater-with-confluence-conditions only.
2. places.
- 01
Ottawa River — Lac des Chats reach (Robert Simpson Park, Arnprior Marina)
Flatwater lake-reach paddling along the Ottawa with downtown put-ins.
- 02
Madawaska River mouth (Arnprior eastern edge)
Confluence-water flatwater into the Ottawa; spring high water elevates conditions.
Today's read.
Temperature (3.1°C) below the typical range.