Paddling — Flatwater.
The Tay Basin in downtown Perth is a paddler's launch point in the heart of the Heritage Conservation District — from there, the 10 km Tay Canal branch follows the Tay River through Beveridges Lockstation (Locks 33 and 34) onto Lower Rideau Lake and the 202 km UNESCO-inscribed Rideau Canal navigation network. Lower Rideau Lake and Big Rideau Lake (off Murphys Point Provincial Park) extend the flatwater inventory within a short drive of Town.
The brief.
The Tay Branch is sheltered, slow-moving canalized water — ideal for canoes, kayaks, and SUPs. From the Town basin, paddlers run southeast along the Tay River corridor to Beveridges Lockstation.
Locking through Beveridges is permitted for paddlers under the Parks Canada navigation-season schedule (roughly mid-May through mid-October); locking-through requires the navigation fee. Beyond the locks, Lower Rideau Lake opens onto the main Rideau system — a multi-day trip in either direction (north to Smiths Falls, Westport, and Ottawa; south through Newboro, Jones Falls, and Kingston Mills to Lake Ontario).
Best season is late May through October. Big Rideau Lake off Murphys Point Provincial Park is the larger open-water lake-paddling option ~20 km southeast.
5. places.
- 01
Tay Basin
Downtown Perth public paddling launch at the foot of Gore Street.
- 02
Tay Canal corridor
10 km branch of the Rideau Canal between Perth and Beveridges Lockstation.
- 03
Beveridges Lockstation
Locks 33 (Lower) and 34 (Upper) of the Tay Branch; Parks Canada–operated.
- 04
Lower Rideau Lake
Main Rideau system access point at the Tay Branch confluence.
- 05
Big Rideau Lake / Murphys Point Provincial Park
Ontario Parks shoreline access on a larger open-water lake; ~20 km southeast.
Today's read.
Temperature (2.9°C) below the typical range.