Kayak the Humber River: Toronto, ON

Wondering what to expect when you kayak the Humber River? This was a beautiful urban paddle with lots to see. Read on to find out more about this kayaking trip.

Our Recommended Trip

Put In / Take Out:
We launched at a public boat launch (43.6421199982439, -79.49061376324661) along the Humber River, just south of a small marina.  There are a couple of other options for launching, but we chose this spot because we had our trailer with us. We could see from Google Images that this was a large parking lot that could accommodate a trailer.

Parking:  Surprisingly, parking was free.  We unloaded close to the boat ramp. We staged our kayaks on a muddy shoulder just to the right of the cement ramp to be respectful to larger boats that were being unloaded.  We quickly moved the car and trailer out of the way.

Trip Length: 2-3 hours, approximately 9 km.  We paddled upstream from the launch about 1 km and back, and then about 2 km down to the Humber Bridge and back, for a total of 6 km.  We also explored the extensive marshes, spotting all sorts of nesting birds.

Cost: No fee to launch.

​Degree of Difficulty: Beginner:  Even in Early May, when rivers are typically faster moving than later in the season, this was a relatively gentle paddle.  There was a small marina that is likely much busier in the summer than it was in May. Watch out for marine traffic and be aware of your own safety. If you are paddling in foggy or low light conditions, make sure you are visible.  The Humber River also opens onto Lake Ontario.  Kayaking on a Great Lake is very different than a small body of water.  Please read more in the Gear Recommendations section and use caution if you decide to explore outside of the Humber River.  

Recommended Gear

Life jackets and all Transport Canada required safety gear are always a must.  Sunscreen and sun hats are definitely recommended when you’re on the water.

This post is focused only on the Humber River portion, but the Humber River opens onto Lake Ontario, which can offer additional kayaking.  Kayaking on the Great Lakes does require additional skills and equipment.  You should always consider the conditions on the water, your capabilities, and your kayak before deciding whether to venture onto the Great Lakes.  Cold water temperatures (especially in the spring), choppy conditions, heavy marine traffic, or low visibility are all factors to consider.  If you have any doubts, it’s better to be safe and stick to the Humber River only or choose another location to paddle.  

Kayak the Humber River: The City

The boys were surprised when we headed into Toronto with our kayaks. We’re not far from the city, but we’ve never paddled in Toronto. I had seen several posts about the Humber on Facebook and it looked promising. The biggest challenge was probably getting there! The 401, the 427, and the QEW are all a tiny bit more daunting when you’re dragging a trailer! As we headed up Islington and across the Queensway, I was glad my husband was driving.

Despite its proximity to Lake Ontario, the Humber River is one of only two major rivers in Toronto (the other is the Don River). The Humber originates in the Headwaters region, with its source in the Oak Ridges Moraine near Orangeville, and more than 750 creeks and tributaries drain into the Humber on its way to Lake Ontario.

After launching at a quiet boat ramp, we paddled upstream. We passed under the Bloor Street overpass, and then up toward a stone bridge near the Old Mill.

Here’s where we hit a fairly shallow stretch where the water was moving quickly. While the kids made it up, I was paddling like mad and not moving ahead. I decided I would save my energy for the rest of the river! Turning around, I headed back downstream, passing back past a small marina and then heading down toward the marshes.

Seeing the city from the water offers a unique view of Toronto’s spectacular skyline. We paddled all the way down to the Humber Bridge at the base of the River as it feeds into the Humber Bay. Parts of the river were lined with beautiful homes with water access.

Conservation in Action

While the Humber runs through Toronto, much of it is lined by green spaces and marshes.  This wasn’t always the case: the Humber was historically lined with mills, with the first, King’s Mill, built in 1796. By the 1860’s, there were hundreds along the Humber. Through ongoing efforts by Toronto Region Conservation Authority and other conservation groups, work is being done to help reestablish and protect this vital wetland habitat. More than 90% of the wetlands in Toronto have disappeared, and so it was a treat to kayak the Humber River and see the conservation progress being made in the marshes along this historic waterway.  

Today, the wetlands are rich with nesting birds, turtles, and occasional wildlife, offering essential habitat. Deer, coyotes, groundhogs, beaver, mink, opossums, and racoons are some of the mammals that live along the river.

Kayak the Humber River: The Marshes

When we visited in early May, we were able to explore each of the marshes.  Shallow and in places muddy, they can only be explored by kayak or paddleboard, and would probably become inaccessible as summer progresses and water levels drop.

We spied a tree full of messy nests in one marsh and went to check it out.  Most of the nests seemed to be empty, but after careful examination with my binoculars, I spied a cormorant in one of the nests.  This marsh was lined by houses on the north side, and fallen trees provided sunny resting spots for many turtles.  In spots, the marshes were lined with cattails, and in these spots we found lots of red winged black birds.  Other spots were thick with invasive phragmites. Phragmites grow quickly and outcompete the native grasses and don’t provide quality habitat. We see phragmites along most of the rivers we kayak.

 In another marsh, we saw 2 blue heron, 6 white egrets, and a mute swan sitting on a large nest.

In the last marsh we explored, we saw 2 more mute swans, a couple more egrets, and more turtles.

Along the river on the way back, we discovered a raccoon washing its feet, and loads of Mallard ducks and Canada geese with their young goslings in tow.  We had hoped to see a deer or the Great Horned Owlets that had been shared on Facebook, but didn’t spy either.

Additional Reading

Biodiversity is returning to Humber River wetlands (citynews.ca)

Outfitter Options to Kayak the Humber River

Toronto Adventures https://www.torontoadventures.ca/

More Kayaking Destinations

For more trip planning inspiration, don’t miss our Where to Paddle page for links to more great kayaking destinations in Southern Ontario and beyond.