Boreal River Adventures

On a half-day urban “kayarafting” adventure, you’ll see Parliament Hill from a new perspective while safely paddling whitewater rapids.

You don’t have to leave Ottawa-Gatineau to enjoy a thrilling adventure in nature! Boreal River Adventures offers 4.5-hour paddling trips on the Ottawa River, in the middle of the city. You’ll meet in a park just west of downtown Gatineau, across the river from Ottawa, to get a detailed safety briefing and your equipment. Then you’ll learn how to paddle your “kayaraft”—an inflatable kayak—through Class I and II rapids, with Parliament Hill and the skylines of Ottawa and Gatineau as your backdrop. You don’t need any kayaking or rafting experience to set off on this unique guided half-day trip.

Excursions leave from Parc Moussette in Gatineau, which you reach via riverside bike paths, by STO (Gatineau’s public transit system, which also runs through downtown Ottawa) or by car (there’s lots of free parking).