Overview
The gentle Beaver River was named for the many Beaver found along its 40 kilometers. The River was used as a transportation route throughout the 19th century from Georgian Bay inland to the many small communities due to the rugged terrain of the area, and traveling by river was easiest for many of the early settlers.
The Beaver River twists and turns from the Nottawasaga River into the Feversham Gorge where it feeds into Lake Eugenia, over Eugenia Falls into Kimberley, and then finally into Georgian Bay in Thornbury. There are many branches that the Beaver River takes but only certain areas of the river can be navigated with a canoe or kayak.
While canoeing or kayaking the Beaver River you will find rugged scenery with plenty of wildlife to see along the way such as a wide variety of birds including green herons, great horned owls, and waterfowl as well as white-tailed deer, muskrats, and of course the Beaver.
There is plenty of opportunities to fish in the Beaver River especially for Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout. You will see many the ardent fly fisherman along the river’s upper reaches. A fish ladder near Thornbury allows fish to reach spawning areas upriver.
The most popular attraction to the Beaver River is the recreational canoe and kayak route. There are three access points that are managed by the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority.
Access Points
Access Point #1 Kimberley to Epping
If you start at Access Point #1 and travel to Access Point #2 this route is approximately 10km in length and should take you about 2-3 hours to complete. There is the possibility of short portages required on this stretch due to beaver dams, log jams, and possible debris. The mature trees will completely envelop the river in certain sections of this route.
Access Point #2 Epping to Heathcote
When traveling from Access Point #2 to Access Point #3 this route is half the distance of the first route at approximately 5km in length and should take approximately 2 hours to complete. This section of the river is winding and is a lot more open. This section is recommended for families but they are warned that there are a few swift currents depending on the water levels and season. It is to be noted that dock in Heathcote is on the right side (south) of the river prior to the bridge.
Access Point #3 Heathcote to Slabtown
Even though Access Point #3 to Access Point #4 is the shortest route of approximately 3km and 1 hour to complete you will encounter small rapids and eddies. Once in Slabtown, it is encouraged to disembark on the left (west) bank before the town dam.
