grand experiences canoe & kayak outfitter - day tours

So my family and I decided to take a trip down the grand river from Paris to Brant Park, and so we did. It was an awesome trip for 3 major reasons. One owner Jamie Kent knew so much about river, about canoeing, and about nature. Second, it was awesome because the weather was great and the ride down the grand was quiet and restoring. Lastly, it was awesome because Grand Experiences took care of us in that they got us in our boats, traveled with us down the grand, and then brought us back to Paris where our car was parked. Thanks to Grand Experiences we had a grand time with our family.

Went out with these guys a few months ago in the summer, They were an hour late, then we waited for them to blow up our raft while trying to serve other customers at the same time, with only one high school aged kid to do everything. after the wait the raft was a bit floppy and was clearly not inflated properly, legally required safety equipment was not provided.

I've been several times over the years. The river is great for beginners. Love the landscape. My only concern is from arrival to when we enter the water is somewhat chaotic. Registering, paying, waiting and instruction prior to entering the river needs to be tightened up. Perhaps the arriving group can share in this issue. But I feel they have a good product but need to have more control and direction prior to entering the water.

Terrible attitude, unsafe, mis-information, capsized boats, long waits, broken life vest, no bailers

Bike trip through Mennonite country, St. Jacob, lunch at local farm. Amazing tour. 10/10. Friendly service, great knowledge of local sites by tour guide Sjoerd Christian

My husband and I have used Grand Experiences 3 times and have enjoyed our self-guided canoe trips very much. The scenery and peaceful surroundings were nice, amazing day getaway from Toronto, it is only an hour drive. Since we were on our own and not on guided tour, I found they were thorough in explaining the tips, hazards (the trip is safe, but they will advise what to be conscious about, like which spots had small rapids or shallow parts), what scenery to look out for and what spots to get in and out. Although, I suggest you still ask questions, if you are not sure, they will explain again. Paddling on this river is easy, as the slow current can float you down. Some small rapids are there, but very manageable. All 3 times we went we did not feel like we were crowded with their other patrons on the water, there were not too many groups starting at our point; we did see a competing company have many groups of rafts on the Paris to Brant stretch, kind of noisy people, I prefer Grand Experiences for the more natural experience. Depending which trip you book, you will get picked up by shuttle, they have a schedule. Grand Experiences will also help you book an overnight campsite in Brant park, ask about it if you want to extend your trip. We found all the staff we deals with friendly and effective.

I recently spent the day with Grand Experiences doing their Flat Water Kayak Instructional course. We spent the morning at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area learning the basic strokes and then paddled the Grand River from Paris to the Brant Conservation Area in the afternoon. Our instructor and guide Dan was very knowledgeable and shared lots of great info about what to look for in choosing a kayak and proper kayaking techniques and skills. He also highlighted points of interest on the way down the river and kept the mood light and fun. Overall it was a great day. The river is fun to paddle while not being overly challenging (only a few small rapids along the way). Our daughter (11 yrs old) came with us and greatly enjoyed it as well. We'll be back to do more of their guided tours.

You can step back in time and imagine your going down the river 100 years ago, just you the water, the trees on both shores and wild life. Great time and experience.

My best friend and I booked a two day hiking excursion with Grand Experiences and it turned out to be great! Even with one day of rain - there was no way it dampened the experience. Jamie Kent is the owner and he, personally, guided us on this two day hike. We saw waterfalls and scenery we didn't know existed in the likes of Hamilton. He was extremely knowledgeable and very personable. I think the combination made the experience that much more special. We dined like royalty and our accommodations were great. I would highly recommend any experience through Jamie's company! We hope to return next year for a kayak/canoe trip.Linda

Highly recommend this company.Friendly, knowledgeable, local, great to work with.You will have an amazing day.

Wife and I did a self-guided kayak trip down the grand - Cambridge to Paris. Not exactly white water rapids it was more of a gentle float down the river but very relaxing and enjoyable none the less. Great for families with young kids. Grand Experiences staff were super friendly at the storefront location and while getting driven up river. Maybe do Glen Morris to Paris if you're a novice or start early as it takes a few hrs to float down. Keep in mind there are no bathroom facilities along the Grand...

23 Outdoor Enthusiasts from Mocwa Meetup group enjoyed a fun and invigorating day paddling downstream on The Grand River. Our guides were attentive and skilled, we saw deer, blue herons and beautiful fall colours. The waters were high and fast, as novice paddlers we safely navigated the challenge through the rapids. We are looking forward to going again in the spring.

My wife and I , along with two very nice women from Ottawa , did a two day waterfall tour in the Hamilton area on the weekend of Oct. 19, 2013 . We stayed two nights at the Carmen Best Western in Hamilton , which is the nicest hotel in the area and is spotless with a great restaurant . Our meals were included and were in ( fine dining ) local restaurants . Our guide Jamie , with help from Dan , did their best to make sure our time spent was enjoyable and safe . We spent hours hiking at a leisurely pace through scenic forests , mostly on the Bruce Trail , to many waterfalls . All this time our guides explained the flora and fauna of the area as well as how landforms were created millions of years ago .We were allowed to choose our start times , snacks on the trail were provided , there were no added fees , and we all had a wonderful time . Highly recommended .

My group of outdoor friends and I had a blast canoeing/kayaking on Big Creek! This truly is a wonderful paddle, as there were a lot of obstructions along the way, e.g. logs floating, overhanging trees or branches, "gauntlets", tree roots jutting out of the water. I truly enjoyed this challenge, even ducking our heads so as not to hit overhangs.Not only that, this is flat water and is located along a densely covered area and the trees provided so much colour. Purely serene and magical and I wished it just went on and on and on.I definitely will go back for sure.Using Grand Experiences again for this tour was a good choice. They were very helpful and charged a reasonable rate compared to the other company I initially considered. The bus trip from Paris to Rowan Mills is long - around one hour, so factor that into planning for the day.

Rafting down the river is not like driving on a highway, or walking on a trail. It wobbles up and down, and you get wet if you fall out. (It's hard to get hurt since the river is generally broad & shallow.) An uber-friendly guide/lifeguard helps drive and points out interesting things like boulders in the water or golden eagles fishing just ahead. Safe & interesting enough for little ones too.Advice: bring hats, gloves (for vigorous paddling), topics to entertain your captive audience.