Grand Experiences

If you've never enjoyed the sights, sounds and soul-soothing beauty of the Grand River from the vantage point of a kayak or canoe, I highly recommend you try it. And if - like those in our small group - it's your first time or it's been a while and you're feeling 'rusty,' a guided trip is the way to go. Under the expert direction of Jamie Kent, owner of Grand Experiences in Paris Ontario, we got the chance to practice our paddling skills through mostly calm waters (but a few shallow faster moving areas for some excitement!) while benefiting from Jamie's extensive knowledge of the Grand River watershed. Thank you for a great kayak trip and enjoyable time on the river!

I recently met with Jamie of Grand Experiences to buy a canoe. He is very knowledgeable and helped me pick the right one. I intended on buying a 14’ canoe one went with a more expensive 16’ without any pressuring or sales pushing. He just gave me the information I needed to make my own decision.On top of that, he spent the extra time to make sure I had the boat mounted to my racks correctly, giving me extra straps and tying hitches to accommodate the too-short straps I had.Jamie also wrote an awesome book about paddling the Grand River. It’s a wealth of information with detailed maps, entry and exit points, and ecological info. Highly recommended if you know nothing about the Grand River.

Equipment rental prices were reasonable and instructions were clear about how to navigate. We would definitely take another trip with you guys next summer. Overall it was great experience. Cheers!!!

Had a fantastic experience with Jamie and his team on Easter weekend paddling the Nith. I have paddled quite a bit over the past 11-12 years, but had never really done whitewater. We were the only ones on the trip in a canoe (everyone else was in kayaks). It was exciting, fun, and we felt quite safe. I hope to do it again next year.

Jamie and his team were superb! We rented kayaks and a canoe from them and they were super accommodating to us also bringing two of our own boats. There were no holes to jump, just sweet sailing with booking here. Amazing job setting us up, were ready when we started and there when we finished. As a guide for over 7 years, I highly recommend this company!

My husband and I went on a guided Kayak and Bike excursion with Jamie at Grand Experience, and it was nothing short of incredible!! He takes the time to help learn the maneuvers needed, and shows you how to improve the skills you’ve learned to become a more confident kayaker.While we meandered down the Grand, he explained the history of the area, told us about the beautiful trees, forests, and foliage around us, and the beautiful wildlife.We had the extraordinary luck to see an abundance of Blue Herons gracefully flying by, or perched on rocks in the river watching you as you watch them, and we were even luckier to see a Bald eagle fly overhead.It was not only exciting to kayak down the river, but it was also calming and peaceful too.After the amazing kayak adventure we hopped on our bikes to begin our trek back to our starting point, and on the way we stopped at the old Great West Railway Bridge to see the 3 Sisters up close, as well as the stunning views.One of the last incredible things we got to experience was a cold natural spring, which on a hot day, was even more amazing to dip our feet in to cool off.My husband and I had no experience kayaking before this, but we have both fallen in love with it because of Jamie’s Grand Experience guided tour, and we highly recommend you call Jamie at the Grand Experience, you won’t regret it!!!

Our group did the Fall Colours on the Grand Guided Tour, and Jamie was our guide for the experience. Jamie explained a lot of the history of the land and the nearby town we began the paddle. Jamie was sure to warn us of shallow waters, quick waters, and explained strategies on how to navigate them effectively.I ended up falling in at some point in the middle of the kayak ride, and Jamie was there to provide physical and verbal assistance every step of the way.Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I would highly suggest doing a guided tour. Jamie was an incredible guide and showed us some awesome spots.Be sure to bring a change of clothes when you go!

Exploring the Big Creek with Jamie is indeed an amazing experience. As we were enjoying paddling, we got to know interesting information about different species, habitats and the conservation work done over the years at the Big Creek. I recommend joining grand experiences guided tours to take the paddling experience to the next level!

We caught the last slot available for the season and had the pleasure of being guided by Sharron, a very knowledgable and experienced instructor. As beginners, Sharron taught us so much - from parts of the boat, paddling techniques, expectations on the river and safety protocols. We started the day on very calm waters to be familiar with the boat and apply the strokes taught. Once getting to the River, it was definitely a fun and thrilling experience thanks to Sharron. Our entire experience was phenomenal and we really look forward to doing it again and recommending this to others.

Awesome experience! My girlfriend and I have gone out on the grand river a few times but having a guided tour with grand experiences was a better way to do it!Canoe tips, pointing out scenery and tons of hilarious stories made it a memorable trip.Sharon, Corey and Jamie are just some of the awesome staff I had the pleasure of speaking with!10/10 highly recommend!