I really wanted to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) this summer and found Toronto Adventures: Humber River Paddling Centre. They offer rentals, guided tours and different events along the Humber River! Their tent is located in King’s Mill Park down the "Discovery Walks" Road, 9 Old Mill Rd, Etobicoke, ON M8X 0A5 right under the Old Mill Subway station!

They offer 2hr rentals of kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. You book a spot online and you just show up for your time slot. They check you in about 15 minutes before and you get an orientation of the Humber River. I did not know that there were marshes along the river that you could paddle into! They give you an idea of the weather conditions and how far would be a limit to go to make it back against any winds and also places to avoid. You also grab their number in case you need some help while out on the water.

The Humber River is a good place to start if you’re a beginner because the waters are relatively calm. Most of the city SUP rentals are on the lake but if the weather isn’t great the winds are much stronger.

I took their guided tour since I never paddle boarded on my own before. A guide comes along with you and the group and also shows you the basic paddling techniques to get you in the direction you want to go. You also get tips on how to catch your balance if you get unsteady. But if you’re not too scared of falling over and have some knowledge you can definitely just head out on your own.

You grab a paddle board, paddle, and life jacket, then head to the river where they help you get on. Then down the river you go!

When we first started the weather was sunny and the water was calm. You paddle along the river passing a Yacht club and a park but a lot of the river feels enclosed and is covered by trees on either side. You eventually see some buildings and houses overlooking the river. There’s lots of different birds that you encounter along the way, I even saw one swallow a fish whole.

One of the cool parts of the trip was going into marshes along the river. Every so often you’ll see tall reeds and a little entrance that you can paddle your boat into. We went into the Shangri La Marsh which was filled with water-lilies! It made you feel like you got transported to another place. The water here is extra calm as there’s not much current to drift you away. You can follow along the path through the water-lilies or just take a break on your paddle board on still waters.

After checking out the marsh we went further down the river. As we got closer to Lake Ontario the wind started to pick up a lot and it was recommended we didn’t go much further. The guide told me from time to time he would have to tow people back from the lake if they got stuck out there and had trouble paddling back.

I think with better weather conditions it would have been quite nice to head out further. You could start to see the CN tower in the distance the further down the river you went.

While heading back it started to rain! The winds got stronger too so it was quite the workout to paddle back. We eventually made it back to where we had started and brought everything back to the tents. You check-out and then that ends the adventure!

Everyone working at Toronto Adventures was really nice. Most are young students working summer jobs and you can tell they enjoy taking you out on the water.

Overall I had a really good time. It was a really calming adventure and I think was a good location for beginners to start with SUPs.

I did check out other SUP rentals in the city, but this was the closest to me as I live on the west end of the city. I think it offers a different scenery from the other rental centres located right on the lake, but had the option to head that way. Maybe check out Oceah Oceah for another waterfront option on the west! I definitely recommend renting some kind of boat and trying out paddling this summer (: It’s very fun to get out on the water, and if you get tired you can just sit and enjoy scenery as the water rocks you a bit.

THINGS TO BRING

Though the website tells you what to bring, some of it wasn’t the most ideal.

They say to bring closed toed shoes; you do not have to do this. I actually recommend some kind of open toed sandals that are waterproof or enjoyable to be in when wet. I wore running shoes with socks and ended up taking them off and tucking them into straps on the board, where they got wet anyways while I paddled.
Bug spray! I did get bit twice while paddling. I recommend giving yourself a spray before heading out on the water. But be mindful cause sprays do make things slippery.
Clothes that you’re ready to get wet in. While it’s definitely paddle board without falling over, it can happen, so its best to be ready. I dressed for the weather and brought a light windbreaker, but it wasn’t really necessary as you naturally warm up while paddling.
Any waterproof bags and cases for your belongings if you want to keep them safe. I had forgotten my water proof phone case but ended up being okay. Just a recommendation!

FREQUENT PADDLER PASS

The centre offers a Frequent Paddler Pass for $20+tax that you can purchase online and use to get 30% on rentals and 20-30% off other events. If you plan to make paddling on the Humber River a frequent thing it is something to look into. They let you book up to a party 4 with your pass code. So bring your friends!

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