Kayaking Watts Creek
I’ve had several jobs over the years in Kanata that I’ve bike commuted to from the west end about six months a year. It’s a beautiful bike ride and a great commute along the Watts Creek Pathway.
After thousands of trips alongside Watts Creek, it seemed like time to see if it was kayak-able. Executive summary: it is! But barely. Get ready for a bumpy ride.
Need to know
This is a short (2-3 km) one-way kayak that took us 1h, 20min (including exploring upstream and a tributary). You’ll need to carry your kayak ~250m to putin beside the bridge.
The route finishes at Carling Avenue. You can walk 1.3 km back along Carling and the Watts Creek Trail to your car. Then drive back to pickup your kayak - maybe bring a lock or a friend to guard your kayak in the meantime.
Alternately you can avoid some rough kayaking at the back end of this paddle and turn around after going through the railway culvertes. The downside of this approach is that you’d have to retrace your steps and will need to portage around a couple of tiny rapids - no big deal compared to the shallow rocky rapids and deadfall between the railway culverts and Carling.
- Who: all levels of kayaker with kayaks that can take some abuse
- Where: Watts Creek Pathway area from the pedestrian bridge near Burke Rd downstream/northeast to Carling near Rifle Road
- When: spring only I think
- What: narrow creek with some quick spots, large culverts under a train bridge, come climbin over deadfall, shallow rocky rapids past second pedestrian bridge on way to Carling
- Why: because, like me, you’ve biked Watts Creek Pathway a thousand times and just had to get in the creek
Parking and Put-in
Park at the end of Burke Rd. Carry your Kayak to the Watts Creek Trail and turn right to continue to the bridge over the creek. You can explore upstream (west) for a bit but soon the current becomes strong, most of the fun is downstream (east).
Features
Putin bridge
Chute
There’s a fun little chute to zip down.
Railroad tunnel
Two pretty impressively big culverts carry you under the railway.
Deadfall in front of forest bridge
There’s some deadfall in front of the forest bridge which you’ll need to negotiate.
Rapids past forest bridge
Once you get past the bridge there’s a lot of painful scootching through shallow rapids.
Carling and end of trip
There’s a bit of a falls in front of the Carling bridge, this is where we stopped.
Car and kayak pickup
This is a one-way kayak so you’ll need to stash your kayak while you head back to get your car.
Take Carling to the Watts Creek Pathway between the 19th tee and the train bridge. Veer right on the Pathway and take the gravel path back to Burke Rd.
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