Metcalfe Park - Downriver on the Mississippi

If you are looking for a combo paddle and hike, this could be the ideal paddling outing!  The canoe/kayak launch to go down the Mississippi River from Almonte is at the Metcalfe Geoheritage Park.  Going downriver, you can only paddle flat water for about 2.5 km. Then, there’s a stretch of rocks/rapids for about 800 m, followed by flat waters again to Blakeney (3.5 km).

Mississippi River, Metcalfe Park, Almonte

On a calm late October afternoon, this was a nice short canoe paddle. This section of the river is very straight, but there are things to see and experience. First, there are the multiple outflows of the river on the east side as it makes its way around Coleman Island. There’s also a lovely set of stair-like falls on the west side at the base of Strathburn Street. And after Strathburn, the 1.7 km to the rapids is mostly undeveloped and relatively quiet. The riverbank is quite steep and rocky, but a bit of wetland is also present.

The Mississippi River Trail follows the river’s west shore and can be easily accessed in at least two places. The first is at the flat rocks about 1 km from Metcalfe Park. The other good access for the hiking trail is just before the rapids.  If you decide to make it a combo, make sure to secure your boat well – or your hike may be longer and more treacherous than planned!

“Metcalfe Park, at the bottom of Bay Hill in Almonte, Ontario, was named in honour of Dr. Archibald Metcalfe (1869-1962), local physician for 63 years, town councillor and Mayor (at least seven terms), and the driving force to establish the Almonte hydroelectric generating station.”

“The idea for a geological display at Metcalfe Park arose from an April 2004 presentation in Almonte on geoheritage by Dr. J. Allan Donaldson. The official opening was held in September 2016.”

Millfall condo site

PHC canoe at Rock Bottom