Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre
Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre
4.5
Lessons & WorkshopsEquipment HireStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Located in Toronto on the edge of Lake Ontario since 1985, the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre is one of the most popular urban paddling Centres in North America for kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddleboarding. Our Lakeside Office is open daily from June to September (weather permitting) and located directly south of the Rogers Centre/CN Tower and within walking distance of many great restaurants. Come learn to canoe, kayak, and stand up paddleboard with one of our certified friendly instructors. If you already have paddling skills, rent to explore the harbour and islands on your own. Embark on a guided Tandem Kayak Tour or Big Voyageur Canoe excursion to get the best views of Toronto from the water. We are your source for connecting you to Toronto's waterfront and Islands, for relaxation, to learn new skills and to increase your health and well-being.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
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Rami
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Business
I did the Scavenger Hunt on the Toronto islands as part of a work team event. Overall takeaways:
- there is a lot of tasks to do in the first zone, but not enough in the later ones
- they tell you you can start in any island, but the plan is actually very sequential and ideally starts at center island
- the tasks where very subjective and not specific enough, for example there was a task to write what a certain statue is looking at. The statue can be seen looking at a boat, the city, the CN tower, or really anything in front of it. But there is only one right answer!
- they try to incentivize you to not get a bike for “500 points” even though the bike rental is included in the price of the ticket
- the person who was running the show was really rude and socially inept. He went on this weird power trip ducking points away from teams for weird reasons (e.g. taking points away for not “listening” to him or making him repeat himself. Taking points away for being asked simple questions about the event.) when I challenged him on the arbitrary point system he snapped and accused me of “demeaning” the judges.
- after we were done we were eager to get our scores and hear the results, but the organizer asked us to leave and said he would text us the score later. Kind of defeating the excitement and purpose of us being together for this event
Great idea, terrible execution and shady business practices. Lookup other scavenger hunts on the island and take your money elsewhere!
- there is a lot of tasks to do in the first zone, but not enough in the later ones
- they tell you you can start in any island, but the plan is actually very sequential and ideally starts at center island
- the tasks where very subjective and not specific enough, for example there was a task to write what a certain statue is looking at. The statue can be seen looking at a boat, the city, the CN tower, or really anything in front of it. But there is only one right answer!
- they try to incentivize you to not get a bike for “500 points” even though the bike rental is included in the price of the ticket
- the person who was running the show was really rude and socially inept. He went on this weird power trip ducking points away from teams for weird reasons (e.g. taking points away for not “listening” to him or making him repeat himself. Taking points away for being asked simple questions about the event.) when I challenged him on the arbitrary point system he snapped and accused me of “demeaning” the judges.
- after we were done we were eager to get our scores and hear the results, but the organizer asked us to leave and said he would text us the score later. Kind of defeating the excitement and purpose of us being together for this event
Great idea, terrible execution and shady business practices. Lookup other scavenger hunts on the island and take your money elsewhere!
Written July 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TimJKinney
2 contributions
Apr 2021
Excellent Prompt service for both in person & online. I dropped in one day, owner Dave approached me and exceeded all expectations. Result i now store kayak there. HAPPY.
Written April 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KarenPMcM
Toronto, Canada18 contributions
Aug 2020
Some of my fellow dragon boaters & I have been hungering (thirsting?) for some on-water experience this gloomy yet glorious shut-down summer. Eight of us booked Harbourfront Centre's sunset tour. What a great evening! 2.5 hours of paddling, learning new skills, seeing the Islands and the waterfront from a new perspective, experiencing a harbour crossing, getting new information and history, and getting some exercise. A much more interesting and instructive outing than I was expecting, and better equipment, too. James was our delightful and enthusiastic guide.
Written August 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clifford W
Montreal, Canada20 contributions
Aug 2019
its a nice was to look at Toronto . Just pick a calm day to enjoy a good morning. Bring a coffee or tea
Written September 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
csk666
Glasgow, UK13 contributions
Jul 2019
Did this with three of my teenage/adult kids, we took out two tandem kayaks. Our guide Jimmy was an awesome 73 year old with a six pack to die for, gained via years of kayaking. Everything was well explained and as a total beginner I felt safe and well supported. We kayaked over to the Toronto Islands, paddled around them, saw some amazing wildlife like turtles, Cormorants, Herons, and then came back to the mainland. I think that final stretch, with the Toronto skyline ahead of me and planes flying overhead, was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. And I've done a lot! I highly recommend this, worth every penny.
Written July 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PAMFoley
Toronto, Canada6 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
These folks are amazing, fun but safety first, rent kayaks and canoes paddle around the harbour on your own, or with a group on a social paddle. Learn about the harbour, meet new folks, make friends, learn to paddle or improve your skills. Boats are clean and well maintained.
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roaminjuliet
Dubai, United Arab Emirates417 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
I cannot ask for a better instructor than Cheryl. It was my very first kayaking session and I knew nothing about kayaking. Cheryl explains everything in such a logical way that it was easy for me to understand. Her best character is her ability to break down someone’s worry and fear and make them go away. Most people, including me, has fear of flipping over. In the beginning we got over that by her telling me what to do when that happens and explanation about how stable the kayak is. After that I could relax and really focus on learning the skills. We learned quite a few things in our 3.5 hour session. I probably am not ready for a big trip yet, but I definitely got hooked.
Written June 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ice03
Windsor, Canada62 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
An amazing experience! The training and the instructors were fantastic. I came to do kayak instruction and water rescue, we did training at various locations of the waterfront and at Center island. They supply all the equipment, I stayed close by at a local hotel. The hotel was pricey but the training cost was reasonable. A fantastic week! Highly recommended for anyone who wants or needs instruction for canoe and kayak.
Written August 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
female_traveller_100
Toronto, Canada12 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
If you want to learn how to canoe or kayak, this place is a great option to build your skills and your confidence. I attended an Introduction Day 1 beginners' class that ran from 10 AM to 4 PM and was very happy I did.
The other class attendees were friendly and our instructor that day (Eric) is a skilled and highly experienced teacher who is friendly, patient, and safety focused. We covered the basics in the morning, took a lunch break, then went back out on the lake for a tour through Toronto Island canals that feature wildlife areas. At each stage Eric confirmed that all attendees were comfortable with what they had learned and felt ready to advance to the next step before proceeding.
Paddling in Toronto Harbour is a beautiful vantage point to see the Toronto skyline, while learning how to navigate a high traffic area (you will be sharing the water with power boats, water taxis, ferries, etc., so it really builds your awareness). Overall I recommend it as a fun day out - bring plenty of drinking water and a waterproof bag for your kit because you will take on some water!
The other class attendees were friendly and our instructor that day (Eric) is a skilled and highly experienced teacher who is friendly, patient, and safety focused. We covered the basics in the morning, took a lunch break, then went back out on the lake for a tour through Toronto Island canals that feature wildlife areas. At each stage Eric confirmed that all attendees were comfortable with what they had learned and felt ready to advance to the next step before proceeding.
Paddling in Toronto Harbour is a beautiful vantage point to see the Toronto skyline, while learning how to navigate a high traffic area (you will be sharing the water with power boats, water taxis, ferries, etc., so it really builds your awareness). Overall I recommend it as a fun day out - bring plenty of drinking water and a waterproof bag for your kit because you will take on some water!
Written August 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juliet W
Carp, Canada9 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
We arrived late for our trip due to unforeseen circumstances. Richard was amazing and offered us a great alternative. My Belgium friends had a great visit due to his outstanding service. We will be back! Thank you Richard.
Written July 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Ian
Just to clarify, we offer rentals for those with solid basic kayak & canoe experience Monday to Friday evenings with boats returning 30minutes before sunset. Weekends, all rentals back by 5:30pm. All renters will be assessed on the water to determine if their skills meet the weather/sea state on the harbour on the day of rental.
Re true 'night time paddling', there are a few dates through the season that we offer a guided paddle to the Toronto Islands and back. Check out our Night Cruise paddle under the 'intermediate' section on our website 'paddletoronto'
Thanks
Written June 7, 2016
Is the water generally calm? I am not very experienced and in fact am afraid of water, but I would like to try this if the risk of capsizing is extremely small!
Written March 24, 2016
Hi,
Sorry for the delayed response. Our office is still pre-season and opens to the public May 21st. The tours do not start until the weekend of June 17th.
These beginner friendly trips require no previous paddling experience. The tour is done in what we generically call a voyageur canoe. The fleet consists of 12, 15 and even 17 seat canoes (our larger canoes are 34 feet & 39 feet long). They are very stable and we've never had a capsize. We also cancel trips if we feel that the conditions would make the experience unpleasant for the participants...even though the canoe would be very capable of even more challenging water conditions etc. A full refund will be offered or just reschedule to another date.
Even if weather on the day is calm and pristine - if, when you arrive, you feel uncomfortable and wish to leave, we will offer a full refund.
Hope this helps and feel free to email our office if you have other questions.
Happy Paddling.
Richard
Written May 15, 2016
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