About Thames Paddling
A free planning tool for paddlers on the Thames River in Southwestern Ontario.
What this site is
Thames Paddling pulls together live river conditions, branch and route information, access points, and local rentals into one place so paddlers can decide whether to head out and where to launch from. The goal is simple: make it easier to plan a good day on the water.
It's aimed at the full spectrum of paddlers on the Thames, from people who already know the river well and just want a quick read on today's flow, to folks who have never paddled here before and aren't sure where to begin. If you're newer to it, this site is built to help you find a beginner-friendly stretch, see whether the river is in an ideal range that day, and figure out how to actually get there.
What you'll find here
- Home shows live conditions for each branch of the Thames, plus a route planner for picking a put-in and take-out.
- Access Points is a searchable, sortable list of every known launch and landing on the river, with details, photos, parking notes, and links to nearby rentals.
- Gauges shows every Environment Canada gauge on the Thames side by side, useful for comparing branches or watching trends.
- Local Shops lists outfitters who rent kayaks and canoes if you don't own a boat yet, plus retailers and manufacturers when you're ready to own.
- FAQ covers gear, safety, and trip-planning basics, especially aimed at first-timers.
Where the data comes from
- River flow: Environment Canada's Water Survey of Canada gauges, updated hourly.
- Water temperature: monitoring stations operated by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, shown as a two-day rolling average.
- Weather and sunset: measured at London International Airport, just east of Fanshawe Lake.
- Access points and suggested flow ranges: drawn from multiple sources, including the City of London, the Thames River Paddling Routes Project, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.
The route data, access points, and local knowledge that power this site were originally compiled by the Thames River Paddling Routes Project. Their years of on-the-water research and community knowledge building made this possible. Thank you.
Notice something wrong, missing, or worth adding? Drop a note.