Picture this: the sun cascading down overhead, a warm summer breeze blowing against your skin, your feet firmly planted atop a SUP board, and your paddle gently dipping into the water to propel you forward.
There’s something serene about SUPing, something that might make you want to close your eyes, breathe in the fresh air around you, and breathe out all the stresses of life. With the popularity of this sport on the rise, we’ve compiled our list of places in Ontario’s Highlands where you might want to give some second thought to the eye closing – afterall, you wouldn’t want to miss the 5 incredible views below.
Credit: @organicroadmap
The View: A Towering Landmark
The Water: Mazinaw Lake, Bon Echo Provincial Park
The Outfitter: Bon Echo Outfitters
Follow the lead of Mazinaw Rock, an iconic landmark towering 100 metres out of Mazinaw Lake, by standing tall atop your board as you explore the waters and take in the sight of more than 260 Indigenous pictographs that cover it.
Credit: @gillrh
The View: Sandy Shores & Lush Islands
The Water: Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers, Petawawa Point Beach Park
The Outfitter: Ottawa Valley SUP
Feel your toes squish into the sand and the water begin to lap up onto your feet as you get ready to step onto your board and push off to explore the surrounding area, dotted with islands, where the Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers converge.
Credit: @eileenkhennemann
The View: Serene Wildlife
The Water: The Tay Canal & Perth Basin
The Outfitter: Perth Outfitters
Opt for a shorter paddle into the Perth Basin to marvel at wildlife that line the Canal’s shores before getting a refreshing splash from a fountain in the basin, or head out for a longer journey to take in nature in all it’s peaceful glory in the Tay Marshlands. You may even be as lucky as recent paddlers who had the joy of witnessing two deer take a leisurely swim to cool off one hot summer’s day.
Credit: @bradpsinclair
The View: Rocky Outcroppings
The Water: York River, Bancroft
The Outfitter: Trips and Trails Adventure Outfitting
Follow the path of this river as it carves through the landscape and unique geology of the Canadian Shield, and look up (be careful not to lose your balance!) to see the rocky outcropping of Hawkwatch Lookout in Bancroft Eagles Nest Park, suspended above the town.
Credit: @jessicawabbit73
The View: Warm Glow of a Sunset
The Water: Eagle Lake, Haliburton County
The Outfitter: SUPnorth
Let the warmth of a summer sunset wash over you as you paddle on Eagle Lake under the colourfully glowing sky. Looking for some guidance? Join a group Sunset Paddle with SupNorth during one of their paddle events.