Paddling is a great way to keep a safe distance from each other during these unprecedented times and engage in some social interaction.
Date = Saturday April 25th (Event may be cancelled due to weather or COVID-19. These details will be posted on the SMRA Facebook page along with any changes)
Paddling departure time = 9:30 am
Location Start = Paddlers Access Point number 2
(Access Point 2 coordinates = 45.299597, -62.062286)
Location Finish = Paddlers Access Point number 3
(Access Point 3 coordinates = 45.197535, -62.008462)
This event is hosted by the St. Mary’s River Association and supported by Canoe and Kayak Nova Scotia. The paddle will start at Access Point 2 and finish up at Access Point 3. This paddling adventure is approximately 16 km of river length and the paddling time will depend on the water level and flow. We will be stopping on the Glenelg Lake for a lunch and bathroom break.
You will be required to fill out a wavier prior to paddling. We are working on an on-line version to maintain personal space during the event. SMRA will provide shuttling from the finish location back to the start location. You will be responsible for your gear and boat. It is mandatory that you respect our safety rules which will be highlighted at the beginning of the trip. You must wear your life jacket while paddling and we do not allow drinking or drugs on our paddling trips.
The paddle itself takes you through some of the St. Mary’s River’s most precious waters. The St. Mary’s is home to a few notable creatures. We have a population of Atlantic salmon, Brook Trout, Cat fish, American eel, Shad, Gaspereau, Wood Turtles, Snapping Turtles, Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl, 21 species of Warblers, 5 species of Vireos and Rose-breasted Grosbeak just to name a few. We will be paddling a portion of the East Branch which will take us through McKeen’s Pool and Glenelg Lake. Both areas are critical habitat for our Atlantic salmon population. Glenelg Lake is bubbling with springs and is a key holding lake for those hot dry summer days. After Glenelg Lake we will paddle through the forks where the East and West branches become the Main branch. This famous salmon pool is called Silvers Pool. Now in the Main Branch we paddle through many more notable angling pools. We also pass the Crows Nest which was once home to early gold mining back in the 1860’s. There is remanence of the time if you know where to look. We will pass Dr. Hardy Eshbaugh’s property and the Sobey’s family fish cabin. We will pass by properties with old growth forests many that have been donated to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust for protection. Actually, between the Province and NSNT 54 km of shore line and a total of 9000 acres on the St. Mary’s River have been protected or is in the process of being protected. We will pass by the old Waternish Cemetery and then onto the beginning of the Stillwater’s. Here our journey ends at access point number 3.