Sea Kayaking Trip: Hamilton Harbour

Trip Rating: 3.5/5

Hamilton Harbour is a Jekyll and Hyde kind of trip. The west side feels like a small Muskoka lake. The east side is an active commercial port serving Lakers that travel the St. Lawrence Seaway. The water is deep and can become choppy with little warning, so attention and good judgment matter, especially for newer paddlers.

Even with the industrial shoreline, the harbour has several excellent points of interest. Below is a breakdown of launch options, features, and a suggested combined route for paddlers who have completed Level 1 and want a mix of nature and urban paddling.

Launch Sites

The most convenient launch is at Pier 4 Park. Coordinates: 43.269691, -79.871444

There is a solid dock for launching and free parking beside the launch, although it fills quickly. Washrooms are available in the park. There are no on-site rental options.

Trip Length

There are multiple routes in the harbour. They can be paddled individually or combined into a longer day. The suggestions below are suitable for sea kayaks and confident recreational kayaks with good flotation.

Points of Interest

Grindstone Creek

A winding creek that transitions from open bay to sheltered channels. Entry is directly accessible from Pier 4. This route rewards slower pacing and is excellent for maneuvering practice, wildlife viewing, and quiet paddling.

HMCS Haida and Theadore Too

HMCS Haida is a Tribal-class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1963. Haida has the highest enemy surface ship sink record of any Canadian warship and is the last surviving Tribal-class destroyer built for Commonwealth navies. Today she is a National Historic Site and a striking feature along the harbour shoreline.

Cootes Paradise

Cootes Paradise is part of a large marsh system flowing into the harbour. It offers sheltered water, rich bird life, and a very different feel from the industrial east end. We have a separate route guide for this area on our site.

CCIW and the Burlington Lift Bridge

Paddling east toward the harbour entrance brings you near the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW) and the Burlington Lift Bridge. This section shares space with commercial and government vessels, and it is one of the best places in the area to observe working water. Expect busy water, reflected swell, and occasional wake.

Willow Cove and Lasalle Park

Willow Cove and Lasalle Park offer more sheltered water and a softer shoreline feel. This area is a good rest stop or turning point, with opportunities for wildlife viewing and short on-water coaching stops.

Difficulty

Rating: Class A1 to A2 for most of the harbour portion.

• Power boaters and commercial traffic add complexity.
• The eastern section can feel busy and exposed, especially in stronger winds.
• Short, steep chop is possible when wind and current interact.

Dressing for immersion and carrying appropriate safety gear is strongly recommended. This is not an appropriate first-ever outing, but it works well for paddlers who have completed a basic skills course and want to consolidate in semi-sheltered water.

A Combined Sea Kayaking Route for Level 1 Graduates

This loop combines several of the highlights above into one coherent day on the water. It is an excellent next-step paddle for new sea kayakers who want protected water with dynamic learning opportunities. It mixes nature, industry, navigation features, and skills consolidation without committing to open coast conditions.

Approx. distance: 12 to 16 km depending on variations
Launch: Pier 4 Park
Recommended for: Level 1 graduates with basic comfort in light chop and boat wake

Suggested Route

1. Pier 4 to HMCS Haida
   A short, calm warmup along the shoreline. Ideal for adjusting outfitting, checking edging, and settling into the group.
2. Haida to the CCIW Corridor
   Follow the shoreline east. This section is useful for practicing boat-wake handling, situational awareness, and predictable group spacing. The shoreline varies from parkland to industrial facilities.
3. CCIW to the Lift Bridge
   Continue toward the lift bridge at the harbour entrance. This is a good place to work on reading water, planning lines around traffic, and identifying commercial vessel movements.
4. Crossing to Lasalle Park
   Make a short crossing to the north side of the bay toward Willow Cove and Lasalle Park. This is where paddlers apply edging, forward efficiency, and group communication skills learned in Level 1.
5. Return via Grindstone Creek
   On the way back toward Pier 4, detour into Grindstone Creek for a sheltered cool-down. Narrow waterways provide an opportunity to practice maneuvering strokes, speed control, and quiet paddling before returning to the main harbour.

Why This Route Works for L1 Grads

• Real-world navigation without committing to open lake conditions.
• Predictable but varied wind and wave patterns for confidence building.
• Opportunities to practice edging, sweep efficiency, group management, and wake handling.
• A satisfying mix of nature, urban shoreline, and Canadian maritime history.

Cost

Cost: Free to paddle, with paid parking enforcement possible in surrounding areas depending on season and time of day.