The Ultimate Guide to Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Ottawa Valley
The ultimate guide to Standup paddleboarding in the Ottawa Valley
Latest updates: June 7, 2022
Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Standup Paddleboarding in the Ottawa Valley. The Ottawa Valley is an incredible destination for paddleboarding in Ontario with many lakes and rivers to be explored. This guide is a comprehensive list of local SUP events, races, social paddles, skills courses, equipment rentals, and SUP retailers. It is updated regularly throughout the season so please send any new events to courtney@courtsinclair.com.
This guide has been created with the support of Ontario Highlands Tourism Organization and the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, as well with contributions from the SUP community of Ottawa + the Ottawa Valley.
As visitors we respect the land and waterways along the watersheds of the Ottawa River (Kitchisippi) as the Traditional Territory of the Algonquin and Anishinaabeg people. We acknowledge our duty as stewards and caretakers to the natural world and offer gratitude that we may receive an abundance of beauty through our paddling experiences.
Table of Contents
SUP lessons for beginners
SUP skills courses
sup yoga classes
sup races and special events
sup retreats
SUP social paddles
paddleboard rentals
paddleboard retailers
sup lessons for beginners
Are you new to paddleboarding and looking for beginner lessons in Ottawa or the Ottawa Valley? Lessons can help you feel confident, comfortable, and safe as well an to ensure that you are learning proper technique. They make paddleboarding more fun :)
Check these companies out to get set up (in alphabetical order):
Court Outdoors (Golden Lake, Petawawa) - 2 hour beginner sunset SUP experience, Learn to paddleboard sessions
Dan Gavere (Ottawa) - private lessons for intermediate paddlers - whitewater, racing, wing
Drifter’s Outdoors Canoe & Kayak (Kemptville) - SUP classes, call 613-324-0145 or email gennymarlatt@gmail.com
Liquid Skills (Beachburg) - Intro to Basic Flatwater
Mad River Paddle Co (Calabogie) - Private or semi-private learn to paddle
Ottawa Sport and Social Club - Standup paddle intro & explore sessions
Ottawa SUP (Ottawa) - Private SUP lessons, Beginner group lessons. Beginner SUP group lessons every Saturday at 10 am starting June 18. $50 per person and includes all equipment. 1 hour instructor + 1 hour rental afterwards.
Paddlefit (Chelsea) - Intro to SUP on May 22, 2022 or Intro + Explore Spring Session
Stand Up Paddle Ottawa (Ottawa) - SUP tours
Urban Ocean (Carleton Place) - Wonder Women 3 hour learn to paddle on June 15, 2022 or SUP 101 in Carleton Place, or SUP Sisters Women on Water program
sup skills courses
Develop your SUP skills with these trainings (by calendar date):
May 7-8, 2022: A 2-day whitewater SUP Surfing weekend at Bate Island with Paddlefit | 8 am - 4 pm
May 21-22, 2022: Advanced Flatwater SUP Instructor Training with Paddlefit (Paddle Canada course) | 8:30 am - 4 pm
May 22, 2022: SUP Skills - Wind & Waves with Paddlefit | 12 pm - 2 pm
June 9-10, 2022: Basic SUP Instructor Certification with Urban Ocean SUP
June 12, 2022: Women’s 6 Week SUP Group with Urban Ocean SUP
June 16-17, 2022: Advanced Flatwater SUP Instructor Course with Urban Ocean SUP
June 17-19, 2022: Basic SUP + SUP Yoga Teacher Training with Paddlefit (Paddle Canada course) | 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Meech Lake P12 Gatineau Park and Lac Leamy
June 19, 2022: SUP Skills Advanced Flatwater, hosted by Paddlefit | 1 pm - 3 pm, Lac Leamy
June 19, 2022: Advanced Flatwater SUP Skills Paddle Canada Certification, hosted by Court Outdoors | 8 am - 12 pm at Petawawa Point Beach
June 22, 2022: Wonder Women 2 Advanced Paddle Class, hosted by Urban Ocean SUP, 3 hours
July 3, 2022: Learn to SUP course, hosted by Court Outdoors | 8 am - 10 am at Petawawa Point Beach
July 13, 2022: SUP Paddling Clinic, hosted by the Town of Petawawa | 6 pm at Petawawa Point Beach
July 24, 2022: Advanced Flatwater SUP Skills Paddle Canada Certification, hosted by Court Outdoors | 8 am - 12 pm at Petawawa Point Beach
August 7, 2022: Learn to SUP course, hosted by Court Outdoors | 8 am - 10 am at Petawawa Point Beach
September 24-25, 2022: Whitewater SUP Weekend at Owl Rafting with Paddlefit | 8 am - 4 pm, Foresters Falls
sup yoga + FITNESS classes
AWE Yoga - SUP yoga in Pembroke, through City of Pembroke in pool in the winter months
Court Outdoors - Sunset SUP yoga classes at Petawawa Point Beach
Liquid Skills - SUP Fit, SUP Yoga, SUP Yoga Fit classes
Mad River Paddle Co - Keep an eye for pop up SUP yoga classes
Ottawa Sport and Social Club - SUP yoga classes
Ottawa SUP - 1 hour SUP yoga class, $30 with equipment included
Ottawa Valley Air Paddle - SUP yoga classes in Arnprior
Paddlefit - Monday nights from 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm at Meech Lake P12 Gatineau Park - spring and summer sessions
Paddle and Flow Yoga + Inner Soul Yoga offering SUP yoga classes
Stand Up Paddle Ottawa - SUP Yoga
SUP Yoga Gem - SUP Yoga in Ottawa
Urban Ocean SUP - SUP Yoga & SUP fitness classes
sup races and special events
April 16, 2022: Jock River Race, 12.5 km race on the Jock River between Munster Rd and Richmond, $32 for registration + $8 for insurance if not an OMCKRA member
May 14, 2022: Hell or High Water whitewater race | Petawawa River
June 12, 2022: Lake Night Tour, hosted by Urban Ocean SUP | 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Mississippi Lake, $55 with equipment rental
June 12, 2022: SUP with your PUP, hosted by Paddlefit | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, Meech Lake P12 Gatineau Park, $20
June 12, 2022: Wakefield to Chelsea Gatineau River tour, hosted by Paddlefit | 8:30 am to 2 pm, $60 BYOBoard or $85 with equipment rental
June 16, 2022: Full Moon SUP Social, hosted by Paddlefit | 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Farm Point, $25
June 17, 2022: Lake Night Tour, hosted by Urban Ocean SUP | 9 pm to 10:30 pm, Mississippi Lake, $55 with equipment rental
June 18, 2022: Sunshine State of Mind, hosted by Urban Ocean SUP | Community paddle - social or race. SUP equipment rentals available
July 3, 2022: Lac St. Marie to Low Dam Gatineau River tour, hosted by Paddlefit | 8 am to 3 pm, $70 BYOBoard or $95 with equipment rental
July 9-16, 2022: Ottawa Valley SUP Adventure Retreat, Golden Lake
July 14, 2022: Full Moon SUP Social, hosted by Paddlefit | 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Farm Point, $25
July 16, 2022: SUP demos at Hope Volleyball at Mooney’s Ball with Different Breed
July 17, 2022: Paddle & Brunch, hosted by the Town of Petawawa | 9 am at Petawawa Point Beach
July 23, 2022: Sunset SUP Skills Tour, hosted by Court Outdoors | 6 pm at Petawawa Point
August 6, 2022: Upper Ottawa River Race, Water and Dirt Festival. 13km, 4km and kids races on the Ottawa River in Petawawa and Pembroke
August 11, 2022: Moonlight Paddle, hosted by the Town of Petawawa | 8 pm at Petawawa Point Beach
August 11, 2022: Full Moon SUP Social, hosted by Paddlefit | 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Farm Point, $25
August 13, 2022: K2O Kingston to Ottawa race | 25 km, 50 km, or 100 km through the Rideau Canal, registration rates found here. Volunteers needed :)
August 13-14, 2022: Show Up and Blow Up SUP Festival | Baxter Conservation Area, K
August 14, 2022: Doggy Paddle, Water and Dirt Festival. SUP with your pup at Melissa Bishop Park in Lake Dore. Begins at 10 am. Registration is $40 and includes a t-shirt and lunch. Paddlers are asked to raise a minimum of $100 for the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre and prizes can be won. See website for registration and pledge form.
August 19, 2022: Sunset Paddle & Charcuterie, hosted by the Town of Petawawa |7 pm at Petawawa Point Beach
August 26, 2022: Sunset SUP Skills Tour, hosted by Court Outdoors | 6 pm at Petawawa Point
September 10, 2022: Full Moon SUP Social, hosted by Paddlefit | 7 pm to 9:30 pm, Farm Point, $25
sup retreats
July 9-16, 2022: Ottawa Valley SUP Adventure Retreat, Golden Lake
September 2-5, 2022: Paddleboarding + Yoga Retreat at Northern Edge Algonquin
September 9-11, 2022: Paddleboarding + Yoga Retreat at Northern Edge Algonquin
Looking to travel further for paddling? Check out these awesome Canadian SUP Tours + Adventures
SUP social paddles
Mad River Paddle Co - Thursday evenings in the summer with locations varying each week in the Burnstown and Calabogie area.
Township of McNab/Braeside - Locations vary each paddle between Clay Bank, Waba Cottage, Red Pine Bay, and Burnstown. Wednesday July 13, Wednesday August 3, Wednesday August 24, Wednesday September 14.
Paddleboard rentals
Note: Local municipalities may also offer rentals
Constance Bay Paddle - Rent from the beach at The Point Dining Lounge in Woodlawn | 613 827 7929 or 705 772-1020
Dow’s Lake Pavilion - Hourly rentals at the pavilion
Drifter’s Outdoors Canoe & Kayak - SUP rentals, call 613-324-0145 or email gennymarlatt@gmail.com
Highlands Outfitters - Daily and weekly SUP rentals on Kamaniskeg & Bark Lake, Madawaska Valley call 613-757-2745
Liquid Skills - Epoxy and inflatable paddleboard rentals per hour or day
Long Island Marina - 4 or 8 hour rentals available at 1424 Commodore Drive in Kars and based on a first come first served basis
Mad River Paddle Co. - SUP rentals available for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, or one week. Delivery in the Calabogie, Burnstown, and White Lake area
Ottawa SUP - 24 hour Inflatable and hard board SUP take away rentals near the Rideau River at Billings Bridge, Ottawa. Walk-ins only. Text 613-263-2069 for availability. Second location at Constance Bay.
Ottawa Valley Air Paddle - Pick up an inflatable paddleboard rental in Arnprior with daily, weekend, or weekly rates
Paddlefit- Going to Gatineau Park or Meech Lake? Rent a Kahuna paddleboard at 18 Scott Road in Chelsea, Quebec, behind Bistro Tonique
Sport Echange Outaouais - Rent a paddleboard for 24 hours, 2 days, or 1 week
Stand Up Paddle Ottawa - SUP rentals in Ottawa
Town of Petawawa (Petawawa Point) - Rentals are $7.50/hour, debit only. Open weekends in June, Thursday to Sunday for July and August. Lessons are available.
Urban Ocean - SUP rentals in Carleton Place
Wild Adventure Tours - 24 hour and weekly inflatable paddleboard package rentals in Pembroke
paddleboard retailers
Atmosphere - TAHE and Body Glove inflatable paddleboards
Costco - Family friendly Nautica and Body Glove paddleboards
Different Breed - All-around, touring, and surf iSUPs shipping Canada wide
Kunstadt Sports - TAHE, NRS, and SIC MAUI boards
Level Six - Canadian designed paddleboards sold in Ottawa including inflatable and hard board options in a variety of styles
Mad River Paddle Co - Selling inflatable Aquamarina boards online & Calabogie storefront
MEC - Level Six and NRS paddleboards with both inflatable and epoxy options
Ottawa Valley Air Paddle - Selling Retrospect and Atoll inflatable standup paddleboards in Arnprior
Ottawa Valley SUP - Selling inflatable Kahuna paddleboards and shipping across Canada. Military financing available
Paddlefit - Canadian brand Kahuna paddleboards for sale
Surfside Ottawa - Inflatable Air Evo and Adawe hard boards
Trailhead Paddleshack - A selection of Starboard, Red Paddle Co., SIC, Blu Wave, Boardworks, Hobe, and TAHE boards
Urban Ocean - Carrying NSP, Surftech, Starboard at waterfront boutique in Carleton Place
Wild Adventure Tours - Inflatable paddleboard sales in Pembroke