Water Activities

Living by the lake has its perks. Bring the family to Port Hope for swimming, canoeing or stand up paddle boarding.

Enjoy uncrowded sandy beaches

Make a splash! Our two sandy beaches are close to downtown and perfect for swimming or relaxing in the sun. Have a picnic on a blanket or at the picnic benches. There are play structures for the little kids, and you can bring floats, canoes, kayaks or paddle boards for fun on the water. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. The beaches are not lifeguarded, so use at your own risk, supervise the kids and wear lifejackets for boating and paddle boarding. There's also the Waterfront Trail for hiking while you're here. Check out our Nature Trail Guide for maps and highlights.

Fishing the Ganaraska River

The Ganaraska River that streams through our downtown has riverside trails to follow, the annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny River Race and the fish migrations when salmon and trout race upstream to spawn. You can fish the river and use the fish cleaning station nearby, but boating isn't permitted, except during the Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny River Race. There's a waterfront boat launch open seasonally for heading out onto Lake Ontario.