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Outdoors

Kejimkujik Canoe Route

From Jakes Landing you paddle upstream on the quiet Mersey River under overhanging red maples, watching for turtles, frogs, water lilies and great blue herons; downstream, the river opens onto Kejimkujik Lake and its islands. Parks Canada suggests this trip for families and paddlers with little or no experience.

For The Reps · Updated

canoe trip scenery for Kejimkujik Canoe Route near Nova Scotia
Photo: Big Lake Lodge and Big Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada (8100720254) by Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Nova Scotia, Canada
Time
1-2 hours

The route

Mersey River from Jakes Landing.

Jakes Landing is inside Kejimkujik National Park, and Whynot Adventure rents canoes and kayaks there; booking 24 hours ahead is recommended. For a shorter 90-minute paddle, you can launch from the dock behind the Visitor Centre.

When to go

Walk-in day rentals at Jakes Landing run until 12 October in 2026, and Parks Canada's guided paddles run in July and August.

Permits and fees

You need park admission: in 2026, $7.25 per adult or $15.00 per family or group per day.

Before you go

  • Each person needs a well-fitting life jacket, and each boat must carry a bailer, a whistle and a 15 m buoyant rope.
  • If you head down to Kejimkujik Lake, go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
  • Parks Canada's guided paddles in July and August include a petroglyph paddle.

What to bring

  • A buoyancy aid, worn rather than stowed
  • A dry bag for your phone and keys
  • Water and snacks
  • Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses
  • A warm layer, even on a hot day

Getting ready for it

Paddling works your back, shoulders and core more than your arms.

A few weeks of rows, pull-ups or pulldowns and some rotational core work will make a full day far more comfortable.

Staying safe

  • Wind and waves on Kejimkujik Lake are usually strongest at midday.
  • There are no navigation buoys on Kejimkujik Lake, so bring a map, compass and GPS if you go beyond the river.
  • Check the wind and water forecast before launching.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against parks.canada.ca, parks.canada.ca and whynotadventure.ca. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.