About North River Kayak Tours
North River Kayak Tours has been guiding paddlers on Cape Breton Island for more than 30 years. The base sits on Murray Road at North River Bridge, right on the Cabot Trail on St. Ann's Bay, about 35 minutes from Baddeck, and the launch site is only steps from the property.
The menu runs from a three-hour half-day tour to full-day trips along the North River estuary and the coast of St. Ann's Bay, with gear and instruction included. Paddlers who want to build skills can book a Paddle Canada basic sea kayak course, a Level 1 skills weekend, or a rolling clinic, and the team also runs wilderness and remote first aid training. Packages such as the Cabot Trail Dine, Paddle and Stay and a full moon evening paddle round out a season that runs through the summer months.
What sets the outfit apart is its depth as a teaching operation. Few Cape Breton kayak companies combine guided day tours, certified skills courses and on-site rustic lodging at the River Nest, so guests can stay the night, paddle in the morning and come back for a course later in the season.
