Free
Grand River trails
Riverside trails through the city, part of the Trans Canada Trail.
Brantford grew up on the Grand River beside the lands of the Six Nations of the Grand River. Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, built in 1785, is the oldest surviving church in Ontario, and Joseph Brant is buried beside it.
The Woodland Cultural Centre tells Haudenosaunee history, including at the former Mohawk Institute residential school. And on the edge of town, Alexander Graham Bell worked out the idea of the telephone at his family's homestead. Come curious and listen.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
D'Aubigny Creek and Brant Conservation lands
Trails and woods along the river south of downtown.
Free
Paris and the Grand River
A riverside town of cobblestone buildings, 15 minutes upriver.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Joseph Brant's tomb
The tomb of the Mohawk leader Thayendanegea beside the chapel.
Free
Glenhyrst Art Gallery
A public gallery on wooded grounds above the river.
Cheap
Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks
Ontario's oldest surviving church, built in 1785, with Joseph Brant's tomb.
Cheap
Canadian Military Heritage Museum
Military history from the 1700s to today.
Paid
Woodland Cultural Centre
Haudenosaunee art and history, and tours of the former Mohawk Institute residential school.
Paid
Bell Homestead National Historic Site
The family home where Alexander Graham Bell conceived the telephone.
Paid
Chiefswood National Historic Site
The birthplace of poet E. Pauline Johnson, on Six Nations of the Grand River.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Grand River canoe and kayak trips
Paddle the Grand from Paris.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Six Nations experiences
Cultural tours and events on Six Nations of the Grand River.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
Part of our Grand River guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The Grand River is best paddled or cycled in the morning.
- Six Nations, Chiefswood and Paris make a second day.
- The Sanderson Centre hosts evening shows.
Nearby and worth the drive
Eloraabout 50 min · Guide ↗
The gorge and the mill.
Niagara-on-the-Lakeabout 75 min · Guide ↗Wineries and theatre.
Parisabout 15 min · Guide ↗A pretty Grand River town.
Ready-made trips with Brantford and Six Nations
Good to know
- Tourism: brantford.ca and Six Nations Tourism.
- Woodland Cultural Centre: Tours of the former residential school deal with difficult history. Check the centre for tour times.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The Grand River in Brantford, Balcer, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Joseph Brant's tomb at the chapel, No machine-readable author provided. NormanEinstein assumed (based on copyright , CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Bell Homestead National Historic Site, K Danko, CC BY-SA 3.0