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Grand River, Ontario
Paris, Ontario
A small town where the Nith River meets the Grand, known for its 1800s cobblestone buildings, a riverside downtown and rail trails along the Grand River.
Photo: Downtown Paris, Ontario, Benjamin Pickles, CC BY-SA 2.0
Paris grew up around mills where the Nith joins the Grand River. In the mid-1800s, builders here set rounded lake and river stones into their walls, and Paris still has many of these cobblestone buildings.
Downtown's back walls step down to the river, and rail trails lead north to Cambridge and south to Brantford.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail
A flat trail along the Grand River to Cambridge.
Cheap
Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area
A lake for swimming and paddling, with camping.
Cheap
Apps' Mill Nature Centre
Trails and a historic mill site near Paris.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Cobblestone buildings
Houses and churches built with rounded stones in the 1800s, including St. James Anglican Church.
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
Canoe and kayak rentals on the Grand River.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Part of our Grand River guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- A paddle on the Grand fills a morning.
- Cycle a rail trail in the afternoon.
- Brantford's history sites are 15 minutes away.
Nearby and worth the drive
Brantfordabout 15 min · Guide ↗
Bell Homestead and the Grand River.
Stratfordabout 60 min · Guide ↗Theatre and the Avon River.
Ready-made trips with Paris, Ontario
Good to know
- Tourism: brant.ca.
- 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: Downtown Paris, Ontario, Benjamin Pickles, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: The Grand River at Paris, Perry Quan from Oakville, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: St. James Anglican Church, a cobblestone church in Paris, Empirecoins, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Paris Plains Church, Mac Armstrong, CC BY-SA 2.0