The Saugeen River completes a 160-kilometre journey from its headwaters near Dundalk to empty into Lake Huron at the north end of Southampton. Its final stretch through town is calm and tree-lined, making it a pleasant place for an afternoon in a canoe or kayak. The river mouth area is good fishing: Chinook salmon run up in autumn, and brown trout are taken year-round.
The full canoe route from Hanover to Southampton runs 102 kilometres and is typically completed in three days with three short portages around dams. The river is calm throughout except in early spring when snowmelt raises water levels. Canoes can be rented in Southampton or Hanover, with shuttle arrangements available from most operators.