Up the Brae River, Egmont Bay, PEI

 

The Brae River is another small river that flows into Egmont Bay (near Brae Harbour). This summer (2023), I was planning to paddle and explore all the rivers of Egmont Bay. For some reason, this would be my first paddle ever up the small, winding Brae River. You could access the river at the Beaton Road bridge, but it would be challenging. So, instead, I decided to put-in/out at the end of Campbell Shore Road. From Campbell Shore Road, it’s a 1 km east paddle to the mouth/estuary of the Brae River.

Track, Brae River, 8km, 30Jul2023

Once inside the estuary, it’s another kilometre to the Beaton Road bridge. This river stretch is about 20-30m wide with some marsh shorelines, forested shorelines, and farm/crop fields. There are also two homesteads along the western side of the river (before the bridge). The church, rectory, and Immaculate Conception Brae cemetery are just west of the bridge on Beaton Road. 

Brae River and marsh, the Beaton Rd church in the background

After the bridge, there are no more structures, but the narrow river is never too far from farmland. The marsh grass and cattails were so tall on this paddle that the farm fields were not visible from the water. As I was zig-zagging up the Brae, I kept running into American Black Ducks. These ducks appeared surprised and shocked – they probably don’t get too much kayak traffic in those narrow sections of the river/creek.

The upper Brae River (the navigable end)

The Brae River was lovely to paddle even though it’s not an entire natural environment. It would be great to try the same paddle early in the spring to see more flora & fauna (especially birds).

American Black Duck

American Black Duck

Cedar Waxwing

Greater Yellowlegs