The Tumut River flows approximately 100 km through the Snowy Valleys region of New South Wales, cutting through rugged ranges and rolling rural countryside before joining the Murrumbidgee River near Gundagai. The official Tumut River Canoe and Kayak Trail begins at the base of the Blowering Dam wall and follows the river downstream to its confluence with the Murrumbidgee, covering roughly 95 km. The trail is classified as Grade 1, featuring some small rapids, making it suitable for more experienced paddlers rather than complete beginners.

The primary put-in is at Jones Bridge Reserve, located beneath the Blowering Dam wall upstream of Tumut. A popular day-trip section runs the 16 km from Jones Bridge Reserve to Junction Park Lions Reserve, which takes paddlers around the town of Tumut and offers convenient access to meals, accommodation, and car shuttling. For this shorter section, a recommended minimum gauge reading at the Tumut gauge is 1 metre, with caution advised above 1.4 metres. The full multi-day route can be broken into stages: approximately 22.5 km from Jones Bridge to Riverglade Caravan Park, then around 38 km to Brungle Bridge Reserve, and a final stretch meeting the Murrumbidgee before continuing 18 km into Gundagai Common, just past the historic Prince Alfred Bridge and Gundagai Railway Bridge.

The river is fast-flowing and continuously lined with trees and snags, and the main current frequently directs paddlers toward these hazards. Confident manoeuvrability in fast-moving water is essential. Water released from Blowering Dam is notably cold, which is an important consideration for paddlers year-round. The river runs high, cold, and clear, characteristics typical of a regulated tailwater system.

The best time to paddle is during summer, when the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme releases water following snowmelt, generally from September through March. The river passes through forest and farmland, offering varied scenery along its length. It is also regarded as one of the finest trout rivers in New South Wales, so encounters with fly fishers on the water are common.

Riverglade Caravan Park provides overnight accommodation near the river, and Brungle Bridge Reserve serves as a campsite further downstream. Upon reaching Gundagai, paddlers have the option to continue onto the Murrumbidgee Canoe Trail.