The Canning River flows through the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, and is recognized as the traditional country of the Whadjuk people. The river passes through the Canning River Regional Park, a year-round destination that encompasses salt marshes, billabongs, paperbark forests, eucalypts, sheoaks, and sedgelands. The upper section, particularly around the wetlands between Kent Street Weir and Riverton Bridge, is the primary paddling corridor and is characterized by calm, tidal water sheltered from waves, with motor boats and jet skis restricted from this stretch.

The main designated launch points within the regional park are Kent Street Weir (Wilson), Mason's Landing, Riverton Jetty Park, and Woodloes Park. The Canning River Wetlands Paddle Trail is an 8-kilometre return route starting at Wilson Park on Kent Street, Cannington, approximately 15 kilometres from Perth's CBD, and finishing at Riverton Bridge. The trail passes through alluvial islands and estuarine vegetation, narrow waterways, and areas with mud banks. Paddlers should be aware that shallow mud can be knee-deep in places near some cafe access points along the route.

The wetlands section is rated as easy and suits beginners and families. The absence of motorized craft makes for a quiet experience, with the primary sounds being birdlife and the occasional fish breaking the surface. The river supports a notable variety of birds that live, hunt, and breed along the banks. Fishing is also popular in other sections of the river, with species including black bream, herring, skippy, flathead, and mulloway.

The trail is accessible year-round, though paddlers should note that algal blooms can occur during summer, and sections of the river may be closed at those times. Facilities at the Kent Street Weir starting point include a cafe, kayak launch ramp, toilets, parking, and children's play equipment. Guided kayak tours and self-guided kayak hire are available through commercial operators based at Kent Street Weir, with typical sessions running three hours. On the lower, more open sections of the river, standard Swan Canning Riverpark boating regulations apply, including restrictions on water skiing before 9am.