The Grand River route in Nova Scotia covers 33 kilometres across southeastern Cape Breton Island, traversing a chain of lakes before descending through a scenic river corridor to the Atlantic coast. The trip is typically completed over two days and is rated for beginners, though paddlers should have basic moving-water skills and reasonable fitness to handle the fast-water sections and the portage at Grand River Falls.

The put-in is at the bridge on Salem Lake, near the community of Lake Uist in Richmond County. From there, the route passes through Lake Uist, then a 400-metre portage leads to the river channel connecting through The Passage into Loch Lomond, a broad freshwater lake roughly six kilometres long and three kilometres wide. The take-out is at the bridge in the village of Grand River, where the Fleur-de-Lis Trail crosses the river. Several intermediate access points are available along the route. The full route is covered by NTS topographic maps 11 F/15 (Grand Narrows) and 11 F/10 (St. Peters).

There are three portages in total. The most significant hazard is Grand River Falls, which requires a portage. Below the falls, the river flows through quiet back-country terrain before widening considerably near the village. The river mouth at the Atlantic is nearly blocked by a sand bar, with only a narrow channel on the western side.

The surrounding landscape carries strong Scottish cultural heritage. The Gaelic-inspired place names — Lake Uist, Loch Lomond — reflect the history of settlers from the islands of Harris and Uist who arrived in the area in 1828. The Grand River is a noted salmon stream, and anglers may also encounter brown trout and brook trout in these waters, which is worth keeping in mind when planning timing around fishing activity.