Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop
Paddling Trail · Clare
Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop is a 2.5 km intermediate waymarked loop in Clare, starting near Killaloe/Ballina.
Note from the trail operator
Difficulty: Suitable for a guided group of beginners and self-led intermediate paddlers inlow river flow levels.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddling | Intermediate | Moderate | 50 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Killaloe Paddle Access Site 1, near Killaloe/Ballina.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.80695, -8.43869
- Irish Grid reference
- R 70469 72944
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
Enter the Killaloe canal at the car park on the bridge, travel upstream (north), under the pedestrian and the road bridge and then portage around the small water barrier via the small slip, thereafter exit the canal onto the river. Turning to your right (south) select an appropriate place to cross the river towards the left bank, well in advance of the road bridge. Line up for the navigation markers and channel, left of the bridge centre and pay attention to other boat traffic in this area. Do not pass through any of the other arches on the road bridge. After the bridge move to the right of the river, you can re-enter the canal further downstream (2 km), and return upstream (north) to the start.
Who manages it
Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division
Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Elsewhere
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe to Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) 0 m away · 5 km trail
- East Clare Way 89 m away · 168.8 km trail
- Ballycuggaran - Crag Wood Walk 3.4 km away · 7.1 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) to Annacarriga Loop 3.9 km away · 3 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) to Scarriff via Ballynagleragh 3.9 km away · 17.3 km trail
- Graves of the Leinster Men Looped Walk 5.6 km away · 5.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop?
2.5 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 50 minutes.
How hard is the Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Intermediate, with an overall difficulty of Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop start?
Starts at Killaloe Paddle Access Site 1, near Killaloe/Ballina. The trailhead is at 52.80695, -8.43869 (Irish Grid R 70469 72944).
Who manages the Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop?
Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Clare
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.