Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and ice storms are increasing in frequency and intensity across Canada. Understanding how climate change alters the water cycle and triggers these hazards is therefore critical and requires harmonized methodologies and strong collaboration among researchers. The Cloud to Aquifer Natural Observatories (CANO) project, funded by the CFI-Innovation program, aims to advance integrated observations of the water cycle through four main objectives: 1) quantifying atmospheric water fluxes, 2) characterizing hydrological processes at the land surface and in aquatic environments, 3) investigating soil and groundwater flow processes, and 4) assessing water cycle interactions and responses to environmental change. This project brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists with expertise in climate science, hydrology, water tracers, hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, and Earth system modelling. CANO is establishing or upgrading a state-of-the-art network of seven instrumented water cycle observatories of cold and humid climatic conditions in eastern Canada. Four observatories are located in Quebec (Kenauk, Covey Hill, Forêt Montmorency, and Bernard River), two are in New Brunswick (Iroquois river and Acadia Research Forest), and one is in Nova Scotia (Major Lake). Some of them build on existing long-term research sites, enabling rapid deployment and targeted investigation of key scientific questions. By combining monitoring (from clouds to groundwater) with high-resolution modelling (atmosphere, surface, and subsurface), CANO will generate unique datasets to trace water pathways across all phases of the water cycle and support improved strategies for managing water-related risks under a changing climate.