Length of stay: 8 days
Visited: May 2026

Manitoulin Island is located on Lake Huron and it is the largest freshwater island in the world. It contains more than 100 inland lakes, some of which have their own islands within an island. Needless to say, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the coastal scenery and views of the water.

Day 1: Getting to Manitoulin Island

We decided to travel locally this year to support the Canadian economy. When brainstorming places to visit in spring, we landed on Manitoulin Island. We first visited Manitoulin Island a few years ago during the middle of the pandemic and have been meaning to return at some point to explore it more fully. The ferry to the island started running May 1st, so we figured why not visit early in the season to beat the crowds, expensive prices and (hopefully) the bugs.

There are two ways to get to Manitoulin Island. One is by the ferry which requires a 3 hour drive to Tobermory followed by a 2 hour boat ride, and the other by a much longer drive (roughly 6 hours) along the highway that follows the shore of Georgian Bay. We opted for the shorter and more scenic route. This would also minimize toddler M’s time in the car seat.

We left home bright and early at 8:30am, which gave us plenty of time to make it to Tobermorry to catch the afternoon ferry to Manioutlin Island. There wasn’t much traffic on the road and we made it with plenty of time to spare, even after stopping a few times for bathroom breaks. We needed to check-in at the ferry terminal an hour before departure, but didn’t want to arrive too early and just sit in the car. So, we stopped to check out the Big Tub Lighthouse. During the summer this is a popular spot for glass bottom boat tours, snorkeling and scuba diving as a few shallow shipwrecks are located nearby. But on a chilly day in the spring, we were the only ones here.

Now time to get to the ferry. There was a whole lot of hurry up and waiting. We waited to check-in, then waited in our designated lane for the boat to come in, and then waited some more for our time to board. The Chi-Cheemaun ferry had just opened yesterday for the season and it wasn’t very busy. This meant there were a lot of quiet spots on board to hang out and let M run around like a wild child. It was a scenic ferry crossing which required passing through the Fathom Five National Marine Park and a few other islands as well.

We arrived on Manitoulin Island just after 3:30pm and visited the nearby South Baymouth Range Front Lighthouse. There’s a small path along a boardwalk that provides a nice view of the lighthouse and coastal scenery. To M’s delight there was also a playground nearby. We figured she had a long day in the car this morning, so why not let her stretch her legs and run around a bit more.

On the way to our motel we stopped to pick up groceries. The downside to visiting early in the season is that not many of the restaurants were open yet. But not to worry, as we booked a place with a kitchenette and planned to make most of our meals. We settled in for the day and took it easy for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 2: Fossil Hill

Much of our days are planned around the weather. The forecast today was calling for rain in the afternoon. So after eating breakfast we got right to it. Given that we had a long day of travelling yesterday, we decided to stay nearby. We settled on the Fossil Hill Nature Preserve.

From the small carpark we walked along an old road for a couple hundred metres until we saw the access point for the trail. The path weaves through a dense cedar forest and passes several small cliffs and limestone rock formations that resemble layered pancakes, which is a common feature around the Bruce Peninsula.

The trail was in decent shape with only a few blown down trees to navigate up, over or around. It was more rustic compared to many national and provincial parks that we’ve visited, but the ground was dry and there were no bugs. Navigation was a bit tricky. We followed the white blazes, but were a bit unsure at a couple of junctions. But then we found a map and figured out where we needed to go. Kind of. We came out to another access point along the road and decided to just follow that back to the parking lot.

Back at the motel we ate a snack. We contemplated going back out for another short excursion, but we were all feeling a bit tired, so nap time it was. It worked out well as it rained in the early afternoon. The rain subsided later in the day so we headed back out to check out High Falls. The parking lot was closed, but we could park just outside of it and walk to the viewpoint. The footbridge across the waterfall was blocked off, but that’s okay, we could still get a good view from the side we were on.

We drove through town afterward to see what was shaking. Not much apparently. But then again we were visiting during low season.

Day 3: Lighthouses

There are seven lighthouses on Manitoulin Island (and a few more on some of the nearby islands). Today we planned to visit two of them on the northern shore of the island. First up was the Kagawong Lighthouse. It’s located in Kagawong, a picturesque historic village that was once a busy port for produce, livestock, fish and lumber. The lighthouse was built in 1894 after a fire swept through and destroyed much of the village.

We planned to stop at Bridal Veil Falls, another highlight of Kagawong, but the trail and parking lot were closed as the water levels were dangerously high. So high that we even saw quite a bit of flooding in town and down by the river near the marina. We contemplated going for a stroll along the waterfront, but decided to continue on to Gore Bay.

We stopped at the East Bluff Lookout in Harold Noble Memorial Park for a nice view of the surrounding area.

The lookout also provides access to the Noble Nature Trail (1.1km one-way), which we gave a whirl. The trail runs the length of the East Bluff from the Lookout to town (near the intersection of Water and Bay Streets). Most of the trail is through the forest. Since we started this trail from the East Bluff Lookout, it was mostly all downhill, which meant we were saving the uphill for the return journey. It was peaceful as we had the trail all to ourselves. Or mostly all to ourselves if you count the deer we saw in the forest.

Then we went to Janet Head Lighthouse. As with everywhere else that we’ve visited on Manitoulin Island so far, we were the only ones here. After checking out the charming lighthouse, we walked along the pebbly shore.

M was due for a nap so we drove around for a couple of hours, then stopped to pick up some groceries before heading back to the motel. We contemplated going back out for another walk, but M was over being in her car seat. Besides, we planned to do some hiking tomorrow.

Day 4: Cup and Saucer

After eating a big breakfast, we headed out to hike one of the most popular trails on Manitoulin Island, the Cup and Saucer Trail. The clouds cleared by the time we rolled up to the trailhead and we were eager to finally enjoy some sunshine, especially since it was super blustery outside.

The trail is called Cup and Saucer as the rock formations along the bluff resemble a saucer (or spearhead according to legend) and cup (or spear handle). It features a few viewpoints overlooking the surrounding area from up on the cliffs. And there are a few different options to get to those viewpoints: the Main Trail (4km return trip, red trail), South Loop (9km return trip, blue trail) and Adventure Trail (500m one-way, yellow trail).

We went with the main trail which is signed with a combination of red markers and blazes. Much of the path is flat and with a few rocky sections that required careful navigation with a toddler. Despite visiting in the spring, there weren’t many wet or muddy sections. We passed along the base of the rocky cliffs before making our way up to the top of the Niagara Escarpment where the scenic viewpoints are located.

The first viewpoint was a bit underwhelming as there’s a large quarry that’s kind of an eyesore. But the other viewpoints are much better and provide a panoramic view of the forest and surrounding area below.

We retraced our steps back to the parking lot. Overall it took us just under three hours to complete the trail, which wasn’t bad considering toddler M hiked about half of it on her own. We ate a snack in the parking lot then headed back to our motel, stopping at the Ten Mile Point Lookout for a nice view of the lake with the LaCloche Mountains in the background.

Once back at our accommodations, we made something for lunch. We headed back out later in the day to check out the town we were staying in. We drove down to the marina and walked along the small public beach. And to M’s delight there was even a playground for her to enjoy.

Day 5: Misery Bay

When we visited Manitoulin Island a few years ago, Misery Bay Provincial Park was one of the highlights of our trip. So naturally we had to return. While you might be wondering about its name, don’t be fooled, it’s actually quite lovely.

Early setters would often come to Misery Bay to cut marsh grass for their livestock. According to local lore, one day two men approached the bay by boat and asked one of the farmers what this place was called. The farmer must have been hard at work that day and responded that he was in misery. Turns out the people on the boat were government surveyors, mapping the island. The surveyors wrote that name down and it’s been called Misery Bay ever since.

There are three hiking trails in Misery Bay, all of which start at the Visitor Centre. While the Visitor Centre was still closed when we were visiting in early May, we saw some park staff who were doing some trail maintenance.

We settled on the Inland Alvar Trail (5km loop, rated easy) as we’ve hiked it before and knew what to expect. From the Visitor Centre we first followed the red markers along the Coastal Trail for a few hundred metres to reach the trailhead for the Inland Alvar Trail. The trail is signed with yellow markers and is relatively flat. It was in surprisingly good condition and there weren’t many fallen trees or muddy sections to navigate around. The trail passes through the forest, old glacial beaches and open alvar pavements (a flat area of limestone with little or no soil).

The trail leads down to the shoreline and contains a detour to visit Sander’s Cove, a covered shelter overlooking the beach. We planned to eat our lunch there, but it was a bit too blustery down by the water. Instead we explored around for a bit where there’s an abandoned car and an abandoned cabin further up the cove.

We rejoined the main trail and looped back to the Visitor Centre. This part of the trail is very flat and gentle with minimal trippy bits. We also passed by the shore again. Previously when we hiked this trail we followed the Coastal Trail on the return journey, which makes for a slightly longer hike. But given the wind, we opted to stay on the Inland Alvar Trail which is mainly through the forest.

Overall it took us 2.5 hours to complete the trail. We ended up eating our lunch back at the car as there wasn’t really another good spot to stop along the trail. We headed back to our accommodations to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Day 6: Misery Bay Part II

Despite the blustery weather, we had such a wonderful time at Misery Bay yesterday. So we decided to return to hike the Misery Bay Trail. We actually intended to hike this trail the first time we visited Manitoulin Island a few years ago, but the trail was temporarily closed due to flooding. Given that water levels are generally higher in the spring, we were a bit apprehensive whether we’d even be able to hike this trail. But we decided to roll the dice anyway and check it out. Worst case scenario we’d just explore the beach.

Similar to yesterday, we were pretty much the only people here. Unless you count the construction crew that was grading the gravel road leading to the park. We set off down the path to the Visitor Centre then followed part of the Coastal Trail to get to Misery Bay. The trail ends at a wooden shelter.

Unsurprisingly the water levels were high. But we made our way along the beach to get to the Misery Bay trailhead. Along the way we passed by some alvar pavement and erratics, clues from the past of how the landscape was created and shaped by the melting glaciers. While we made it pretty far, we were forced to turn around when we couldn’t find a decent path through the water. But no one seemed to mind as we were having a nice time exploring the beach.

On the way back to the Visitor Centre we followed part of the Inland Alvar Trail for a change of scenery. We ate some lunch in the car again then drove to Gore Bay. We planned to walk along the waterfront, but as soon as we passed a playground, our walk was cut short.

Day 7: Providence Bay and Little Current

It was our final full day on Manitoulin Island and we had a couple of activities planned. We headed out after breakfast and drove to Providence Bay to make the most of the sunny day. Providence Bay is reputed to have the nicest beach on the island. We’d say it lived up its reputation. Its sandy shore spans two kilometres and there’s a long wooden boardwalk along part of it. We parked near one end of the boardwalk and walked to the other end. There was a playground on the other side, so naturally we had to stop there and let M play.

We walked along the beach. The water looked cold. But the water there is always cold, even in the summer. We retraced our steps back the way we came. Afterward we drove through the town to see what was up. Not much. Most cottages were still closed for the season and none of the restaurants and shops were open.

After some lunch and a nap, we headed back out later in the afternoon to check out Little Current. We walked along the waterfront. There were no boats in the marina yet. We passed the  Little Current Lighthouse where we also got a good view of the Swing Bridge, which was built to allow traffic between Manitoulin Island and the mainland.

We returned to the motel to eat a late dinner and to do a bit of packing. Tomorrow morning we planned to take the ferry back to Tobermory and drive the rest of the way home. Since the forecast was calling for rain in the morning, we figured we’d put some of our bags that we didn’t need anymore in the car as it’s never fun packing up in the rain.

While tourism hadn’t quite started for the season in Manitoulin Island, it was still nice to visit before the crowds and bugs. This week was all about taking things slow, which I’d say was a nice change of pace.

L