Manitoulin Island Information

Beautiful hiking trails, scenic views, soft, sandy beaches, secluded swimming areas, an island rich in Aboriginal culture…this is just a hint of some of the amazing things tourists can experience on northern Ontario's one-of-a-kind Manitoulin Island.

The largest freshwater island in the world, the hospitable Manitoulin Island has been a welcoming home for humans for thousands of years. However, in order to understand the island's modern pride in its venerable history, and to make the most of a vacation there, it's important to know a bit about how the island became the civilization that it is today. The first European to settle on the island did so in 1648, near Wikwemikong, and brought with him a new way of life and commerce. Soon, because of new rivalries in the fur trade, tribes on the island began to turn against one another. Settlements were burned in the wake of native tribes that eventually left the island, driven out by their own as well as the influence of the Europeans. This led to the island being largely uninhabited until the turn of the 18th century. Native tribes, such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi, returned and began to restructure Manitoulin Island, and it was eventually named by the British Crown as a land refuge for Aboriginals. By the time the 19th century rolled around, however, the government had presented a treaty to the island's peoples to open up their land to non-Native settlement. All reserves complied except for the Wikwemikong, and this tribe's land remains, to this day, the only unceded reserve in Canada.

Because of Manitoulin Island's tumultuous past, it now has a strong sense of commitment in keeping its lands and waters pure and ensuring a high level of respect for Native culture is present at the forefront of island tourism. Thanks to this dedication, the island is one of the most peaceful and idyllic back-to-nature getaway spots an Ontario tourist can enjoy. Whether arriving by car from the east, or landing by ferry from the southwest, a vacation of natural wonder awaits for travellers of every age. So popular is Manitoulin Island, that during the summer months the community's usual population of 12,600 grows by more than a quarter. Manitoulin means 'spirit island' in Ojibwe, and with organic adventures waiting at every turn, what better place to begin than with the Great Spirit Circle Trail.

This trail takes the tourist along the north shore of the island, which is surrounded by Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Trailblazers can travel the path independently, or take a guided tour that gives a living dialogue to the Native philosophy of Manitoulin's first inhabitants. The accompanied tour also extends the full island experience to guests who can choose to have an eco-adventure in hiking, canoeing, and even sleeping in a fully equipped tipi. What better way to enjoy the night sky on an island that boasts Canada's largest dark-sky sanctuary?

This is just the beginning of what Manitoulin Island has to offer. Each shore of the island, and the interior, also boast the opportunity for the unforgettable experiences that keep visitors coming back year after year. For instance, unique to the area where Little Current 'connects' with the mainland is the infamous CPR swing bridge that halts traffic to open up every hour on the hour to allow marine vessels to pass through the channel during the summer months. The Little Current area is also home to Turner's Store, which is Canada's oldest dealer for marine charts and the place to buy the must-have Turner's Map of Manitoulin. In addition, tourists can check out Great La Cloche Lake, which has huge boulders in its waters that Natives used to strike, much like a bell, to send signals and messages, hence the French name 'la cloche' that translates into 'the bell.'

The South Baymouth and Tehkummah area offers a completely different arrival point to the island than the one found in Little Current, as South Baymouth is where the ferry, the Chi-Cheemaun (Ojibwe for 'big canoe'), arrives. Sailing north from the Bruce Peninsula, the Chi-Cheemaun is the largest passenger/vehicle ship on the Great Lakes and gives visitors a direct link to the island from May to October every year. Tourists unloading at South Baymouth shouldn't miss the Little Schoolhouse Museum that features the history of this former fishing village, complete with a replica one-room schoolhouse and fishery exhibit. But don't assume that the fishing life is dead here, because among other angling hot spots on the island, South Baymouth is particularly known for its trout and salmon fishing, especially in the fall months.

A sailor's best friend, Manitoulin Island is also home to many rustic lighthouses. Meldrum Bay, on the western end of the island and where Manitoulin's Highway 540 ends, is where tourists can find the Mississagi Lighthouse Heritage Park. Interested parties can participate in tours that show the original foghorn station, lighthouse, and light-keeper's quarters. Deep rock crevices and grottos along the shoreline, as well as limestone ledges, offer fantastic swimming and exploration areas, and the more adventurous can opt to explore, by diving or by boat, the many shipwrecks that litter Meldrum Bay. Also in the area is the Misery Bay Nature Reserve, which is one of the best bird-watching spots on the island. Sandhill cranes are often spotted here, which is a treat because these birds are some of the largest in Canada.

If lighthouses are a tourist's weakness, they can continue around the island to Gore Bay, where the Janet Head Lighthouse stands proud on Manitoulin's shores. This particular lighthouse was built in 1879 and was named after a daughter of a Lieutenant Bayfield who is known for first surveying Lake Huron and was one of the foremost cartographers of the area during his time. More island history of this type can be found at the Western Manitoulin Historical Society Museum. In 1890, this museum was a jail, and a cell with authentic graffiti on its walls still exists, along with displays of relics from the time when Gore Bay was a shipping port.

It's clear that Manitoulin Island has more to offer than a casual tourist might have ever imagined, and the fun of island exploration doesn't have to stop—other points of interest include: Providence Bay, which boasts the longest beach on Manitoulin Island; Kagawong, which is home to Bridal Veil Falls where visitors can have the unique experience of standing behind the falling water; the M'Chigeeng and Wikwemikong area, host to Jack Seabrook's Farm Museum, which houses the island's biggest collection of antique vehicles, complete with a George White steam engine in the yard; and Sheguiandah, where fossil aficionados can have a field day and hikers can choose from any number of scenic lookouts, including the popular Cup & Saucer Trail. And, it wouldn't be fit to leave the island without at least one Made in Manitoulin product, which can be found in every community, including the island's many farmers' markets.

With lakes that warm up quickly, offering the earliest swimming of the season, and such a beautiful backdrop for any family's summer vacation, it's hard to pass up the opportunity to visit the culturally rich, natural sanctuary that is Manitoulin Island.