1,000 Islands Information

Stretching along the eastern shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River is the 1,000 Islands region, where many amazing vacation opportunities await. There are 1,864 islands within this infamous waterway, and visitors to the area can experience them anywhere from Kingston (where the Rideau Canal begins) to Cornwall. The 1,000 Islands also share their waters with the U.S., and that border lies between Oswego and Massena in New York state.

The Thousand Islands International Bridge

The Thousand Islands International Bridge is a great way to take in both Ontario and New York, and tourists are guaranteed to have a soaring experience while driving over this multi-span structure that also has a 1,371-metre suspension bridge that arches across the American Channel. Bridge-boarders in Ontario get on by way of Hill Island, and tourists can actually stop at special points along the way that are meant to highlight the bridge’s fabulous views of the St. Lawrence. If tourists have forgotten their passports, however, they can instead go up to the 1,000 Islands Skydeck, located at the beginning of the bridge on Hill Island. The skydeck is open annually from mid-April to the end of October, and after taking the 40-second elevator ride to the first observation deck, observers can see about 65 kilometres on a clear day.

The Frontenac Arch

The spectacular panorama offered by the skydeck aptly shows off the 1,000 Islands, which, in fact, are the last remaining peaks of an ancient mountain chain. And, like many unique landscapes of this nature, the 1,000 Islands region is also home to a remarkable ecosystem. Rare in Canada but common to the area is the black rat snake (Canada’s largest snake), as well as many other small animals, birds, plants, and trees. So ecologically special are the 1,000 Islands that they are actually part of a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve named the Frontenac Arch. The reserve extends about 2,700 square kilometres, and it’s within this "living laboratory" that the land, water, and biodiversity are constantly monitored to ensure the region’s conservation.

Historical hot spots in the 1,000 Islands

History also plays a large role around the 1,000 Islands, because it was this region (of what used to be Upper Canada) that acted as a base and battleground for the British army during large portions of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly during the War of 1812. The Arthur Child Heritage Museum of the Thousand Islands in Gananoque is a great place for tourists to start their historical explorations. Originally the main station for the Thousand Islands Railway, the museum is the centrepiece of the Historic Thousand Islands Village, located on the St. Lawrence River. Visitors to the museum can also climb its lookout tower to take in the view of the river, as well as the Admiralty Group of Islands.

Historical examples of early settlement life can also be found in Darlingside at the Raft Narrows; in Mallorytown at the Mallorytown Landing; in Morrisburg at Upper Canada Village; in Kingston at Fort Henry, Bellevue House, the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes, or the Corrections Canada Museum; in Prescott at Fort Wellington or the Forwarders’ Museum; in Brockville at Fulford Place or the Brockville Museum; in Delta at the Old Stone Mill National Historic Site; or in Grass Creek at the MacLachlin Woodworking Museum. It’s also convenient and incredible that each of these places is within an hour and an half of the arbitrary base of Gananoque.

The Boldt Castle and Yacht House

One of the largest historical attractions in the area, however, is Boldt Castle, on Heart Island in New York. Ontario tourists simply have to hop aboard a Gananoque Boat Lines or 1000 Islands Cruises boat, and enjoy the romantic tragedy that is Boldt Castle. As the story goes, near the turn of the 20th century, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, made it his mission to build his wife Louise a full-size Rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay, on Heart Island. The castle was supposed to be six storeys and contain 120 rooms, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, and a dove cote, but in 1904, four years after construction began, Boldt’s wife died unexpectedly. As a result of a direct and immediate order from Boldt, all construction ended, and he never visited the island again. The half-finished castle stood as-is for 73 years until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property and decided to renew and rehabilitate the lost glamour of the aging and crumbling structure.

The Boldt Yacht House, on Wellesley Island, is also a must-see on any cruise of the area. Visitors can take a free shuttle boat to the yacht house, and then for a small fee enter the huge building (that’s 20 metres high) where the Boldt family’s yachts and houseboat were kept. Shingle-style architecture, imposing towers and spires, and steep-pitched gables are just some of the things to see here. Additionally, an 1892-built 19-metre steam yacht called a Kestrel was recently donated to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, and it is now docked in the yacht house, resplendent as it quietly shows off its original mahogany and hardwood panelling cabins, wheelhouse, coal stove, sinks, and hand pumps.

The Boldt Castle and Boldt Yacht House are open from mid-May to mid-October every year.

Diving in the 1,000 Islands

If the boat ride to Heart Island creates a desire to stay out on the water, the 1,000 Islands region in Ontario has plenty of ways to help keep things exciting. Divers, in particular, can enjoy a plethora of underwater opportunities. Riverdiver Dive Charters, located on the upper St. Lawrence River portion of the 1,000 Islands, services all Brockville and Rockport dives sites in this "Caribbean of the north." And, just like Caribbean, the 1,000 Islands are home to many shipwrecks. The freshwater of the region has done wonders in preserving approximately 200 wrecks, some of which are over 100 years old, and in an average five-hour Riverdiver excursion, divers will have the pleasure of seeing many of them. The St. Lawrence Seaway, at 3,862 kilometres, is the longest inland waterway in the world, and under its storied waters is a rare and startling clarity. A recent invasion of zebra and quagga mussels has helped to filter the water to the point that light usually penetrates all way the down to sport diving limits and beyond. This creates a fantastic experience for divers and snorkellers of all skill levels and certifications. Enthusiasts should make sure to have their passports, though, because diving trips often cross over into American waters, and it would be a shame to miss out on exploring the oldest known wreck in the Great Lakes, which lies off the shores of Clayton, New York. The ship, the Iroquois, was sunk in 1763 after hitting a shoal, and its ribs are all that remain at the bottom of the water.

Explore the 1,000 Islands by water

The Thousand Islands Water Trail is also a great way to explore the open water. Easy-to-follow guides for canoeists and kayakers are available, and a choice of nine paddling routes prods them along with the flow of the St. Lawrence River. Sightseeing and dinner cruises are also popular along the St. Lawrence Seaway, and 1,000 Islands and Seaway Cruises, in Brockville, offers various types of these from May to October.

Provincial and national parks

Other places in the 1,000 Islands region to keep the blood pumping are the Charleston Lake Provincial Park and St. Lawrence Islands National Park. Both are prime sites for camping, hiking, and biking, and it’s interesting to note that the national park also owns the distinction of being the first of its kind east of the Rocky Mountains. Established in 1904 and located between Kingston and Brockville, the St. Lawrence Islands National Park consists of more than 21 islands and a mainland base at Mallorytown Landing.

St. Lawrence Seaway hiking and biking paths

Stretching 37 kilometres from Gananoque to Brockville, the Thousand Islands Parkway and Bikepath is a yet another great way to discover the 1,000 Islands. The St. Lawrence Recreational Trail is also an area mainstay, and it follows a 50-kilometre path along the shoreline from Morrisburg to Cornwall.

1,000 Islands arts and culture

After long days of being outdoors, however, it can be nice to relax and have someone else do the work, and there are many prestigious entertainment venues in the 1,000 Islands that are meant to do just that. The Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, for instance, puts on one of the top five summer festivals in Ontario, thrills audiences in its two fully renovated historic theatres (the Springer Theatre and the Firehall) on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, and has been called the "most charming theatre in the country."

Other festivals, attractions, and events in the 1,000 Islands area to take note of, depending on the time of year, are the July Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, the July Worldfest in Cornwall, the May-to-October Confederation Tour Trolley in Kingston, and the summertime St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott.

And so, when it comes to hitting all "1,000 Islands," the possibility is unlikely, but leaving with 1,000 fantastic memories is another thing altogether.