Free
Bridal Veil Falls
A waterfall in Kagawong you can walk behind, with a trail to the village.
Home / Guides / Manitoulin Island
Lake Huron, Ontario
Manitoulin Island
The largest island in any freshwater lake in the world, with waterfalls, escarpment cliffs, lake beaches, an old swing bridge and a strong Anishinaabe culture. Drive in, or arrive by ferry from Tobermory.
Photo: Bridal Veil Falls, Kagawong, User:Pverdonk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Manitoulin Island sits in Lake Huron between Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The Niagara Escarpment continues here as cliffs like the Cup and Saucer.
The island is home to several Anishinaabe communities. In summer the Chi-Cheemaun ferry links South Baymouth to Tobermory, and all year a single-lane swing bridge at Little Current connects to the mainland. Arrive by water if you can.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Providence Bay beach
A long sandy beach with a boardwalk on the south shore.
Free
Lake Mindemoya
An inland lake with an island in the middle and a beach at Mindemoya.
Free
Janet Head and the East Bluff lookout
A lighthouse point and a cliff-top view over Gore Bay.
Cheap
Cup and Saucer Trail
Trails to 70-metre escarpment cliffs with wide views. Pay-as-you-go parking.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Little Current swing bridge
A 1913 single-lane swing bridge that links the island to the mainland.
Free
Little Current waterfront
The downtown boardwalk and docks on the North Channel.
Free
M'Chigeeng First Nation
An Anishinaabe community and home of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation.
Paid
Chi-Cheemaun ferry
The seasonal car ferry between South Baymouth and Tobermory.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Wiikwemkoong cultural experiences
Indigenous-guided hikes, big-canoe paddles and interpretive tours from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
Season Tours run roughly May–Nov (check before you go).
Indigenous-guided canoe trips
Multi-day canoe trips around Manitoulin, the La Cloche islands and Killarney with Anishinaabe guides.
Season Trips run roughly early spring–late fall (check before you go).
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Chi-Cheemaun ferry Ferry
Part of our Sudbury and Manitoulin guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The island is big, so two days is the minimum.
- Hike the Cup and Saucer in the morning and swim in the afternoon.
- Summer powwows and festivals fill the weekends.
Nearby and worth the drive
Tobermoryabout 2 h · Guide ↗
By ferry across the mouth of Georgian Bay.
Sudburyabout 2 h · Guide ↗A city of lakes, conservation trails and the Big Nickel, about two hours by road over the swing bridge.
Ready-made trips with Manitoulin Island
Good to know
- Ferry: The Chi-Cheemaun runs between Tobermory and South Baymouth in season; reserve ahead: ontarioferries.com.
- Swing bridge: The Little Current bridge swings open for boats at set times in summer, holding up traffic.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Bridal Veil Falls, Kagawong, User:Pverdonk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Cup and Saucer Trail cliffs, User:Jhapk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Misery Bay Provincial Park, Nadiatalent, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Little Current swing bridge, Xander Ashburn from Phoenix, CC BY 2.0