A Dog Lover’s Guide to Manitoulin Island: 7 Pet-Friendly Places to Enjoy with Your Pooch

Although travelling with your pet takes a bit more planning, it is so much fun being able to experience a new place with your furry friend. Because let’s be real, dogs make new experiences so much more special. Their excitement is contagious and being able to experience a short getaway with your furry friend is in my opinion as close as it gets to *magic*.

However, when travelling with a dog, it’s important to remember:

• Always bring an abundance of poop bags, they tend to go more often on the trails than they do at home
• Water and collapsible dog bowls are a must 
• It doesn’t matter how well your dog listens, unless it is a designated off-leash area, always leash your dog
• Have your tick kit handy and remember to always do an after-hike inspection for ticks
• Trail snacks are always welcome

I recently went on a solo trip to Manitoulin Island, in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, with my very energetic 6-year-old double doodle, Nova to get away from the go-go-go of real life and enjoy the slower pace of island time for a few days. Now, I get this question all the time—a double doodle is a mixture of two doodle breeds. Nova is a half labradoodle, half golden doodle and the cutest pup I’ve ever seen (although I am biased).

These 7 pet-friendly outdoor adventures on Manitoulin made our getaway one of the most memorable ones yet. 

1. Bridal Veil Falls

We started our day bright and early at Bridal Veil Falls. This waterfall is very well known due to its beauty and accessibility. If you park at the bottom of the falls, the waterfall is a short walk from the parking lot. Alternatively, you can park at the top of the falls and go down a set of stairs or admire the falls from the viewing platform above. Bridal Veil Falls is a unique waterfall because visitors can walk behind the waterfall and take a dip in the swimming hole, creating a truly unique experience.

We chose to start our getaway at Bridal Veil with the hopes of being able to enjoy the waterfall without the crowds. If you have ever visited Bridal Veil Falls mid-day, you know that this area can become jam-packed with people looking to cool down and enjoy a day by the water. 

2. Gore Bay City Centre

The island is a beautiful place all year round however it is so special in the summertime. The streets of Gore Bay come alive with people, laughter and so many small shops to explore.

After our waterfall adventure, we decided to grab an iced coffee at Loco Beanz and walk the small strip taking in the murals and small-town vibes. Dog owners know that not all establishments are pet-friendly, so I was ecstatic when I discovered that we could go in together to order a coffee. I’m sure all dog owners can relate when I say, I loved that for us.

For more ideas on where to go and what to do while visiting the town, take at look at this  Guide to Gore Bay.

3. Gore Bay Boardwalk

I’ll be honest, the Gore Bay Boardwalk was not even on my radar when I planned our trip. However, luckily for me, I met up with some friends who suggested we check out the boardwalk and I am so happy we did.

The boardwalk takes you for a walk along the water where you can take a leisurely stroll with your coffee.

However, if you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, you could check out the East Bluff Lookout located at 131E Bluff Rd, Gore Bay, Ontario, P0P 1H0. I have not tried this one yet, but the views look incredible.

4. Cup and Saucer

I’ll preface by saying the Cup and Saucer hike can be pet-friendly if you are strong enough to carry your dog up and down the ladder. Otherwise, you would have to turn around at this point as there is no other way up to the viewpoint.

Cup and Saucer is a Niagara Escarpment hike that brings so many people to the Island annually. It is one of Ontario’s most popular hikes with good reason. The viewpoint is nothing short of magical providing panoramic views of the 70-meter-high cliffs and beautiful forest.

The main loop is about 5km, however those seeking a little bit more adventure can choose to do an adventure loop add-on. The trail itself is very well marked however it is rugged and has some tricky footing. Cup and Saucer is easily one of my favourite things to do on the island.

5. Misery Bay Provincial Park

Misery Bay is such an underrated provincial park. I discovered this provincial park as I was planning our getaway and I honestly cannot believe I never heard of it until then. The provincial park offers visitors 2 beautiful hiking trails that bring you to the majestic Lake Huron. The longer of the two trails is the Coastal Alvar Trail which is a 12km hike and the shorter trail, known as the Inland Alvar Trail is a 7km hike. We opted for the shorter hike as we visited on a very hot summer day.

The Inland Trail takes you through a beautiful forest to reach a white sand beach overlooking Lake Huron. The trail is peaceful and extremely well-marked. I felt as if I had the entire park to myself as I did not run into any other visitors during our time at Misery Bay.

6. Ten Mile Point

Finding pet-friendly accommodations can be a hard and time-consuming task. Personally, I like nice accommodations but I don’t like spending a fortune on where I stay because I spend most of my time exploring. So, believe me when I say, I hit the nail on the head when I found the Raven Cabin at the Ten Mile Point Resort in Sheguiandah.

To say we enjoyed our stay would be an understatement. The cabin is so aesthetically pleasing and sits on a cliff overlooking the water. After a day of exploring, we were so happy to be able to make a charcuterie board on the deck and enjoy the sound of nature with a view. We were absolutely blown away by the view of the sunset and sunrise from the cabin.

It is also worth mentioning that the Ten Mile Point Resort is a short drive from the Ten Mile Point Lookout and Trading Post. The Trading Post is not dog-friendly, however, the lookout is worth checking out if you are in the area.

7. Willisville Lookout

The lookout is located on Willisville Road off Highway 6 on the way to the Island. It is about a 20-minute drive from the iconic swing bridge in Little Current and it is in my opinion the best place to stop and stretch your legs before hitting the Island.

The lookout is a 1 km round trip hike (and includes some minor rock scrambling), but the views at the top are chef’s kiss. It is important to know that the parking lot is very limited however, I have never had a hard time finding parking.

Plan Your Pet-Friendly Visit to Manitoulin Island Today

Manitoulin Island is such a fun destination for a mini-getaway as there is truly something for everyone. With its iconic hikes, its coastal provincial park and its small-town vibes, you are sure to find something that keeps pulling you back again and again. I’m already planning a day trip this fall to hike Cup and Saucer with Matt and Nova to be able to experience it with the beautiful fall foliage—I can’t wait!

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