Plan an Adventurous Getaway to Georgian Bay Islands National Park

Less than a two-hour drive from the GTA, Georgian Bay Islands National Park feels like a world apart, far from the hustle, bustle and noise of the big city. Credit island life for the serenity. The Park’s 63 islands are representative of the world’s largest freshwater archipelago and part of the UNESCO Georgian Bay World Biosphere Reserve. Its largest landmass, Beausoleil Island, is only accessible by boat, adding to its allure as a natural paradise with ecosystems ranging from deciduous forests to the polished granite of the Canadian Shield. There’s little wonder why this region has been the cherished home of Indigenous people for millennia.

You can visit for the day or stay for a weekend or longer, hiking easy trails, mountain biking or paddling the hidden channels of Georgian Bay, the Sweetwater Sea. This guide will help you prepare to experience this unique Ontario outdoor destination.

How to get there

Honey Harbour, a quaint cottage community on Georgian Bay, is the gateway to Georgian Bay Islands National Park. The small community is located just north of Port Severn, off of Highway 400. Take exit 156 and follow Honey Harbour Road. The Park is open from mid-May through Thanksgiving weekend in October, and it’s only accessible by water—with various options available.

Parks Canada operates the DayTripper passenger ferry for half-day visitors and overnight guests with reservations in park cabins or oTENTik shelters. Reservations are required for the 15-minute boat ride, which departs five days per week, Friday to Tuesday, from the Victoria Day weekend through Thanksgiving. Pets and recreational equipment (such as kayaks and bicycles) are not permitted on board.

If you wish to spend a full day on Beausoleil Island, or you are camping in the Park’s frontcountry or backcountry, you must provide your own transportation (via powerboat, canoe or sea kayak) or hire a water taxi. Numerous licensed park operators are available.

Camping in Georgian Bay Islands National Park

There are multiple options for camping in Georgian Bay Islands National Park, depending on your skill level and preference for comfort or more rugged experiences. Here’s an overview of camping options on Beausoleil Island.

Glamping cabins

There are six rustic yet comfortable cabins on the waterfront near the main park campground at Cedar Spring. The cabins accommodate up to four people (exceptions are made for families of five), and feature beds, running water, electricity, screened-in porches, barbecues, private fire pits, and access to washrooms and shower buildings. Minimum stay is two nights.

There are four additional remote cabins at Christian Beach, perfect for adventurous couples. Each single-room cabin (featuring a queen-sized bed) is located about a 1.8-kilometre hike from the boat drop-off point, with luggage delivered by park staff. There is no electricity. Expect a peaceful retreat with amazing sunsets. Barbecues, coolers and fire pits are provided at each cabin, with access to a central composting toilet. Potable water and ice is delivered daily. Minimum stay is two nights.

Georgian Bay Islands National Park also offers four oTENTik cabin tents at the Cedar Spring campground. These unique shelters are a comfortable hybrid between an A-frame cabin and a canvas prospector tent. Each accommodates up to four guests, with two beds, a campstove with propane, safe food storage and access to campground amenities like potable water taps, toilets and showers. There is no electricity. Minimum two-night stay.

Boat transportation is provided for overnight visitors with cabin and oTENTik reservations.

Frontcountry camping

Cedar Spring is a hub of visitor amenities at Georgian Bay Islands National Park, including a frontcountry campground with 45 non-electric tent-camping sites located mere steps from the water’s edge. The campground offers potable water taps, composting toilets and a central comfort station with indoor bathrooms and showers. Each campsite has a fire pit and grill. Reservations are recommended.

Visitors must arrange their own boat transportation to the Cedar Spring campground on Beausoleil Island. Numerous licensed private water taxi operators are available.

Backcountry camping

Georgian Bay Islands National Park offers seven backcountry camping areas on Beausoleil Island, which are accessible by water for boaters and paddlers. Each area is made up of four to 10 distinct campsites, featuring either tent platforms or pads. Each site will accommodate one medium-size tent or two small tents, with a fire pit (hibachi) and access to composting toilets, safe food storage and a central cooking area. Each camping area has its own allure, with many offering gravel or sand beaches, docks and access to hiking trails. Most backcountry campsites can be reserved in advance.

Backcountry campers must provide their own transportation to Beausoleil Island, either by private vessel (boat, canoe or kayak) or by booking a private licensed water taxi.

Things to do in Georgian Bay Islands National Park

On land or water, there are plenty of things to do in Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Here is a rundown of all the park has to offer.

Hiking

Choose from 12 distinct trails ranging in length from 0.3 to 7.1 kilometres, divided into Northern and Southern regions of Beausoleil Island. The Northern trails feature classic Canadian Shield scenery, with bold granite outcroppings and rich wetlands. The Southern trails bisect lush mixed wood forests. You can hike to the historic Brebeuf Lighthouse on the 1.5-kilometre Rockview Trail or learn the story of Fairy Lake with a self-guided audio interpretive tour on the 2.5-kilometre Fairy Loop. Several hiking trails are shared with cyclists.

Paddling

It’s no surprise that Georgian Bay Islands National Park is a dream destination for experienced paddlers. Expect plenty of iconic Great Lakes scenery: crystalline water, polished granite shorelines and windswept pines. Prepare for exposed, open water conditions, navigational challenges (this is the 30,000 Islands, after all) and busy boat channels and wakes. Sea kayaks are ideal for their efficiency and seaworthiness. If you have the skills and experience to navigate tricky waters, paddling is a great way to access Beausoleil Island’s waterfront campsites and cabin accommodations.

Mountain biking

Three Georgian Bay Islands National Park trails are available for cycling: the 7.1-kilometre Georgian Trail, which includes technical rocky sections making it best for experienced mountain bikers; the easy 1.5-kilometre Christian Trail; and the novice-friendly 6.9-kiloetre Huron Trail. Adult-sized mountain bikes are available for rent at the park Visitor Centre at the Cedar Spring Campground.

Wildlife and nature viewing

From granite outcrops to wetlands and rich mixed woods, there’s a variety of natural habitats at Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Southern and northern wildlife and plant species overlap in this region. Combined with protection from human disturbance, the natural diversity of the Park offers remarkable species diversity—ranging from several turtle species, over 200 bird species, white-tailed deer, black bears and endangered Massasauga rattlesnakes.

Visitors can contribute to stewardship efforts by observing and taking photographs of plants, animals and insects and uploading them to iNaturalist. This digital community of “citizen scientists” provides important information to help monitor biodiversity and track ecosystem changes over time.

Guided trips in Georgian Bay Islands National Park

Park naturalists in Georgian Bay Islands National Park deliver an array of learning adventures to help you appreciate the natural and cultural heritage of Beausoleil Island. Multiple programs are available, ranging from Indigenous culture and storytelling to family programs, guided hikes and evening programs at the Cedar Spring campground. Self-guided hikes and interpretive experiences are also available.

Check out North Western Private Tours for a boat tour of Georgian Bay Islands National Park and the 30,000 Islands. Besides water taxi service, the company offers snorkelling and several Beausoleil Island tours.

Reservations

You can make cabin, oTENTik and campsite reservations (frontcountry and backcountry), as well as book day use permits and boat shuttles, by searching Georgian Bay Islands National Park options on the Parks Canada reservation website, or by calling 1-877-RESERVE (737-3783).

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