A Weekend on Manitoulin Island
Before I moved away from Canada this year, I knew I wanted to spend the summer seeing as much of Ontario as I could. While my “must-see in Canada list” had included the Bruce Peninsula for a few years, I hadn’t heard much about Manitoulin Island.
Much of my trip planning often starts with a very basic strategy — just look at the map. When I was planning my week long itinerary for a southern Ontario trip, I noticed Manitoulin Island, thought “Huh, that looks like it could be fun,” and booked a ticket on the ferry.
What I discovered was an island of pristine beauty, waterfalls, stunning hikes, and beautiful, crystal clear water. Throw in some tasty food and a great place to stay, and we’ve got ourselves a perfect weekend getaway.
Logistics
Manitoulin Island is located in Lake Huron and is the world’s largest fresh water lake island. To get onto the island, you can either drive on from the north or take the ferry from the Bruce Peninsula. We opted to do both!
This would be a great addition to tack on to any trip to the Bruce Peninsula.
Driving Times:
From Tobermory – 2 hours (ferry ride)
From Sudbury – 2 hours
Where to Stay
If you’re looking for quiet serenity with beautiful waterfront access, look no further than The Inn at Gore Bay. From the outside, this property has the look of a motel. However, as soon as you step into your room, you’ll have the feel of a boutique hotel. The rooms have all been recently renovated in their entirety, allowing you to enjoy your stay in both comfort and style.
Each room has its own private balcony or patio that directly overlooks the water, making it an excellent spot to enjoy the complimentary breakfast delivered to your room or a glass of wine in the evening. The bed was definitely one of the most comfortable I’ve slept on in my travels!
FRIDAY
If possible, plan on taking the ferry over to Manitoulin Island from Tobermory. Book your spot on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry in advance here. *Note: reservations must be made over the phone for the 2020 season, but the online system should be back up and running for 2021.
The trip from Tobermory to South Baymouth will take approximately 2 hours, but this will give you plenty of time to enjoy the views of the beautiful Georgian Bay. There is ample seating on various decks and a cafeteria to enjoy some refreshments. *Note: the cafeteria is currently closed due to COVID.
After arriving in South Baymouth in the afternoon, make the hour drive across the island to check-in at the Inn at Gore Bay. If you took the morning ferry, you’ll be arriving right around lunch time. Plan a stop at Providence Bay for some beach views and grab lunch at Lake Huron Fish & Chips.
Settle into your comfortable room at the inn and maybe enjoy some time on your private balcony or patio. I tell you, on a nice day, it’s hard to leave that spot!
When you’re ready for refreshments, take a walk over to the other side of Gore Bay where you’ll find Split Rail Brewing. (Yes, this is Manitoulin Island’s first craft brewery, and yes it may be why I initially planned Gore Bay as my home base on the island!) Enjoy the beautiful boardwalk and views as you make your way over.
After you’ve finished your drinks, head back over to the inn for dinner. The onsite 1890 Restaurant is an upscale dining experience in a beautiful setting overlooking the water. The menu is very meat heavy, but there are some seafood and vegetarian options as well. While I wish the wine selection had been a bit more extensive, the food was delicious and beautifully presented. This is an excellent choice for a nice dinner in Gore Bay.
After dinner, make the short walk back to the inn. Enjoy sunset from your balcony or patio while also enjoying a glass of wine, or maybe a Split Rail beer you brought back from the brewery. The star gazing in this location is also incredible. If you’re fortunate to have a clear night tonight, head out by the water to view the Milky Way cutting across the sky.
SATURDAY
If you’re an early riser, sunrise here is lovely. I sat on the balcony with my tea watching those on sailboats get their vessel ready for the morning sail, and silently slip out of the bay.
Enjoy your complimentary breakfast at your outdoor table before heading out for your morning hike!
Your first stop, about 15 minutes away from the inn, is Bridal Veil Falls. Usually, you can use the stairs to get closer to the falls and do some hiking in this area, but due to COVID, when we visited we were only able to check out the falls from the overhead viewing platform. Since there is currently no hiking permitted, this is a pretty quick stop!
Hop back in the car and continue on to today’s main hiking attraction: the Cup & Saucer Trail, taking you to the top of the Niagara Escarpment.
The main trail is a 4km loop. For a longer hike, add on the 5km South Loop. There’s also a 500m option labeled “Adventure Trail.” All trails are clearly marked in different colored trail markers. The main loop will take you to three of the four lookout points marked on the map and is the trail we opted to stick to.
Plan to spend a couple hours on the trail, as I promise the views are worth lingering over. Additionally, aim to arrive no later than 9:00 in the morning. We, once again, arrived to an empty parking lot and left a completely full lot around 2 hours later.
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite for lunch, head to Maja’s Garden Bistro in Mindemoya, another 15 minute drive. This little spot is a gem. Much of the produce is grown in the beautiful onsite garden, that you can wander around and enjoy at your leisure.
Maja’s also puts on a summer dinner concert series on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a prix fixe meal accompanied by live performances from local musicians. While we were there for lunch, we were lucky enough to snag the last two spots for that evening’s concert. However, if you are planning on attending the concert series, try to make reservations well in advance!
*Note: This is a seasonal spot that’s only open mid-June to mid-September.
The afternoon is going to be pretty leisurely. Enjoy one of the many beaches in the area (you are on an island after all!) or head back to the inn to relax a bit. This is also a great time to take a dip in the water at Gore Bay. The Inn has a private dock and its own small beach to enjoy.
You could also make a quick drive from the inn up to East Bluff Lookout, giving you a pretty overhead view of Gore Bay.
Head back to Maja’s for dinner and a show. And trust me, it’s gotta be really good for me to recommend making a return visit for a meal!
You’ll be escorted to your garden seat (all properly social distanced for COVID). Cordials made from herbs and berries from the garden as well as organic tea and coffee are provided throughout the four-course meal. I loved the freshness, as, once again, much of the produce is grown right on site! By the time you reach dessert, you’ll be enjoying live music. It’s a very memorable evening!
SUNDAY
If you feel like catching another sunrise, I’d recommend making your way back up to East Bluff Lookout. Once you’ve enjoyed your view (that is likely much less crowded at this time of day!), head back to the inn to enjoy one last breakfast on your balcony.
Your route today is going to depend on which way home is for you. For us, we were heading back to Ottawa, so we took the bridge option off of Manitoulin Island. If you are going this way, I suggest a pitstop in Sudbury! 46 North Brewing has some excellent NEIPA beer on offer. Get a flight and find your favorite! We had so many favorites that we stocked up on bottles to take with us. From there, check out Crosscut Distillery right down the street for a refreshing cocktail and charcuterie board.
Have a few more days to spare? If you’re coming from Sudbury, tack on an itinerary for Huntsville for more great beer, a beautiful Airbnb stay, and incredible hiking in Algonquin Park.
And that’s how you do a weekend on Manitoulin Island! While this particular itinerary is quite seasonal to the summer months, the hiking and enjoyment of the island’s natural beauty can be enjoyed all year round. When I imagine the Cup & Saucer trail during the fall color changes, I almost can’t handle how beautiful it must be!
Whenever you are able to visit, I hope the magic of this island captures your heart the way it did mine.
