Vacation rentals in Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island, located in Georgian Bay, Ontario is part of the Niagara Escarpment and is the largest freshwater island in the world. It is a significant sacred place for the Anishinaabe people and is also home to one of their most historic settlements. The area is blanketed in greenery, and cottages on Manitoulin Island offer a way to experience the nature of Ontario with lakeside swimming in relative solitude. The island has 108 freshwater lakes, and so is a great place to visit for summer swimming or winter skating.

Here you can hike along the tops of cliffs on Cup and Saucer Trail, swim on signature sandy beaches on the island’s southern shores, and sample excellent craft beers in one of the small towns dotting the island. You can learn about the importance of the island for the Anishinaabe people at its Indigenous museums and learn more about Sheguiandah, a Paleo-Indian archaeological site that dates back to about 10,000 BCE.

Manitoulin Island has hot, humid summers and freezing cold winters, while the fall is crisp and temperate. The spring is similar to the fall, but it can get cold and even snow here through May.

Summers are an ideal time to book Manitoulin Island house rentals to bask in the sunshine, swim in the lakes, or hike. Just note that once things warm up, you’ll need to have bug spray handy. And summer nights can get cool this far north, so pack extra layers for evenings. Traditional powwows are held for the island’s different Indigenous groups throughout the summer. The first weekend in August is also when the Haweater Festival takes place in Little Current, with fireworks, live entertainment, and a classic car show.

If you’re hoping to see the fall colours while in town, the leaves change for only a short period of time at the end of September, so plan your trip accordingly. Winter gets quite frigid but it’s also a great time for skating out on frozen lakes, ice fishing, or even coming to catch a glimpse of the northern lights — in fact, the area is a protected Dark Sky Preserve.

Cup and Saucer Trail

The Cup and Saucer Trail, located in the northern part of the island, offers stunning views across the island towards Lake Manitou and West Bay. There are long and short loops to choose from, which makes it easy to pack multiple viewpoints into a single afternoon.

Flowerpot Island

Flowerpot Island takes its name from its famous sea stacks, or vertical rock columns, that are located along its rocky beaches. You can view them from a boat or on a walk along the island’s shores. To reach Flowerpot Island from Manitoulin Island, take the two-hour ferry to Tobermory. From there, you can take another 45-minute ferry around the island and get off to hike around on your own. For those on their way to Manitoulin from the south, this day trip is a short detour on your way to this destination.

South Baymouth Range Lighthouses

The small town of South Baymouth offers beautiful vistas and sunsets over Georgian Bay from its beaches and campgrounds. However, there’s no better place to explore the shore and get these views than from the two historic lighthouses at the southern point of Manitoulin. While here, walk along the water’s edge and make your way around these structures that have welcomed many ships for over a century.