Located on southern Georgian Bay are three beautiful islands I refer to as Canada’s “Caribbean of the North”, but without the salt!

Christian, Beckwith, and Hope Islands are an Ojibwa Indian Reserve, forming part of the Beausoleil First Nation lands (G’Chimnissing). With their golden sandy beaches, clear fresh water, stunning sunsets, and various local shipwrecks to explore, it’s no wonder these islands are so popular with the local boaters during the summer months.

Christian, the only island with year round residents, seasonal cottages and provisioning – fresh/frozen and a lunch grill – has a ferry service that connects it to the mainland. For boaters, Little Sand Bay on the east side is a favorite anchorage and with good protection from all west winds.

And Christian is a great island to explore by dinghy! At its south end sits one of the six “Imperial Towers” – lighthouses erected in the 1850’s. There are four of these on Georgian Bay – at Griffith, Nottawasaga, Christian and Cove Islands plus two others on Lake Huron. Constructed mainly of thick white washed limestone, these 85’H towers (except Christian which is 55’) played a critical role in creating safer commercial shipping routes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She still stands proud watching over the boaters travelling through the narrow pass at the south end of Christian.

Slightly east of Christian is Beckwith Island which has great anchorages on both the east and west sides. It is a favourite for local cottagers to day visit and recreational boaters to overnight. It does get quite busy during the summer months when camp sites are available to reserve for a fee.

And my personal favourite – Hope Island – is the northern most of the three but still only a 10 minute dinghy ride in distance. This island also had a lighthouse however sadly it was demolished in 2017 due to the maintenance costs. Hope attracts a quieter crowd and has a slightly larger anchorage than the others.

If the water is calm be sure to visit one of the many shipwrecks in the area such as the “Michigan” which lies in shallow water on the north side of Hope and is easily visible from your dinghy.

Close to most southern Georgian Bay marinas (approx 20 nautical miles) these beautiful islands offer an oasis for boaters, a place to bury your toes in the warm sand and enjoy the crystal clear waters and beautiful sunsets of Georgian Bay!

• WordPress
• Facebook
• Instagram