During my Toronto Boat Show’s “30,000 Islands” seminar, a common question asked by attendees, especially boaters new to the Bay was “where do you recommend we go?” Well, that’s an easy one for me to answer! Georgian Bay’s eastern coast is an absolute treasure trove of destinations filled with fun activities for boaters, regardless the size or type of vessel!

Wide open water for the good days, secluded tree lined anchorages for the bad; all with great swimming, paddling, fishing, and hiking. Add in stunning sunsets, star-filled night skies, sugary sand beaches, delicious local food, amazing history and you will never want to leave! But how/where to combine all of that into a one week cruise?

To make the ‘where to go/what to do’ part easier, here is my “Taste of the Bay” itinerary which is a “short haul” trip but ticks all of the boxes above. This is ideal for boaters new to the Bay who wish to venture out and try some interesting places plus learn a little about Georgian Bay along the way. And all locations are pet friendly so nobody gets left out on this trip!

First a few tips that may help better your vacation experience, although these may be a given for some:

1. A few weeks prior do a complete check of all systems and “wearables” – like impellers, oil etc to give yourself enough time should something need attention or replacing.

2. Travel based on the weather, not your scheduled stops. If you have to skip a destination, you can always come back another time, the rocks aren’t leaving any time soon. And always be monitoring the forecasts and vhf channel 16 for updates.

3. Remember to provision the dinghy – spare prop, extra gas etc.

Guaranteed the better you prepare, the better your experience will be!

At the end of my story I have included chart snippets showing the basic routes for the areas that are off the small craft route. Now time to fire up those engines, hoist those sails and let’s get started!

Day 1 – Hope Island – N44 53’ 47”, W80 10’ 21”: Where better to begin than the beautiful Hope Island, a fairly easy one to reach from Midland for the first day. The long sandy beach, Caribbean clear water, and stunning views will quickly melt away your stress!

Occasionally you may see lake freighters and cruise ships gliding past the east side of the island heading to or from Midland, or the local dive boat bound for the many shipwrecks that rest in the surrounding waters. There is lots to explore in this area, including one of the Bay’s four historical “Imperial Towers”, this one situated at the south end of neighbouring Christian Island.

Here is further info on Hope and her sister islands, Christian & Beckwith (fun history note – the 3 were at one time named Faith, Hope and Charity!): https://georgianbaybeauties.org/2021/10/03/caribbean-of-the-north/

Now that you’re relaxed, the next destination is a little more challenging but worth the stop!

Day 2 – Western Islands – N45 4’ 50”, W80 18’ 4”: This chain of small rock islands is just 13 nautical miles north of Hope, and for this you should have at least one extra anchor ready along with lines for tying to shore. For detailed info on anchoring and exploring this area check out my story “The Wild Western Islands”, here is the link: https://georgianbaybeauties.org/2022/08/18/the-wild-western-islands/

This landscape is the exact opposite of Hope – rocky and exposed to winds and currents from all directions. If the forecast allows you to stay for the night, the evenings are stunning! As the sun descends in the west, it’s rays reflect off the rocks of the Westerns bathing them in a beautiful warm glow! But the show doesn’t end there; with very little light pollution, the view of the sky at night feels like you are in a planetarium! We have been lucky to have a few nights there on our own and it’s like no other experience on the Bay!

Day 3 – Wreck Island – N45 8’ 18”, W80 6’ 16”: From the Western islands, head east towards shore – look for marker GBH4 at Harris Bank to guide you in where you will pick up the small craft route. Follow that east and then depart to the next anchorage – Wreck Island, located within the Massasauga Provincial Park. There is a 1.5 km interpretive trail on the island explaining the amazing geological history. Note you will want good footwear for this trail.

This is a great area to do some exploring by dinghy however the waters are not 100% charted everywhere so keep a watch. From here you can do a dinghy day trip to the Moon River Falls, also explore the waterways of the Massasauga Park to find a perfect gunk hole for your return visit. Remember to take your chart with you in the dinghy – there are so many islands and channels, it can get confusing if it’s your first time.

Day 4 – Henry’s – N45 10’ 28”, W80 8’ 13”: After enjoying Massasauga, it’s back to the small craft route and head 3 nm north for some great hospitality at the famous “Henrys” fish restaurant on Frying Pan Island. The social hub of the Sans Souci community, it’s usually packed on summer weekends with cottagers, recreational boaters and float plane passengers all arriving for a taste of that delicious fish! Lots of dock space but remember – the restaurant is closed Mondays so mid-week is a perfect time to visit! And you will need to call ahead to reserve a transient slip for the evening.

Lots of action, great food, friendly staff, family hospitality – this can be a nice break from the quiet anchorages. But if you are not ready to depart Wreck Island, you can always dinghy to Henrys for a meal or takeout.

Day 5 – Indian Harbour – N45 1’ 60”, W80 0’ 35”: Travel southbound on the small craft route to Indian Harbour, an anchorage that’s been popular with recreational boaters for over a half century! Located at Wah Wah Taysee, this well protected anchorage sees a bit of boat traffic passing through daily when the Bay is rough, however in the evenings it is fairly quiet.

In behind Steers Island is a good spot to catch northern pike and bass, also keep an eye out for garr pike – there are often many back in the shallow channels.

Note that the land surrounding the harbour is all private however there are many amazing areas you can visit nearby, such as American Camp Island and King Bay Marina – a small cottage marina stocking limited provisions, ice cream and with a small diner serving breakfast and lunch. Check their Facebook page for hours: https://www.facebook.com/KingBayMarina.

They also have vehicle parking for a daily fee – should you wish to have visitors join you for a few days this is a great location to pick them up at (but by dinghy – the marina docks are only large enough for cottage sized boats).

For those with dogs that need a closer shore, check your charts for the areas marked as “Georgian Bay Islands National Park”.

Day 6: Remain anchored at Indian Harbour, take a dinghy day trip to SE Wooded Pine Island. Here is information on the approach and some details about this beautiful Georgian Bay Land Trust island: https://georgianbaybeauties.org/2023/06/03/southeast-wooded-pine-island-2/

Day 7: Gin Islands – N44 51’ 30”, W79 53’ 13”: The final day and sadly time to return to Midland. But why not grab one last dip in the bay with a late afternoon stop and swim at the Gin Islands, located on the west side of Beausoleil Island. Let that sweet fresh water cool your skin before making that last leg of your journey back to the dock.

7 days – 6 stops and lots of dinghy exploring! The beauty of this route is that if your vacation starts with a bit of bad weather, reverse it! Also some of these stops can be done as day visits and some you may wish to stay more nights at but that’s the beauty of Georgian Bay, you control your cruise, no reservations required! (Except Henry’s – and don’t forget they’re not open Mondays! 😋)

Note that cruising Georgian Bay requires careful and regular forecast checking; travel only when it is safe to do so based on the size and type of your vessel.

Below I have included chart snippets for those locations off the small craft route.

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Here are chart snippets: