This video is about the SOUTH part of this National Park. I have another video about the NORTH part: • Georgian Bay Islands N...
This is a very quiet and beautiful National Park on Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay. To get to the island for a half-day visit, reserve a spot on the Daytripper boat that leaves from Honey Harbour. You can also take your own boat or hire a water taxi, and if you are camping, these are your only options - the Daytripper only takes day visitors.
You have the option of taking the boat to Cedar Springs (south island) or Chimney Bay (north island). The island is large enough that it's not possible in half a day to see both the south and the north. The Daytripper is round-trip, and you have 4 -5 hours on the island before returning from the same location where you were dropped off.
The Daytripper boats are small with limited seating, so it's important that you reserve your spot in advance.
It is also important to note that you need to bring everything with you that you will need for the half day. Drinking water is only available where the boat drops you off in the south. There is no drinking water in the north. You will need to bring lunch and snacks, because there is nowhere to buy food anywhere on the island. Also bring rain gear and sturdy shoes with good treads, especially for navigating the rocky north section.
The south island and north island are very different. The south island is more typical of Southern Ontario, with forests and sandy beaches. The trails are easier to walk on, and many are suitable for bike riding (rentals available using credit card only). It's quite pretty with nice swimming areas, but not as dramatic as the north part of the island.
The north island is more typical of the Canadian Shield. It is very rocky, and many of the trails are across and over these large rocky areas. Although the trails are shorter here, they are more difficult. There are some forests and also sandy beaches where you can swim. There are gorgeous lookouts onto Georgian Bay and Fairy Lake, with many beautiful places to stop for a picnic lunch. This is definitely my favourite part of the island - the rocky topography and the views are spectacular!
In this video, I visited Cedar Springs in the south of the island. There is a welcome centre with drinking water and ice, and this is where you can rent bikes. This section of the island is quite large, and the trails are long. I found that renting a bike allowed me to see much more of the island than if I had been on foot. There's a nice swimming area near the welcome centre and also at Christian Beach.
Timecodes
00:00 Intro
00:07 Boat ride and welcome centre
00:18 Bike riding through the forest on the Huron trail
00:33 Walk to the lighthouse on the Georgian trail
01:06 Picnic area before taking the boat back
01:21 Maps
01:56 Summary