4 Must Know Tips for Cruising Georgian Bay

Why do Loopers skip through Georgian Bay as quickly as possible? After all, this is billed as the best freshwater cruising in the WORLD!

In 2018, it may have been because a forest fire had the “best” cruising areas – the Bustard Islands and Bad River Anchorages – closed for several weeks. But we found there’s more to see in Georgian Bay than just those two anchorages.  Locals told us we missed the best part, we told them since we didn’t know what we were missing, we’d just enjoy the rest.

Here are our 4 Must Know Tips….

1.  Ken MacDonald’s Georgian Bay Chart Briefing.

Ken MacDonald’s chart briefing will turn what was for us almost an overwhelming amount of Georgian Bay information into a fun, great cruise.  Begin your Georgian Bay cruise at Bay Port Yachting Center in Midland, Ontario. There are many good reasons to stop, including transportation to WalMart and disposing of your used diesel oil if you need an oil change, but the BEST reason to stop is Ken McDonald’s Chart Briefing. (Oh & it’s a full service boatyard if you need service along the Loop.)

Midland is a short jaunt after finishing the last Trent Severn Lock at Port Severn.  We spend the night on the lower floating dock below The Big Chute and were in Midland 4 hours and 20 miles later.

Let Ken know after arriving at Bay Port Yachting Center that you’d like a chart briefing if he can fit it into his busy schedule (he’s also the General Manager for several of the best area marinas), so ask politely.

Ken will mark up your charts showing the best places & the best route based on your interests and some critical information such as skipping part of the Small Craft Channel because in his estimation, it’s dangerous. We wanted to anchor out and enjoy nature, and Ken supplied so many enticing possibilities that we couldn’t have possibly visited every one even had we had an entire summer! Ultimately we picked several and enjoyed every one.

2.  Please Don’t SKIP the Beaverstone Bay & Collins Inlet route to Killarney.

Take a quick 30 second trip aboard Optimystique from Collins Inlet all the way to the dock in Killarney to see why you don’t want to skip this route!

Many Loopers chose the more direct route since in 2018 the Bustard Islands and Bad River anchorages were closed due to the forest fire. I’m guessing in a “normal” Loop year, there might still be Loopers opting to take the more direct route.

DON’T do it!  The Beaverstone Bay and especially Collins Inlet is some of the most scenic cruising in Georgian Bay.  If you have time, spend a night or two anchored in Thomas Bay just 4 miles before Killarney.  Spectacular.

3.  Get Comfortable Anchoring Out Before Georgian Bay.

While there are many many places to enjoy without anchoring out, Georgian Bay (and the North Channel) feature many wonders of nature that you simply cannot enjoy as fully any other way.

We stopped in Indian Harbor, spent several nights at anchor in Massassauga and Killbear Provincial Parks – one stop was to escape the 1st Weekend in August crowds – it’s “Civic Day” in Canada and it’s busy, like any long weekend holiday. There were many anchorages to choose from – if there were too many boats in one, you simply moved to the next. Swimming each day off the swim platform was very refreshing on hot hot days – even if the water was a bit chilly.  Lots of fun dinghying and the first place beavers swam around us twice daily.

4.  Parry Sound and Killarney 

Both Parry Sound and Killarney are must stops.  We spent 2 nights in each and could have spent more in Killarney.

Stay right in the middle of everything at Big Sound Marina in Parry Sound – walk to the city pier for ice cream and to watch the sea planes take off & land.  Hike to the top of the viewing tower, if you dare – it’s an amazing 360 degree view of the entire Parry Sound area.  But be careful…

Watching sea planes take off and land all day long made me want to check off one of my bucket list items.

David noted it was almost my birthday, so I had the best birthday present ever!  The day wasn’t perfectly clear, but taking off and landing on the water – was as Jimmy Buffett sings “then we landed in the water, just about my favorite thrill”.   It was beyond cool.  I think I need a sea plane to land on Lake Mattoon.  We could fly to Lake Sara for burgers for lunch!  🙂

But Killarney is even better.  Killarney has a history of fishing and boating.  They didn’t even get a road until the mid 1960’s and its character is apparent right from the start.

It starts with the water – all of a sudden, as you cruise out of Collins Inlet, the water changes to all shades of turquoises, blues and aquas that we haven’t seen since … Belize or Isla Mujeres, Mexico.  My favorite marina was the Killarney Mountain Lodge, but it was sold out – they host frequent yacht club rendezvous. We stayed at their sister property, Sportsman Inn Marina. 

Both have the signature red adirondack chairs sitting on the end of your finger pier to relax and watch the boats go by.  Be aware if you stay at Sportsman Inn, you’ll likely be on the island side – across the channel. No worries, the Tinkerbell pontoon boat ferries you across the channel on call.

What is there to do in Killarney?  We just wanted to sit and watch the boats go by, but we also rode our bikes to the lighthouse or there’s a path behind the Mountain Lodge but we started it too late in the day and were driven out by mosquitos. Herbert’s World Famous Fish n Chips has picnic tables on the dock – we skipped Henry’s and Gillie’s so we thought we should try at least one of the big three.

Killarney has the only LCBO (Canadian liquor, beer & wine store) that has a dock with the front (and only) door facing the water.  There’s no door on the street side of the building!

After Killarney is The North Channel – probably our favorite part of our Great Loop (or at least MY favorite part) so far!  But that’s a story for another day!

Did you enjoy Georgian Bay?  Where was your favorite place to hang out and why?  Please leave a comment and share for those who follow in our wakes!   Cheers!  Jan

I have still more photos out of the thousands, so here are a few more if you want….