Keywords: Kayaking - Canada, Ontario)

Georgian Bay

Featuring;
Parry Sound, Franklin Island, Mink and McCoy Islands

Parry Sound Ontario Canada North of Toronto, along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, is what Canadians call "Cottage Country". Most suburban escapees don't go beyond Parry Sound, leaving most of the really fascinating scenery to those with a well practiced forward-stroke. Rugged, wild, weather-blasted islands - thirty thousand or more they say - await exploration. Download this GPS map to help you tell look-alikes apart.

Photo Credit: The Museum on Tower Hill, located in the idyllic town of Parry Sound. The shot was taken from the museum's observation tower, overlooking the town and the waters of Parry Sound. Killbear Point Park can be seen on the far-left horizon, beyond which lies Georgian Bay.

GPS MAP

Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free GPS software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer)

GPS Map File Details

Filename: georgian_bay.gpx ( 12 KB), georgian_bay.zip (3 KB)
Revised: 31 May 2002
Class B Data
Waypoints including put-in points, lighthouses, and various islands, landmarks, and points of interest. Also included is a 9-point route around Franklin Island, and two tracks for navigating inland water passages.

More Info

Georgian Bay rivals the size of adjacent Great Lakes. There are many, options as described in the book Kayaking Georgian Bay* Here are some of the possibly more rewarding experiences:

Killbear Provincial Park

"This Georgian Bay peninsula is a water lover's paradise for swimming and sailing, fishing and boating." - www.ontarioparks.com/killb.html

There are numerous day trip opportunities out into Parry Sound from this, one of Ontario's best maintained, full-service parks.

Franklin Island

The loop around Franklin Island is about 18 kilometers, making it a good long day trip or an easy overnight trip. Camping is available on the island. The western side is exposed and the surf can kick up quickly. There is a backcountry route through the interior, between Peachey Island and Deadhead Bay. requiring couple of short portages (see track data).

Mink & McCoy Islands

The Mink and McCoy Islands are a good 2 to 3 day trip for intermediate and advanced paddlers. More than 9 kilometers of open water lie between Snug Harbor and the closest islands of the Mink chain.

The Mink Chain is rich in history. Artifacts from an old fishing village can be found in the waters around Stalker Island (private). Camping is available at Raper and Green Island.

The McCoy chain is worth the extra miles, but camping is limited. The east side of Big McCoy is of geological and archeological importance. Native Indians reportedly still use sacred sites in the area.

Adventure Travel Tip

The weather-beaten isles of the eastern shore yield little ground for tent staking; be sure to take free standing tent. And although some hazard to drink the water straight out the bay, the local guides recommend you use a water filter.*

Also, The usual precautions apply, including: risk of capsizing due to wind and waves on open water; wildlife encounters, especially rattle snakes; and unpleasant confrontations with the locals over trespassing. Seek local knowledge.

Government nautical strip chart: 2203 Parry Sound to Byng Inlet
Canadian topographic map: 41h8 Parry Sound

References

Waypoint, route and track coordinates were determined from geographical descriptions found at:

Kayak Georgian Bay.com

Great Lakes Sea Kayaking Association

Even though the coordinates were pulled from highly accurate digital maps, there may be some errors. If you can provide more accurate information about any of the waypoints or current routing, please contact me.

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