Manitoulin’s well-known outdoor stops are a challenging escarpment trail, a waterfall you can swim beneath and a long sand beach. This guide lists each with what Destination Northern Ontario, the regional tourism organization, says. It gives no trail lengths where the source gives none.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Census, Central Manitoulin (2021) | Central Manitoulin: 2,235 people (2021 Census), up 7.2% from 2,084 in 2016; 1,603 private dwellings, 1,050 occupied by usual residents[1] |
| Drive to Providence Bay | Toronto: about 561 km, 7 h 55 min; Ottawa: about 659 km, 9 h 37 min; London: about 721 km, 9 h 39 min; Kitchener: about 633 km, 8 h 40 min; Montreal: about 856 km, 12 h 00 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops[2] |
| Source | Destination Northern Ontario, the publisher of the Northern Ontario Travel site.[3] |
Quick answer
Do the Cup and Saucer Trail on a dry day with good footwear, then cool off at Bridal Veil Falls or Providence Bay. The Cup and Saucer is rated challenging.[4]
Cup and Saucer Trail
The trail is rated "Challenging" and is about 20 km west of Little Current, with parking off Highway 540, 3 km past the Bidwell Road corner. It is said to lead to the island’s highest point.[5] The source gives no trail length in kilometres, so check a trail map before you go, carry water and turn around if conditions worsen.
Bridal Veil Falls, Kagawong
Bridal Veil Falls is part of an easy-to-moderate trail system. Visitors can swim in the pool at the base or picnic at the top, and Kagawong Beach is nearby.[6] We did not confirm lifeguard coverage or water testing, so check posted signs before you swim.
Providence Bay beach
Providence Bay has a long sandy shoreline with a boardwalk and shallow, clear water. It has a playground, and amenities and restaurants are within walking distance.[7] We did not confirm parking fees, dog rules or water testing on a municipal page.
Gore Bay
Gore Bay has the Noble Nature Trail (1.1 km) and the Gore Bay Boardwalk Trail, a small beach near the marina, and the Gore Bay & Western Manitoulin Museum in a former jail.[8]
Misery Bay
Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve is an 860-hectare park on the south shore, about 10 minutes west of Evansville. The page also calls it a provincial park with alvar landscapes, so confirm its designation and rules with Ontario Parks.[9]
Bebamikawe Memorial Trail
Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s Bebamikawe Memorial Trail is 14 km, and a parking permit is required.[10] Wiikwemkoong’s own site lists Trail Development Services and Point Grondine Park among its attractions.[11] Check with Wiikwemkoong for permit details and trail rules, and respect the community’s guidance.
More trails
Destination Northern Ontario says most island trails range from easy to moderate, with the M’Chigeeng and Cup and Saucer trails the more challenging exceptions.[12]
- M’Chigeeng Trail: 5 km, rated moderate to difficult, short but steep.[12]
- Little Current Recreational Walking Trail: 12 km, easy, lit and labelled, with benches and minimal elevation change.[12]
- Bowerman Trails, South Baymouth: easy to moderate, about an hour, near the ferry terminal.[12]
- Wagg’s Wood, Mindemoya: off Highway 542 across from the municipal office, with four woodland trails, including an accessibility trail for people with mobility issues or strollers.[12]
- McLean’s Park: a 100-acre park on New England Road off Highway 6, midway between Manitowaning and South Baymouth.[12]
- Nimkee’s Hiking Trail, Sheshegwaning: easy to moderate, north of Silver Water off Highway 540, with views of the North Channel.[12]
Other beaches
Mindemoya Beach on Mindemoya Lake is described as quiet and family-friendly, with picnic areas and shallow water. Kagawong Beach is a small beach near Bridal Veil Falls with picnic areas. Gore Bay Beach is a small beach near the marina.[13]
Getting there
Read Manitoulin Island: a cottager’s guide for the swing bridge and the Chi-Cheemaun ferry.
FAQ
How hard is the Cup and Saucer Trail?
Destination Northern Ontario rates it challenging. It is about 20 km west of Little Current. Checked November 3 2026.
Can you swim at Bridal Veil Falls?
Destination Northern Ontario says visitors can swim in the pool at the base. Checked November 3 2026.
Is there a boardwalk at Providence Bay?
Yes. The beach has a boardwalk, a playground and shallow, clear water. Checked November 3 2026.
Do I need a permit for the Bebamikawe Memorial Trail?
Destination Northern Ontario says a parking permit is required. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages in this area
Browse cottages on Manitoulin Island or the whole Northern Ontario region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check. Rules for Manitoulin Island’s municipalities are being confirmed, so we state none here.
Claims table
Checked 2026-11-03 by the SEO & Content Writer agent. Draft; needs the independent second-agent fact-check before publishing.
| # | claim | source URL | checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Census, Central Manitoulin (2021) : Central Manitoulin: 2,235 people (2021 Census), up 7.2% from 2,084 in 2016; 1,603 private dwellings, 1,050 occupied by usual residents | https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000201 | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Drive to Providence Bay : Toronto: about 561 km, 7 h 55 min; Ottawa: about 659 km, 9 h 37 min; London: about 721 km, 9 h 39 min; Kitchener: about 633 km, 8 h 40 min; Montreal: about 856 km, 12 h 00 min. OSRM estimates; allow for traffic and stops | https://router.project-osrm.org | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Source : Destination Northern Ontario, the publisher of the Northern Ontario Travel site. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Do the Cup and Saucer Trail on a dry day with good footwear, then cool off at Bridal Veil Falls or Providence Bay. The Cup and Saucer is rated challenging. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | The trail is rated "Challenging" and is about 20 km west of Little Current, with parking off Highway 540, 3 km past the Bidwell Road corner. It is said to lead to the island’s highest point. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Bridal Veil Falls is part of an easy-to-moderate trail system. Visitors can swim in the pool at the base or picnic at the top, and Kagawong Beach is nearby. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Providence Bay has a long sandy shoreline with a boardwalk and shallow, clear water. It has a playground, and amenities and restaurants are within walking distance. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Gore Bay has the Noble Nature Trail (1.1 km) and the Gore Bay Boardwalk Trail, a small beach near the marina, and the Gore Bay & Western Manitoulin Museum in a former jail. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve is an 860-hectare park on the south shore, about 10 minutes west of Evansville. The page also calls it a provincial park with alvar landscapes, so confirm its designation and rules with Ontario Parks. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s Bebamikawe Memorial Trail is 14 km, and a parking permit is required. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | Wiikwemkoong’s own site lists Trail Development Services and Point Grondine Park among its attractions. | https://www.wiikwemkoong.ca | 2026-11-03 |
| 12 | Trail difficulty overview; M’Chigeeng 5 km; Little Current trail 12 km; Bowerman; Wagg’s Wood; McLean’s Park 100 acres; Nimkee’s trail. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
| 13 | Mindemoya Beach, Kagawong Beach, Gore Bay Beach descriptions. | https://northernontario.travel/best/manitoulin-island-your-ultimate-guide-ontarios-island-retreat | 2026-11-03 |
Fact-check 2026-11-03 (independent): rows 1 to 11 confirmed; empty Winter section removed; rows 12 and 13 added from the same Destination Northern Ontario page. No manitoulintourism.com source used.