Beausoleil Island is the perfect day trip in the Muskoka region of Ontario. It’s the largest island of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park. As it’s only accessible by boat, it’s a true nature escape from the every day.
Venture to Beausoleil Island, the main destination for visitors of the national park. It’s also a national historic site. Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, cycling, and even camping or glamping.
I’ve visited Beausoleil Island on a couple of occasions now, frequenting both the north and south ends of the island. I’m going to show you how to spend an amazing day and how to plan your visit.
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Why I Love Beausoleil Island
I’m always amazed that more people don’t know about Beausoleil Island or the Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Here are some reasons to visit.
- Natural Beauty: Admire the scenery of windswept trees and the rugged terrain of the Canadian Shield in the middle of this beautiful freshwater bay.
- A Hiker’s Paradise: There are several trails for walking and hiking to keep you returning again and again.
- Indigenous Culture and Heritage: Beausoleil Island is a National Historic Site that acknowledges the history and traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples. There are opportunities to learn about Indigenous culture throughout your visit.
Getting to Beausoleil Island
Start your day in Honey Harbour in Muskoka, about two hours north of Toronto. At Honey Harbour, catch a ride on the Daytripper to reach Beausoleil Island.
The Daytripper is a small boat that will transport you to Beausoleil Island. Soak up the scenery of the surrounding smaller islands, quaint cottages, and twinkling waters on this 15-minute scenic cruise.
The Daytripper can be booked for half day trips to the island in four hour time blocks. You’ll be picked up exactly where you’re dropped off, at Chimney Bay on the north end of the island or Cedar Spring on the south end of the island.
For anyone looking to camp, stay overnight, or spend a full day at Beausoleil Island, you’ll need to plan alternate transport via a private water taxi service. There are several listed on the Parks Canada website.
Chimney Bay or Cedar Spring?
The Daytripper drops off visitors to the park on the north side of the island at Chimney Bay or the south side of the island at Cedar Spring. You will need to choose one or the other.
Which one is right for you? I’ll help you make that decision!
Chimney Bay (North End of Beausoleil Island)
If you love hiking, I suggest heading to Chimney Bay. The north end of Beausoleil Island is home to the best hiking trails.
The trails are a little more challenging with slight elevation changes and rocky granite terrain to navigate. You’ll be rewarded with some of the best scenery of the glistening blue waters of Georgian Bay.
The most popular trail at Chimney Bay is the Fairy Lake loop trail. Make sure you download the Parks Canada app in advance so you can take the self-guided audio tour of Fairy Lake.
Learn about the culture and history of Fairy Lake for a more in-depth experience as you walk around this stunning area of the island. There are details about the land, water, plants, and animals on Beausoleil Island and our relationship to them.
The audio tour is narrated by Anishinaabe First Nation knowledge holders that work with Parks Canada as guardians of the land, just as their ancestors have before them.
Cedar Spring (South End of Beausoleil Island)
On the other hand, Cedar Spring is more recreational in nature. Upon arriving at Cedar Spring, the welcome centre is right across from the dock.
This is where you’ll find flat walking trails, cycling paths and mountain bike rentals, opportunities for swimming, picnic areas and interpretive programs.
How do you choose between Cedar Spring and Chimney Bay? Cedar Spring is likely the choice for families with small children. Chimney Bay is the choice for hikers. Both areas are wonderful and you might even want to return to Beausoleil Island on two separate day trips to experience both!
Lauren’s Top Tip
On a hot, summer day, bring your bathing suit. You’ll want to go for a swim in these calm, clean waters! While you can swim on the south side of Beausoleil Island, the best place to go for a dip is Honeymoon Bay on the north side.
Activities on Beausoleil Island
Beausoleil Island is renowned for its spectacular nature and its outdoor activities. On the island, you can go hiking, biking and swimming.
Bring your own bicycle across on a private water taxi or rent a bicycle from the welcome center at Cedar Spring. Bikes are only available in adult sizes.
Note: You cannot bring bicycles, kayaks, standup paddleboards, etc. on the Daytripper. You’ll need to make an arrangement with a private water taxi to bring any recreational equipment with you.
At Cedar Spring, there may be some interpretive programming when you visit. Outside the visitor’s centre, some park staff had a display set up on a nearby table.
There were some old artifacts found on the island (evidence of traded wares belonging to Indigenous Peoples), animal bones and more. There’s also a snake identification game where you match names to the photos. See how many you know!
Hiking Trails
There are many hiking trails on Beausoleil Island. Please note that the majority of the trails are suitable for walking or hiking.
Some of these are multi-use paths for cycling. I’ll list which ones in the Cycling Trails section below.
Northern Trails
- Rockview: 1.5km one way, 40 minutes
- Dossyonshing (Diaper Point): 2.5km one way, 1 hour 30 minutes
- Portage: 0.3km, 15 minutes
- Massasauga: 2km, 50 minutes
- Fairy: 2.5km loop, 1 hour 40 minutes
- Cambrian: 2km loop, 1 hour 30 minutes
Southern Trails
- Huron: 6.9km one way, 2 hours 20 minutes
- Georgian: 7.1km one way, 2 hours 20 minutes
- Christian: 1.5km one way, 30 minutes
- Heritage Loop: 0.6km, 10 minutes
- Lookout: 1.5km, 25 minutes
- Treasure: 3.8km one way, 1 hour 30 minutes
Cycling Trails
Out of the trails listed above, the ones that are suitable for cycling are:
- Huron
- Christian
Beausoleil Island National Historic Site
Beausoleil Island is also a National Historic Site of Canada. We recognize its profound significance as part of the ancestral and historical lands of Indigenous Peoples.
There’s over 5000 years of aboriginal history here. Archaeologists have discovered artifacts here going back to the late Paleo-Indian period (8,000 to 6,000 BC).
In the local language of the Ojibwe People, Anishinaabemowin, this area was called “Bimadinaagogi”, meaning “the ridge growing out and extending along”. It is one of the oldest known sites of human habitation in the province.
Beausoleil Island was once used by the Anishinaabeg as a traditional stopping place and seasonal campsite in the mid-19th century. It was also established as a shelter during bad weather and it supported two villages during the Reserve period.
There are remains of 19th century Anishinaabe settlements on Beausoleil Island. The Anishinaabeg worked to sustain their cultural traditions while confronting the pressures of expanding Euro-Canadian communities.
On the southern end of the island, at the end of the Heritage Loop trail and beyond the Parks Canada red Muskoka chairs, we saw the Medicine Wheel Garden. The four sacred medicines are planted here: sweetgrass, tobacco, cedar and sage.
Wildlife on Beausoleil Island
Did you know that the Georgian Bay Islands National Park is a sanctuary for 23 species at risk? These include many species of plants, butterflies, snakes, turtles and birds.
On the northern end of the island, I briefly used my Merlin Bird ID app (if you’re into birding, it’s a must!) and identified the songs of several birds, including the Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo and Eastern Towhee.
Be sure to stay on the trail when you visit the park. There are many areas where poison ivy commonly grows, even just outside campsites and along the trails. Be mindful of this!
Black bears frequent the island. Yes, they actually swim over to Beausoleil Island! For campers, please store and secure food (and waste) safely so you don’t attract them to your campsite.
The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake also lives on Beausoleil Island. This is Ontario’s only venomous snake. It’s typically pretty shy and they are only rarely seen. Just keep a safe distance should you spot one.
Massasauga Rattlesnakes are protected. Georgian Bay is one of the only remaining habitats in the world for them! Under the National Parks Act, killing, capturing, or harming the Massasauga Rattlesnake can result in a fine of up to $150,000, six months in jail, or both.
It’s more common to see a water snake. We spotted one in the water and one on the shore. These are totally harmless. Remember to let wildlife stay wild and admire from a distance.
How to Spend the Night
There are a few different ways to stay overnight at Beausoleil Island and the Georgian Bay Islands National Park. There are more rustic and more comfortable ways to stay, depending on your preference.
Camping
There are 80+ campsites and 9 camping areas on Beausoleil Island. The main campground at Cedar Spring has hot showers and flush toilets.
The other campsites on both the north and south ends of the island offer backcountry camping and beautiful scenery. Please note that the Daytripper doesn’t have transportation for campers, you will need to arrange for a private water taxi from Honey Harbour.
oTENTiks
Don’t want to sleep in a tent but still want the vibes of camping? Try one of the Parks Canada oTENTiks!
These are half tent and half cabin, the perfect compromise between a cottage and a campsite. Up to four people can stay in an oTENTik, great for families, friends and couples alike.
There are five oTENTiks on Beausoleil Island, all located at the Cedar Spring Campground.
Waterfront Cabins
Finally, the Waterfront Cabins offer a bit more luxury and comfort. There are 10 Waterfront Cabins in total: four cabins at Christian Beach (sleep 2 people) and six cabins at Cedar Spring (sleep up to 4 people, great for families).
These cabins have beds with mattresses (bring your own bedding and pillows), a kitchen, a dining area, a living space, and a BBQ and firepit.
Packing List
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Comfortable clothes for hiking and layers (might need a sweater for the boat ride)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- A reusable water bottle
- A small crossbody bag or backpack
- Bug spray
- Snacks or a picnic lunch
- Bathing suit
- Rain jacket if rain is in the weather forecast
- A camera or smartphone for photos
- A trail map from the Visitors Centre or Daytripper captain
Frequently Asked Questions About Beausoleil Island
Have questions about planning your visit to Beausoleil Island and the Georgian Bay Islands National Park? I’ve answered them here for you.
Reserve your trip online at the Parks Canada website. Advance reservations are required.
If you are camping for a private water taxi, you can arrange to stay as long as you’d like. If you’re taking the Daytripper, there are four hour timeslots. You must take the Daytripper back to the mainland at your reserved time and pickup spot.
The Daytripper will only pick you up and drop you off at one spot, either Chimney Bay OR Cedar Spring. If you want to stay longer or explore the whole island, you’ll need to make arrangements with a private water taxi.
You cannot bring any pets, bikes or watercrafts on the Daytripper. Dogs are allowed on Beausoleil Island (via private boat arrangement), but you must keep your pets on a leash at all times to protect the local wildlife.
Canada Strong Pass
As part of the Canada Strong Pass, Parks Canada is providing free admission and a 25% discount on fees for camping, oTENTik and cabin stays.
Regular fees still apply for the Daytripper. Plan your vacation from June 20 to September 2, 2025 for free park admission and camping discounts.
Do you have any questions about Georgian Bay Islands National Park or Beausoleil Island? Be sure to ask them in the comments below.
You can also check out Muskoka Tourism’s website, Discover Muskoka, for more ideas for places to visit, places to eat and more.
I hope you enjoy your day (or more) experiencing the wonders and nature of Beausoleil Island. It’s a truly wonderful place that you should check out this summer.
