The Best Camping on Manitoulin Island – Manitoulin Eco Park
Manitoulin Eco Park
Let me preface this post by saying, I am not a camper! But my family and I love to spend time outdoors, and we are always looking for a new adventure or experience. So this is how we ended up making the decision to go camping on Manitoulin Island!
Manitoulin Island is one of the most incredible places to visit in Ontario. Not only is it home to some pretty spectacular hiking trails, but you will also be surrounded by amazing lakes, quaint towns, star-filled skies, and warm island culture.
With everything the island has to offer, it is no surprise that you will also find some awesome opportunities for camping and outdoor adventure. Whether you are ready to rough it with basic camping, or you are bringing all the comforts of home in your RV, camping on Manitoulin Island is sure to become a family favourite.
Where is Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is located on Lake Huron in Northern Ontario. It is approximately a 1.5 hours drive south of Sudbury, and just over a 5-hour drive northwest of Toronto.
How to Get On Manitoulin Island
If you are going camping on Manitoulin Island, then there are 2 main ways to get to the island. The first is by driving across the Little Current Swing Bridge located on the northeastern part of the island. This is the only land crossing onto Manitoulin.
The second way to access the island is by ferry. The MS Chi-Cheemaun (Ojibwe for “large canoe”) makes several trips daily between Tobermory and South Baymouth from May until October.
Most oversized vehicles (such as RVs) can be accommodated. Check out their website for details and to make online reservations here.
Manitoulin Eco Park (formerly Gordon’s Park Campground)
Conveniently located only 11 minutes from South Baymouth and the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry, Manitoulin Eco Park is an amazing place to go camping on Manitoulin Island. And if your family is interested in star-gazing, consider this campground to be one of the best things to do with kids on Manitoulin Island!
As an eco-park, be prepared for a campground that has less in the way of modern comforts, but more in the way of natural experiences. Manitoulin Eco Park is off the grid, meaning no electricity. But trust us, you won’t feel like you are missing out!
Between unique accommodations, gorgeous hiking trails, convenient amenities, and the most beautiful skies on the island, Manitoulin Eco Park is an awesome family-friendly campground.
Accommodations at Manitoulin Eco Park
Manitoulin Eco Park has several cool camping options that include tipi-tenting, small cabins (bunkies), private forested campsites, and even a cabin in the middle of their Dark Sky Preserve! No matter which option you choose, you will have access to all the amenities the park has to offer.
Tipi-Tenting
If you are looking for a truly unique experience, deluxe tipi tenting is the way to go! Each Manitoulin-made tipi is located in a private wooded campsite.
The tipis come equipped with raised wooden floors, rain caps, and comfortable foam sleeping pads. Each site also comes with a picnic table, cook stand, and campfire pit. Bundles of firewood can be also purchased from guest services.
Bunkies
Another option for families who are not quite ready to rough it is bunkies (cabins). Manitoulin Eco Park has four of these small cabins available to rent.
Each cabin is located on its own forested campsite, complete with a picnic table and a campfire pit. Inside, the cabins are equipped with one double bed and one set of bunk beds. This makes them perfect for a family of four.
Three of the Eco Parks cabins are built within the main forest camping area. But their fourth cabin, the awesome Milky Way Bunkie, is tucked away inside the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (R.A.S.C) designated Dark Sky Preserve.
This cabin is not only painted to look like the Milky Way, but it is in the perfect spot for a night of stargazing. Just be forewarned, because it is in the Dark Sky Preserve, you will need to comply with rules regarding no white light or campfires.
Stargazing Cabin
This highly sought-after full-sized cabin is located in the Dark Sky Preserve. This incredible cabin features a double bed, one set of bunk beds, one single bed, and a full-size couch with a matching chair.
As far as comforts go, the cabin is fully insulated. It is also heated with an airtight wood stove fitted with a glass door. All lights inside the cabin run on propane. There is a private privy on site.
Just be aware, that there is no running water in the cabin, no oven, and no fridge. Water is transported from the main campground in five-gallon jugs. The jugs can be filled at the office in the main campground area.
As with the Milky Way Bunkie, all Dark Sky Preserve rules must be adhered to. This means any light has to be red in colour or covered in a red filtering material such as a red garbage bag or red plastic.
Camp Sites
Manitoulin Eco Park offers private wooded sites for camping. These sites are tucked into the hardwood forest, offering both privacy as well as natural protection from the elements. Each site includes a picnic table, cooking table, parking for one vehicle, and a Campfire pit.
Dark Sky Camp Sites
The dark sky campsites are situated in the fields and meadows of the Dark Sky Preserve. This area is accessible by a private road and only a five-minute drive from the main campground.
Campers staying in the Dark Sky Preserve have access to picnic tables, cook stands, clean privies, a dishwashing station, and an eco-shower stall.
Amenities and Activities
Manitoulin Eco Park has several great amenities available to its guests. These include an outdoor kitchen, hot eco showers, washrooms with flushing toilets, a solar-heated outdoor pool, a mini-putt, a playground, hiking trails, and a small interpretive center.
The Eco Park also has some limited WIFI and a charging station for guests that need electrical service.
All amenities are in close proximity to the campsites, with the exception of those located in the dark Sky Preserve.
Hiking Trails
And although the Cup and Saucer Trail is the best on the island, Manitoulin Eco Park offers some pretty diverse trails to hike on too. Whether it’s around the pond, up the escarpment, in the swamp, or through the meadows, you are sure to enjoy these easy trails.
The trails are well marked, level, and include a variety of plaques giving you information about the trees, vegetation, and history of the area. Make sure to keep a lookout for all the local wildlife as well! Various songbirds, hawks, partridges, deer, porcupines, foxes, and wolves all call the Eco Park home.
Use of the hiking trails is complimentary for overnight guests. If you are staying off-site, you can purchase a pass for $5/person, which includes the use of the Interpretive Centre, playground, and hiking trails.
Interpretive Centre
The Interpretive Centre is a great place to learn about the wildlife that can be found on Manitoulin Island. The displays include actual bears, wolves, owls, fish, and more. In fact, the taxidermy was done by the previous owner, Mr. Gordon, himself!
And if you are interested in the night sky, you can learn about the planets, the northern lights, constellations, and more from the astronomy wall. The wall also highlights some of the amazing astrophotography that has been taken in the park.
Astronomy Nights and Star Hikes
Dark Sky Preserve
On August 15, 2009, the area that is now known as Manitoulin Eco Park, became Canada’s first Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) designated commercial Dark Sky Preserve.
Entering the Dark Sky Preserve is free for all overnight guests. If you are staying off-site, you can purchase a Night Pass for $10 per person, to enjoy the night sky without a guide.
Astronomy Nights
Experienced Astronomy Guides will take you into the Dark Sky Preserve for some amazing stargazing! Learn about the stars, planets, constellations, and galaxies inside one of the darkest places in Ontario. With next to no light pollution, you will not see the night sky like this anywhere else!
One of the best parts of Astronomy Nights is that everyone is given the opportunity to try the Bausch & Lomb wide-angle binoculars as well as observe the stars through the park’s 8″ Dobsonian Telescope.
Stargazing Night Hikes
The Stargazing Night Hike is a definite must when camping on Manitoulin Island! This immersive adventure through hardwood forest after dark, not only teaches you about the stars but also highlights the nocturnal wildlife.
And if you are lucky enough to be visiting Manitoulin Eco Park during the yearly Perseids Meteor Shower, then you can also take part in the Perseid Night Hikes. Here, your Astronomy Guides will focus their teachings on meteor showers.
Hikes run from approximately 9 pm to 11 pm. The hikes end in a clearing within the campground, so you are more than welcome to remain afterward to enjoy the night sky on your own. The clearing is a short hike back to the main campground area, so it is easy to get back to your campsite on your own.
What Should I Bring When Camping on Manitoulin Island?
When camping at Manitoulin Eco Park, you will need to bring your own bedding (sleeping bag and pillows), towels, cookware (except for the Stargazing cabin where it is already included), cooler, and typical camping gear. You will also need to bring a lantern.
If you are staying in the Dark Sky Preserve, make sure that you are using red lights, or have red covers, in order to comply with the rules.
Our Experience Camping on Manitoulin Island
We wanted our first time camping on Manitoulin Island to be memorable, so we decided to try the Tipi-Tenting. It was awesome! There was definitely enough room inside the Tipi for the four of us. We could easily stretch out in our sleeping bags, and still have space near the bottom to sit and remove our shoes.
We purchased some wood inside the campground and were also able to borrow a grill from the outdoor kitchen. This was a great help in making our dinner and obligatory smores! Washing up dishes was a breeze in the outdoor kitchen as well, as it was quite spacious.
Our family made use of the hiking trails, completing a couple of loops that lead us mainly through forested areas. The trails were beautiful, and we loved the plaques which were scattered throughout the forest.
Later that night, we took part in a Stargazing Night Hike. Our guide took us on some of the more open trails, giving us some history of the area, as well as some information on the flora and fauna. The hike took us to a clearing with an awesome swing, where we briefly waited for it to get dark.
Our guide then gave us a basic astronomy lesson, including many indigenous explanations behind the constellations. It was incredible! Never have I seen so many stars!
We were clearly able to see the Milky Way (for the first time ever), Jupiter and Venus, several satellites, as well as several “shooting stars” (due to Perseids Meteor Shower).
Final Thoughts on Camping on Manitoulin Island
All in all, we fully enjoyed our experience at Manitoulin Eco Park. If you are looking for a campground that is both eco-friendly and has several different options for camping, then this is definitely the place for you! We can’t wait to come back and experience some more family adventures while camping on Manitoulin Island!
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- The Best Camping on Manitoulin Island – Manitoulin Eco Park
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- 15 Awesome Things to Do on Manitoulin Island with Kids
