WALKERS’ WORLD
Guided Rambling Holidays in Canada

Manitoulin Island - Canadian Rambles

Whether you arrive by plane, train, ferry or car, Northern Ontario offers a unique walking holiday adventure. Step back in time onto the rugged shores of the Northern Great Lakes - into an unspoiled wilderness where the French voyageurs once explored. Walk on trails of the Native Peoples – the Ojibway, the Odawa and Pottawatomi tribes that have inhabited the region for endless centuries. Our pick-up point is the northern city of Sudbury (about 1.5 hours from the island) and Sudbury is easily accessed from Toronto by plane or train. For those who prefer to arrive by car it is possible to go either via Sudbury or by ferry across Georgian Bay from Tobermory.

Manitoulin
is a sacred island to the Native Peoples whose legends tell us that when the Great Spirit Gitchi Manitou created the world, he set aside the bluest sparkling water, the brightest twinkling stars and the most beautiful glistening quartz rocks. With these he made a special island and set it in the Great Inland Sea (the Great Lakes) allowing it to drift gently northward until it bumped into the rocky shoreline. Here it rested. He tilted the island slightly to the south to catch the best weather and to protect it from north winds and reserved this special place for himself and other spirits to play. 

Today, the island is part of the remote and rugged Canadian Shield which forms a landscape of flat rocky plateaus and low rounded hills. It is joined to the mainland at one narrow point by a swinging bridge near Espanola and the only other way of entering the island is by Chichee'maaun ferry from Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula (about a three hour ferry ride). The island is sparsely inhabited and beautifully rugged. Choke cherry, prickly rose, wild blueberry, silver birch, pine, maple and sumac flourish amidst the rocky terrain. Wildlife abounds – snowshoe hare, porcupine, beaver and white-tailed deer. The scent of sweet Indian grass pervades the crystal-clear air.

There is more to see on Manitoulin than just beautiful scenery. We visit a reconstructed settlers’ log cabin, a lighthouse built in the 1800’s, a museum recreating life in pioneer times, an
archaeological site and an Ojibway cultural centre displaying native arts and crafts and entertaining with stories told by the elders.  We stop en route at Native art galleries and visit an Indian Reservation. Here we meet Manitoulin’s indigenous peoples – (The Three Fires Confederation) and learn some of their beautiful legends about living at peace with nature. The symbol of the People of the Three Fires is the medicine wheel… the wheel which protected these quiet native people from disease and disaster.  

Names of Manitoulin villages evoke images of past culture – Manitouwaning (Den of the Great Spirit), Kagawong (Where mists rise from falling waters),  Little Currant (Petit Courant in French), Waiebegewung (where the waters flow), Wikwemikong (Bay of the Beaver) and Lake Mindemoya (old woman). 

When you are not walking there is plenty to do:  Dip your feet or swim in clear Northern lakes. Rent a bicycle and explore quiet, paved roads with little traffic. Pick wild blueberries.
Birdwatch – look for a snowy owl or listen to the lonely call of a loon at sunrise. Gather around a crackling fire and star-gaze as a native story-teller spins tales that have been passed down through the millenia. We may get a chance to witness a genuine Indian pow-wow complete with native dancing  and rituals, colourful regalia and rythmic drumming. Enjoy a barbeque, fish fry, shore dinner and corn roast. Shop at native craft stores and art galleries. Try your hand at fishing. Paddle a canoe.

Terrain: Our walks are on rocky woodland trails and quiet country roads which are usually gravel surfaced. Hiking boots are recommended because of the rocky terrain. Manitoulin terrain has some low hills but nothing difficult. Our walks are done at an easy pace. Average daily distance is 8 miles.




Manitoulin Rambles:     Daily Itinerary:

Day One - Saturday:   Pick up at Sudbury Rail Station 4.15 pm. and at Sudbury Airport at 4.45 pm. The transfer by bus to Manitoulin is about one and a half hours through scenic country. Once on the island it is a further hour to the hotel at Gore Bay. On arrival we have a welcome get-together and dinner.

Day Two - Sunday:  Our morning nature walk begins at the lodge. The circular walk gives an orientation of the surroundings and is a lovely ramble on woodland paths and quiet country roads. This is an introduction to the flora and fauna of the region - the woods abound with shy white-tailed deer, coyote and beaver. Our picnic lunch today is taken at a scenic look-out with wonderful views of the woods and lakes. In the afternoon a bus takes us a short distance to Kagawong (the Ojibway name for "where the mist rises from falling waters") and our afternoon walk begins at a beautiful waterfall. Not far away is the historic village and we continue on a circle walk with breathtaking views of the North Channel and the distant Lacloche Mountains. Dinner tonight is an outdoor barbeque and corn roast.

Day Three - Monday:   This is a full day walk. We start about 9.30 am and transfer by bus (about thirty minutes) to the Cup and Saucer Trail. This is about a two hour hike on lovely woodland paths. The trail takes us to a scenic look-out and from here it is possible to rest and enjoy the view or to add another twenty minute "adventure hike". After a picnic lunch (included) we continue to M'Chigeeng for a walk that leads to the Anishabe Native Cultural Centre. The centre features a museum of local Ojibway culture, an art gallery, craft workshops, native dance exhibitions and circular fireplace with traditional seating for story-telling sessions with elders. We learn about the culture and spiritual beliefs of the Anishabe people and their concern for the environment. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant in the village.

Day Four - Tuesday: Today we go by bus (about 35 km) to the Misery Bay Nature Reserve where we are met by local naturalist guides for a full day nature hike. This is a Provincial Nature Reserve which protects a large wet-land complex containing bog, fen and a rich cedar swamp as well as mixed woodland forest and 15 km of unspoiled shoreline. The reserve is on the migratory paths of many bird species and boasts at least 300 species of birds - sand cranes, blue-jays and many more. From the boardwalks and hiking trails it is possible to see many varieties of plants, fossils, butterflies and insects. Dinner tonight is a shore-line fish fry. Nothing beats the taste of fresh-caught, fresh-cooked fish prepared over an open fire. After dinner, (weather permitting), we will have a session of star-gazing with a native astronomer - and, with luck, a display of shooting stars or the Northern Lights.

Day Five - Wednesday: For those who would like a free day there are many optional things to do. You can shop for native crafts, rent a canoe, bicycle on quiet paved roads, bird-watch and much more.  For those who want to walk we have a full day planned with a visit to the Sheshegwaning First Nations Reserve for a day of hiking on rugged woodland trails. Trails are often marked by an "inukshuk" - a stone or wood spirit carving that is a friendly indication to turn or stop. Dinner tonight is at the lodge. 

Day Six - Thursday:  Today we travel by bus to the Wikwemikong Reserve  for an Aboriginal Cultural Eco-tour to learn the rich history of the "People of the Three Fires". This is the home of the Odawa tribe whom the explorer Champlain first met in 1615. Jesuit missionaries lived here and built a chapel near the present day church. Our native guides take us along hiking trails to show us the natural wonders - mysterious off-shore islands, white clay cliffs and rocky look-outs and enroute they share their knowledge of the island's wildlife - "listen and observe" they tell us. We enjoy a traditional Indian meal for lunch, are entertained by an authentic de-ba-jeh-mu-jig (native story-teller) and see the Great Peace Pipe.

Day Seven - Friday:  Early morning return by bus to Sudbury. Arrival at Sudbury Airport will be at approximately 11.00 am and at Sudbury Rail Station at approximately 11.30 am.

Flights and trains are available to return to Toronto. For those who would like to continue to Ottawa there is a bus or a flight on Bear-Skin Airways.

The above itinerary may be altered due to weather, local conditions and events. If there is a "pow-wow" taking place we will try to fit it into the schedule. Final decision on the walks is at the discretion of the guides. 

For those interested in shopping for native art and crafts there are many studios and these are also available at farmers' markets. Here you may find intricate beaded jewelry, sculptures, birch-bark crafts, pottery, quillwork, paintings on rawhide, moccasins and much more. 




Manitoulin Island Rambles - Accommodation.

Our walking holiday on Manitoulin is based in the tiny village of Gore Bay. Gore Bay is a quiet backwater, a natural anchorage, off the North Channel and the remote harbour is a popular stop for charter sail boats. The village is quaint and old-fashioned with a grocery store, a few shops and restaurants and a bird-watching tower. It is surrounded by miles of beautiful, rocky woodland. The lodge at Gore Bay is a two story, rustic hotel with some adjacent cabins. The location is spectacular on the rocky shoreline of the bay with a dock for guests who would like to swim in the clear water. The backdrop is beautiful woodland. It is about a ten minute walk along a boardwalk into the village.
Rooms are simple with twin or double comfortable beds, private bath and cable TV. The atmosphere is rustic and casual. There is a dining room and bar.

Meals:
Breakfast is a buffet taken in the hotel dining room. A variety of cereals, milk, coffee, tea, toast, muffins, pastries, fruit and yoghurt are provided.

Picnic lunches will include a selection of sandwiches, raw vegetables, fruit, granola bars, nuts, cheese and cookies. Bottled water and fruit juices are included. Vegetarian sandwiches are available - please let us know in advance if you are vegetarian.

Dinners are taken together as a group - usually about 7.30 pm. We try to include native ingredients and fresh vegetables and fish as much as possible - corn, wild rice, fresh fish, blueberries and maple syrup are Manitoulin specialties. Meals are simple and healthy and vegetarian options are available. At least two evenings dinner will be outdoors. Wine and beer are available but not included.  

A grocery store as well as a health-food store can be found in the village of Gore Bay.