The Thousand Islands sit where Lake Ontario narrows into the St. Lawrence River, and the name is a rough count of islands that range from forested and empty to a single rock with one tree. It is the most natural place in the region to get on a boat, because the geography does the work for you.
Where to base yourself
Two towns carry most of the visitor traffic. Gananoque on the Canadian side runs cruises into the islands and sits close to the national park's Mallorytown Landing. Alexandria Bay on the American side is the base for Boldt Castle, a landmark that is only reachable by water. Kingston, about half an hour west of Gananoque where the lake meets the river, is the historic city that makes a good first or last night.
Three ways to see the islands
- A scheduled cruise. The simplest option, and the right one for a first visit. Two- and three-hour trips cover the channels around Boldt Castle and the main island clusters.
- A kayak or small boat. The sheltered channels between islands are calm and made for slow travel. Rentals and guided trips leave from several points on both shores.
- Island camping. Thousand Islands National Park has island campsites and a handful of cabins. They book out early and are the only way to see the islands after the day boats leave.
The border runs through it
This is an international stretch of water. Boldt Castle is in the United States, the national park is Canadian, and a cruise that starts on one shore may pass within sight of the other. Carry the identification your nationality requires and check current border rules before you get on the water.
The islands never look the same twice: wind, light and water level change the whole picture from one hour to the next.
Practical notes
- Cruises operate seasonally, roughly from spring to the end of autumn. Some runs are not daily outside high season.
- Sandbanks Provincial Park, further west on Lake Ontario, makes a good second stop for a beach day on the same trip.
- The river is a busy shipping channel. Give large vessels room when paddling.
