Gananoque Ontario Thousand Islands Cruises and Parkway

Why visit Gananoque

Gananoque has about 5,400 residents and a long history that goes back to Loyalist settlement in 1789, when Colonel Joel Stone received land and set up a mill. Today the draw is the water.

It is also easy to manage. Everything in town is within a short drive or walk, the waterfront has museums and a theatre, and larger attractions such as Kingston and Thousand Islands National Park are close by.

On the water and along the shore

Gananoque Boat Line

Cruises leave from the waterfront from mid-April to mid-October, with more departures from late June to early September.

The 1000 Islands Parkway

This scenic road starts at Gananoque and follows the river toward Brockville for about 40 kilometres. It was once part of Highway 401, and the old lanes have become walking and cycling trails.

Thousand Islands National Park

The park, established in 1904, protects 21 islands and several mainland sites, and much of it is reached by boat. On land you can walk trails at Mallorytown Landing, Jones Creek and Landon Bay along the parkway.

Thousand Islands Bridge

East of town the Thousand Islands Bridge crosses the river into New York, and it opened in 1938. You can see it as a short drive-by view from the parkway, and a passport is needed if you cross.

Island castles

Several castles were built on islands in the Thousand Islands between 1888 and 1905, and Singer Castle on Dark Island is one of them, on the New York side of the border.

In town

The 1000 Islands Playhouse

Live theatre is staged in the former Gananoque Canoe Club, a 1909 building with 360 seats on the waterfront, and an old fire hall next door.

The 1000 Islands History Museum

The museum stands on the site of the former railway station and covers the natural and cultural history of the Thousand Islands. Allow an hour.

The 1000 Islands Boat Museum

In the same waterfront complex, this small museum documents boating on the river with exhibits and in-water displays. Opening days are limited outside summer, so check before you go.

King Street

King Street, which is Highway 2, is the main shopping street. It holds small independent shops, a bookstore, antiques and three tiny art galleries.

Gananoque River and the old rail trail

The town grew around the river, which once powered mills. A short-line railway ran along the waterfront from 1884 to 1962, and its route is now a hiking trail.

Day trip to Kingston

Kingston lies about 35 kilometres west and has Fort Henry and the Lake Ontario end of the Rideau Canal.

Food and local flavors

The river shapes the menu here. Look for pickerel, the Ontario name for walleye, on pub and restaurant menus, usually fried or pan seared. Pair a dessert stop with butter tarts, the sweet Ontario pastry found in local bakeries.

King Street East has most of the restaurants, including Italian and Mediterranean rooms and a British-style pub with fish and chips. A local brewery supplies beer to several bars. The Gananoque Farmers’ Market meets on Thursday afternoons in summer and early autumn at Town Hall Park, and it is a good place for baking and produce.

Where to stay

King Street East holds the chain hotels between downtown and Highway 401, which makes it practical for drivers and families who want easy parking and a pool.

King Street West has independent motels and seasonal properties along the old road toward Kingston, and it suits travellers who want a quieter base. Many properties near the water open only from spring to autumn, so check the season before you book.

Best time to visit

Late spring to early autumn is the main season. Most cruises run from mid-April to mid-October, with more departures from late June, and the playhouse runs from late May into November.

June and September are calmer, with comfortable weather for walking the parkway trails. Autumn colour along the river is a quiet bonus in early October.

Ribfest takes place in Gananoque Town Park around the Canada Day weekend, so expect crowds and a festive atmosphere then.

Getting there and getting around

Gananoque is on Highway 2 and Highway 401, on the main Windsor to Quebec corridor, about 35 kilometres east of Kingston. From New York, Interstate 81 ends at the Thousand Islands Bridge, and the town is about 16 kilometres upriver.

VIA Rail trains between Ottawa and Toronto stop at Gananoque station, but the station is across Highway 401 outside town, so plan on a taxi. FlixBus runs from Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto.

The town is small, so you can walk or drive anywhere. There is no local transit, but local taxis are available.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start with a Gananoque Boat Line cruise in the morning, then explore the waterfront museums in the Historic Thousand Islands Village.

Second day

Drive or cycle the 1000 Islands Parkway, stopping at Thousand Islands National Park for a trail walk.

Third day

Spend the day in Kingston, visiting Fort Henry and walking along the Rideau Canal at Lake Ontario, then return for a last evening on the river, ideally with a walk along the waterfront as the light fades and the boats come in.

Practical tips

• Book cruises and theatre tickets ahead for July and August weekends.
• Carry a passport if you plan to cross the Thousand Islands Bridge into New York.
• Check opening days for the museums, since several are limited outside summer.
• Bring sun protection and a light jacket for cruises, since the river breeze can be cool.
• Plan a taxi from the VIA Rail station, which is across Highway 401 from town.