Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business The Thousand Islands scatter across the St. Lawrence River where Lake Ontario ends, with the border between Ontario and New York winding through the middle. Roughly 1,864 islands qualify, counting anything that stays above water and can support a tree. Some hold nothing but a few pines, while others carry stone castles and summer cottages.
This stretch of river was a military choke point in the colonial era and later a summer retreat for wealthy families, who built the mansions and castles that cruise boats still glide past.
Today the region is cottage country with real variety. You can take a short boat ride to a castle, kayak between islands, cycle along the shoreline parkway or spend a quiet afternoon in a river town.
This small town on the Gananoque River is the busiest departure point for tour boats on the Canadian side. Cruises head out among the islands, and bicycles and kayaks can be rented in town.
Gananoque is a gateway town on the Ontario side of the Thousand Islands. Photo: Finn Long, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rockport is a tiny shoreline community east of Gananoque where shorter boat tours depart, including some one-hour trips and sailings to Singer Castle. It is a good choice if you prefer a short outing to a full day on the water.
Known as the City of the 1000 Islands, Brockville is one of Ontario's oldest communities and has its own river cruises from the harbour, as well as the start of the 1000 Islands Parkway for anyone driving west.
Brockville calls itself the City of the 1000 Islands. Photo: Wladyslaw, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
One of Canada's smallest national parks, established in 1904, protects a scattering of islands plus a few mainland sites. Most islands are reachable only by small boat, with docks, picnic areas and trails, and a few have primitive campsites.
Thousand Islands National Park was established in 1904 and has a visitor centre at Mallorytown. Photo: King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
This scenic road follows the river westward from Brockville, running closer to the water than Highway 401 and passing small coves, trails and picnic spots. It is slower than the highway but far more rewarding, and it suits cyclists as well as drivers.
The 1000 Islands Parkway follows the river shoreline on the Canadian side. Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
George Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, started this six-story castle on Heart Island in 1900 as a gift for his wife Louise. Work stopped abruptly after her death in 1904, and the unfinished shell stood for decades before restoration began.
Boldt Castle stands on Heart Island and was begun in 1900 for George Boldt's wife Louise. Photo: Nandaro, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Built for Frederick Bourne, head of the Singer sewing machine company, this castle on Dark Island has 28 rooms and a network of secret passages inside its walls.
Singer Castle on Dark Island was built for Frederick Bourne of the Singer Manufacturing Company. Photo: Ad Meskens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Thousand Islands International Bridge links Ontario and New York across Hill Island and Wellesley Island, and was officially opened in 1938. Between its two spans, an observation tower on Hill Island gives a high view of the channels and islands.
The Thousand Islands Bridge links Ontario and New York through Hill Island and Wellesley Island. Photo: King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The largest of the Thousand Islands is about thirty kilometres long and reached by a ferry from downtown Kingston that runs year-round. It is mostly farmland, popular with cyclists, with wind turbines on the skyline and the village of Marysville as its centre.
Wolfe Island is the largest of the Thousand Islands. Photo: King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Across the border in Clayton, New York, this museum celebrates the wooden boats that shaped river life, and visitors can row a St. Lawrence skiff. It makes a good stop if you are crossing the bridge anyway.
The Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York, celebrates the wooden boats of the St. Lawrence River. Photo: AntiqueBoatMuseum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The region gave its name to Thousand Island dressing, the creamy sauce said to have started in Alexandria Bay or Clayton before reaching the Waldorf-Astoria kitchens, so it is worth ordering on a salad or burger. Butter tarts, the Canadian pastry filled with butter, sugar and egg, show up in village bakeries, and Ontario maple syrup is on sale at farm stands. Wolfe Island farms grow strawberries that ripen in late June, and you can find island jams in shops across the area.
Popular dishes to try in Thousand Islands
Gananoque is the practical first choice, with the most visitor services, tour departures and bike rentals, and it suits travellers without a car. Brockville, at the eastern end, has a larger-town feel and train access, so it fits those who plan to explore along the Parkway. Rockport is smaller and quieter, with cottage and resort stays close to short boat tours, which suits anyone who wants to be on the river early.
Where to stay in Thousand Islands
Late May to early October is the best window, since tour boats, Boldt Castle, Singer Castle and the national park sites operate seasonally, and many island ferries run only part of the year. July and August are the busiest, with cottagers and holiday crowds, so book cruises and rooms early.
Highway 401 runs along the north shore, and Gananoque and Brockville are close to it. For a prettier drive, take the 1000 Islands Parkway westward from Brockville or the old Highway 2 from Kingston. VIA Rail stops at Kingston and Brockville, and the nearest major airports are Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, each a few hours away. From New York, Interstate 81 meets the river and the Thousand Islands Bridge crosses to Canada.
Settle in at Gananoque, rent a bicycle or kayak, and take an afternoon cruise among the islands.
Drive the 1000 Islands Parkway toward Mallorytown Landing for the national park visitor centre, then continue to Brockville for a harbour walk and a river cruise.
Visit Boldt Castle or Singer Castle on a boat tour with your passport ready, or head to Kingston and take the ferry to Wolfe Island for a bike ride.
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