Flowerpot Island
- Ontario, Canada
Recommend a minimum of 4-5 hours to see the main sites if visiting for the day or 2 nghts if camping.
Day hikes, beach time, camping.
Up to 4 people per camp site. See below for more information.
Easy to medium.
Flowerpot Island is located 5 KM (3.1 miles) off of the coast of Tobermory, Ontario. The island is situated between the main coast of Ontario – from the tip of the Bruce Peninsula – and Manitoulin Island. The island also cusps Lake Huron to the West and Georgian Bay to the East.
As Flowerpot Island is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park, day-use and camping permits will be needed to visit and stay overnight on the island.
The dock is for the use of two tour companies that bring visitors to the island and not for private use. Paddlers can pull up to the shoreline but be warned, Lake Huron is a very large body of water and can have turbulent waters.
NOTE: Tour companies will not venture out onto the lake with high winds and waves. As I had experienced myself, not only did my original trip to the island have to be postponed, there were two full days that the tour companies did not visit the island. If you decide to camp on the island, bring a minimum of two days of extra provisions!
Getting to the Island
Blue Heron Cruises (cruisetobermory.com)
Bruce Anchor Tours (cruises.bruceanchor.com)
*If you will be staying overnight on the island, you may be asked to show proof of your reservation from Parks Canada
Reservations for Camping
There are six (6) campsites on the island and are located a short walk from the dock.
Parks Canada website for Flowerpot Island: Link
Parks Canada Reservation Site: Link
Cypress Lake Campground within the Bruce Peninsula National Park has a series of campsites set aside for those whose plans to go to Flowerpot Island get cancelled due to weather conditions (boat tours won’t run). If your original plans to get to the island need to change, go to the Visitor Center within the park. Park staff will be able to get you set up at one of the campsites within Cypress Lake and/or assist with changing your reservations for staying on the island – provided that there are available campsites.
For example:
If you have a single night booked on Flowerpot Island and your cruise to the island gets cancelled, you can stay at Cypress Lake for no additional cost, but you will lose the night you had reserved on the island.
On the other hand, if you pay to stay at Cypress Lake (or stay elsewhere as I did) and delay your departure to the island and there is an available campsite, you can change your reservation.
As with many of the National Parks, sites get reserved quickly. Plan well in advance!
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