Did You Know?
Manitoulin Island is the world's largest freshwater island — over 2,760 km² surrounded by the waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Little Current is its main town, connected to the mainland by the famous swing bridge.
Little Current is a small town of 1,500 perched at the northern tip of Manitoulin Island, connected to the mainland by the swing bridge — a rotating bridge that opens several times daily to let sailboats through. This unique architectural detail captures the spirit of Little Current perfectly: a town turned toward the water, recreational boating and a life lived at a slower pace.
Manitoulin Island — A Unique Destination
Visiting Little Current means discovering Manitoulin Island as a whole. The island is home to 24,000 permanent residents, including a significant proportion of Anishinabe First Nations members who consider Manitoulin a sacred island — "the island of the Great Spirit". This spiritual dimension gives the island a distinctive atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Ontario.
Things to Do in Little Current and on Manitoulin Island
- Sailing and kayaking: Little Current is one of the finest sailing and sea kayaking bases on Georgian Bay. The marina welcomes sailboats from across North America and Europe.
- Wikwemikong Pow-wow: Each summer, the Wikwemikong reserve hosts one of Canada's largest pow-wows, open to the public — a deeply moving cultural experience.
- Haweater Weekend: Annual island festival with music, crafts and local cuisine, held the first weekend of August.
- Cup and Saucer Trail: A hike along the island's highest sandstone ridge, with panoramic views over Georgian Bay.
- Trout fishing: Manitoulin's interior lakes are renowned for brown trout and smallmouth bass.
Getting to Manitoulin Island
The island is reached by two routes. The Little Current swing bridge allows road access from Sudbury (2h) or Sault Ste Marie (3h). In summer, the Chi-Cheemaun ferry runs a spectacular crossing between Tobermory and South Baymouth — a 1h45 crossing through the heart of Georgian Bay that is itself an attraction worth planning around.