Little Current

Little Current — or "the Haweater capital," as locals proudly call it, after the hawthorn berries that islanders are said to have eaten during lean winters — is the gateway to Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. Stretching 100 kilometres through northern Lake Huron, Manitoulin is a place where the ancient geological forces that shaped the Great Lakes are still legible in every limestone cliff, every crystal-clear lake-within-a-lake, and every wind-carved pine that leans toward the prevailing westerlies. The one-lane swing bridge that connects Little Current to the mainland swings open every hour during navigation season, pausing traffic while sailboats pass through — a ritual that locals treat not as an inconvenience but as a reminder of the lake's primacy over the road.

Little Current itself is a cheerful waterfront town of perhaps 1,500 residents, its main street climbing from the harbour past art galleries, outfitters, and the general stores that serve as social hubs for the island's rural communities. The Spider Bay Marina and the town dock welcome cruising sailboats and small expedition vessels navigating the North Channel — widely considered one of the finest freshwater cruising grounds in the world, a labyrinth of pink granite islands, hidden anchorages, and waters so clear you can read the maker's mark on your anchor 10 metres down. The annual Haweater Weekend in August fills the town with music, sports, and celebrations that draw islanders from every corner of Manitoulin.

Manitoulin Island's cultural identity is inseparable from the Anishinaabe people — Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi — who have inhabited these shores for thousands of years and who today make up a significant portion of the island's population. The M'Chigeeng First Nation's powwow, held annually in August, is one of the most important in Ontario, drawing dancers, drummers, and spectators from across the Great Lakes region in a celebration of indigenous culture that is vivid, powerful, and deeply moving. The Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M'Chigeeng offers exhibits on Anishinaabe history, language, and art, while Manitoulin's birchbark canoe builders, quillwork artists, and storytellers maintain traditions that connect the modern community to its ancestral roots.

The natural beauty of Manitoulin is understated but profound. Bridal Veil Falls, a short drive from Little Current, cascades over a limestone ledge into a pool where visitors can walk behind the curtain of water. The Cup and Saucer Trail, named for the distinctive rock formation at its summit, offers a moderately challenging hike through hardwood forest to a cliff-top lookout with views across the island's interior lakes to the distant blue line of Lake Huron. The island's inland lakes — Manitou, Kagawong, Mindemoya — are themselves among the largest lakes on a freshwater island anywhere in the world, supporting walleye, pike, and bass fishing that draws anglers from across Ontario.

Little Current accommodates small cruise ships and expedition vessels at the town dock. The best time to visit is from June through September, when the North Channel sailing season is in full swing and the island's cultural events are most active. July and August offer the warmest swimming temperatures in the island's remarkably clear lakes, while September brings spectacular fall colours to the hardwood forests and the satisfying crunch of hawthorn berries underfoot — the fruit that gave the islanders their enduring nickname.