Ride Manitoulin (2 - 3 Days)

This 2 - 3 Day motorcycle tour will have you cruising Manitoulin Island's quiet, and twisty backroads, while visiting the Island's best stops along the way.

Day 1

Start your tour in Sudbury today. Be sure to check out The Shop – a 10,000 square foot Harley Davidson showroom with everything you could possibly need for your ride. Next, head 30 minutes north west of the city to A. Y. Jackson Lookout to enjoy the view that inspired the Group of Seven painter of the same name. Manitoulin Island is your next destination. From Chelmsford, ride south to Highway 17, then make your way east. Get off of Highway 17 along the way by making little detours onto roads less travelled. When you reach Highway 6, head south through Espanola and Whitefish Falls. As you cross into the Island at Little Current, you will ride across the oldest swing bridge in North America. It still swings 15 minutes on the hour to allow watercraft to pass. Bridal Veil Falls will be your next stop. Follow Highway 540 to Kagawong where you’ll find this scenic falls, and a trail that wanders to the Bay. Stop for the night in Gore Bay where you can meander the harbour board walk after a casual dinner.

Distance:

Sudbury to Gore Bay via Onaping (250 km (160 m) 3 hours 30 minutes)

Lunch Options:

Garry's Family Restaurant
Manitowaning Rd, Little Current
P. 705-368-3370
The Anchor Inn Bar & Grill
1 Water Street, Little Current
P. 705-368-2023
http://www.anchorgrill.com/

Dining Options:

Twin Bluffs Restaurant
Gore Bay
P. 705-282-2000
 

Things to Do:

A.Y Jackson Lookout - High Falls
Onaping Falls
Location: 45 km northwest of Sudbury on Hwy 144 - just 3 kms north of Dowling
P. 705-674-4455 ext. 4603
http://www.rainbowroutes.com/index.php/routes/ay-jackson/
The Shop Harley Davidson
2240 Long Lake Road, Sudbury
P. 705-682-4463
http://www.therockharleydavidson.com/
Bridal Veil Falls
Kagawong
Location: Hwy 540 at Kagawong
Swing Bridge
Little Current
Location: Hwy 6 to the information centre for parking.

Day 2

Today you’ll travel the Island, from the north shore to the west shore, finally stopping for the night on the southern shore. Ride to Meldrum Bay this morning, take Highway 540 south, then head through Evansville, Silver Water and on to Meldrum Bay. Enjoy a drink or some lunch on the porch of the Meldrum Bay Inn, then on your return, retrace your steps to Evansville where you’ll turn right (south) onto Indian Head Road. A steep hill will lead you to the Campbell Bay Lookout with a view over Campbell bay to the North Channel. Next take Indian Head road to Poplar, Poplar to Union Road (east), Union Road to Perival Road West (turn right, east), to Perival Road East (turn right, south). In Spring Bay turn left onto 542 and continue through Mindemoya, and Sandfield. Depending on where you’re staying tonight, loop back through Tehkummah to Providence Bay where you can wander the board walk by the beach, or continue to South Baymouth where you can watch the Chi-Cheemaun ferry dock for its last sailing of the day.

Distance:

Gore Bay to Meldrum Bay to Manitowaning to Providence Bay (220 km (135 m), 3 hours) or
Gore Bay to Meldrum Bay to Manitowaning to South Baymouth (210 km (130 m), 3 hours)

Accommodation Options:

Manitoulin Inn
Hwy 551, PO Box 163, Mindemoya
Directions: Hwy 551 south into Mindemoya - on the left as entering town
P. 1-877-270-0551
http://www.manitoulininn.ca
 

Dining Options:

Garden's Gate Restaurant
Hwy 542, Tehkummah
P. 705-859-20883
http://gardensgate.ca/
 

Things to Do:

Campbell Bay Lookout
Evansville
Location: Hwy 540 - to Indian Point Road - pull off available
 

Day 3

Your tour ends today, but not before you cross the Island one more time. Take Highway 6 north through Manitowaning. If you have some time to spare, and want a more leisurely pace, loop to the north west just past Manitowaning, following Bidwell Road and meet back up with Highway 6 just below Sheguiandah. This time, after you cross the bridge at little current, take a short detour at Willisville Road, turning east (right) and travelling up Willisville Fire Mountain for one last view of Georgian Bay, and the La Cloche mountain range in the distance.

Distance:

Providence Bay to Little Current (80 km (50 m), 1 hour) or,
South Baymouth to Little Current (65 km (40 m), 50 min)
Little Current to Sudbury (120 km (75 m), 1 hr 40 min)

Things to Do:

Willisville & La Cloche Mountains Overlook
Willisville
Location: Turn east off of HWY 6 north of Little Current onto Willisville Rd