Category: Gateway To Ontario’s

The Port of Little Current is a small but well-known port of entry to the North Channel on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, one of Canada’s most spectacular cruising grounds. It’s this vibrant port at the end of the island and the gateway from Lake Huron into Georgian Bay, with all the boaters, sailors and tourists. The Port of Little Current, with its scenic view, bustling harbour, and welcoming town, is the gateway to the islands, creatures, and waterways of one of North America’s most unique and beautiful marine environments.

A Historical Maritime Hub

Little Current, founded in the 19th century, was a significant trading centre of lumber and fishing. The port’s name derives from the strong tides that used to flow between the island and the mainland, making it difficult to sail through the strait. With the expansion of transportation, Little Current became a destination for those who sailed on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

The Port of Little Current lives on as a historical port of call for the contemporary sailor. It also has that one natural bridge everyone has heard of (built in 1913) that connects Manitou Manitoulin to the Ontario Ocean. It’s a swing bridge, one lane that opens at various times of the day so the boats can pass through; what a tourist trap, but it just goes to prove how much of a shipping town Little Creek is.

Boating and Marine Facilities

The most recently constructed docks are located at the Port of Little Current, and that is also where most mariners who are travelling the North Channel opt to stay overnight. The Little Current Harbour is quite large, with many docks, fuel, and all that stuff for the yachts, sailboats, and fishing boats. It’s not just that marinas like the Municipal Marina have gracious people working for them so visitors know they are welcome and well taken care of when they are berthed there. They give the boaters water and electricity and a place to dump waste, and all the shops, restaurants and attractions along the waterfront are all within walking distance.

It also serves those who sail on longer voyages, for there are inns on the water where one can fill up and restock and even get minor repairs, so for those who go on a longer journey, the port is a very convenient and beautiful place to fill up and sail back out to sea. It has a fantastic view of the other islands and mountains, and there is little current. It is an excellent place to sit and watch the sunset after a day on the water.

Exploring the North Channel

It is the gateway to the North Channel (which, by the way, no offence to anyone else’s body of water, but it is by far the most beautiful body of water in all of North America, and without a doubt, has the best boating, fishing, and sailing anywhere). The North Channel is a paradise for nature and excitement lovers with its clear blue waters, secluded coves, and hundreds of islands. They have good boating spots like the Benjamin Islands with the rose granite rocks or covered Portage Cove with high cliffs and good anchorages.

This channel also occasionally has abundant wildlife, loons, eagles, and a black bear on shore. For the fisherman, the area will be beautiful and filled with northern pike, bass, and trout, and who could ask for anything more?

Preserving the Port’s Natural Beauty

Little Current is a community that is very much concerned with environmental conservation with the rise of tourism and boating traffic. They try to keep the North Channel as clean as possible, and all boaters are urged to use clean boating techniques to minimize their impact as much as possible. Garbage collection, recycling, and responsible boater education are all part of a continual effort to keep this place as beautiful as it is, a gift to all future generations.

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