Georgian Bay Marina Tours Around Parry Island
Private Trip
Cruise
Small group boat tour explores Georgian Bay's scenic channelsNavigate under Wasauksing Swing Bridge with experienced captain aboardDiscover Parry Island's shoreline and historic railway trestle views
Want to see why Parry Sound earned its name? This top-rated boat tour takes you on a scenic journey around Parry Island, showing off the best of Georgian Bay's stunning waterways. You'll cruise through historic channels, pass under the famous Wasauksing Swing Bridge, and discover the "Big Sound" that gives our town its character. With room for just four guests, this isn't your typical crowded tour boat experience – it's an intimate look at one of Ontario's most beautiful coastal areas, guided by captains who know these waters like the back of their hand.
Your adventure starts right at Georgian Bay Marina, where you'll meet your captain and get settled aboard our comfortable tour vessel. The first highlight comes quick – we'll glide smoothly under the Wasauksing Swing Bridge, a piece of local history that still operates today. From there, we navigate the South Channel with our experienced captain at the helm, pointing out landmarks and sharing stories you won't find in any guidebook. The route takes us through Bears Head, Long Sault, and Waubuno Channels – each one offering different views and plenty of photo opportunities. You'll pass Oak Island before entering Rose Channel, where the scenery really opens up. The "Big Sound" along Parry Island's north shore is where you'll understand why early settlers chose this spot. Bob's Point offers one of the best vantage points on the entire tour, and you'll catch sight of the CP Rail Trestle on your port side – a reminder of the area's transportation heritage. The loop back through the "Little Sound" gives you a completely different perspective on the same waters, proving that Georgian Bay always has something new to show you.
Our captains don't just drive the boat – they're your window into understanding these complex waterways. Georgian Bay is famous for its intricate channel system, and navigating around Parry Island requires real skill and local knowledge. We use modern GPS and chart plotting, but the best insights come from years of experience reading water conditions, understanding seasonal changes, and knowing which routes offer the best wildlife viewing at different times of day. The Wasauksing Swing Bridge operation is timed perfectly with marine traffic, and your captain coordinates with bridge operators to ensure smooth passage. Channel depths vary significantly throughout the route, especially in areas like Long Sault and Bears Head, where underwater rock formations create both challenges and stunning scenery. Your captain will explain how glacial activity shaped these channels thousands of years ago, creating the maze of islands and passages we navigate today. Weather plays a big role in route planning – on calm days, we can get closer to shorelines and explore smaller inlets, while windier conditions might mean sticking to deeper, more protected channels.
Georgian Bay's diverse ecosystem means every tour brings different wildlife encounters. Great Blue Herons are year-round residents here, and you'll often spot them standing motionless in shallow bays or flying overhead with their distinctive slow wingbeats. These impressive birds can stand over four feet tall and are masters at fishing the rocky shorelines we cruise past. Spring through fall, they're most active during morning and evening hours, making them a customer favorite for their majestic appearance and fishing prowess. Bald Eagles have made a remarkable comeback in this area, and spotting one soaring above the channels or perched in a tall pine is always a tour highlight. Adults are unmistakable with their white heads and tails, while juveniles sport mottled brown plumage for their first few years. They nest in the area from March through August, often reusing the same massive stick nests year after year. Loons are the soundtrack of Georgian Bay, and their haunting calls echo across the water throughout summer months. Common Loons are excellent divers, disappearing underwater for up to a minute while hunting fish, then popping up dozens of yards away. Osprey, sometimes called fish hawks, put on spectacular diving shows when they spot fish near the surface. These skilled hunters hover briefly before plunging feet-first into the water, often emerging with a fish clutched in their talons.
This intimate tour experience fills up fast, especially during peak summer months when Georgian Bay shows off its best colors. With space for only four guests, you're guaranteed personal attention from your captain and unobstructed views from every seat. The route around Parry Island covers some of the most photogenic waters in all of Georgian Bay, combining natural beauty with local history in a way that larger tour operations simply can't match. Whether you're visiting Parry Sound for the first time or you've been coming here for years, this tour reveals details and perspectives that you'll miss from shore. Book now to secure your spot on this customer favorite – it's the kind of authentic Georgian Bay experience that keeps people coming back season after season.
Toronto