Shoreline Access Points

Getting to the Water

Most of Georgian Bay's coastline is on private land, and public access points are not always obvious. Pete's Place for Massasauga Provincial Park is down a little road called Healy Lake Road (exit 189 off Highway 400, north on Highway 69 about 5 km to the Route 11 turnoff). Honey Harbour is the gateway to the 30,000 Islands. Wasaga Beach has 14 km of public shoreline. This guide maps out where you can legally reach the water.

Whether you want to launch a kayak for a paddling adventure, access the shore for fishing, find a public beach for swimming, or simply reach the water's edge for a shoreline walk, these access points get you there legally and safely.

North Shore Access Points

Killarney Provincial Park

The George Lake area provides the primary shore access within Killarney. The beach at George Lake is sandy and swimmable, with changing facilities nearby. For Georgian Bay shore access, the La Cloche Silhouette Trail reaches the bay at several points, though this requires backcountry hiking. The town of Killarney, outside the park, has a public wharf and shoreline area accessible from the main road.

French River Provincial Park

Several access points along Highway 69 provide canoe and kayak launch access to the French River system. The main visitor centre area has a launch for non-motorized watercraft. The Recollet Falls trail reaches the riverbank, providing shore access for fishing and wading. For paddlers heading downstream toward Georgian Bay, the river provides a natural corridor from the highway to the open water.

Key River and Britt

The communities of Key River and Britt, along Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound, provide boat launch and shore access to the North Channel of Georgian Bay. The Key River launch provides access to sheltered waters suitable for kayaking, while the Britt area offers access to more exposed outer bay waters. These are important launch points for paddlers heading to the outer islands and Philip Edward Island.

Parry Sound Area Access Points

Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear offers excellent shore access at multiple points along its peninsula. The main beach areas provide sandy swimming access, while the rocky shoreline sections along the Lighthouse Point and Lookout Point trails offer access to Georgian Bay's characteristic granite shore. A daily vehicle permit is required.

Parry Sound Town Waterfront

The town of Parry Sound maintains a public waterfront with boat launches, a town dock, and shoreline walking paths. The town beach on Waubuno Beach offers swimming access. The waterfront is also the departure point for cruises and water taxis to the outer islands. For kayakers, the town dock area provides a calm-water launch with easy access to the sheltered inner channels of the Parry Sound archipelago.

Massasauga Provincial Park - Pete's Place

The primary access to Massasauga Provincial Park is through Pete's Place, where a gravel road leads to a boat launch and the water taxi departure area. This is the main launch point for canoeists and kayakers heading into the park's interior waterways. The road is narrow and can be congested on summer weekends; arrive early.

Honey Harbour

Honey Harbour serves as the main gateway to Georgian Bay Islands National Park and the 30,000 Islands. Public boat launches and the DayTripper boat service to Beausoleil Island depart from the harbour area. Several kayak rental and shuttle services operate from Honey Harbour, making it the most accessible entry point for water-based exploration of the archipelago.

South Georgian Bay Access Points

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park

The world's longest freshwater beach provides extensive shore access at multiple beach areas (numbered 1 through 6). Beach Areas 1 and 2 are the most developed, with parking, changing rooms, and concessions. Beach Areas 5 and 6 are less developed and quieter. The beach faces Nottawasaga Bay and offers warm, shallow water ideal for swimming. Parking requires an Ontario Parks daily vehicle permit.

Collingwood Harbour

The Collingwood harbour area provides public waterfront access, including a beach at Sunset Point Park and walking access along the harbour wall. The Spirit Catcher Trail follows the waterfront and provides continuous shoreline access. There is a public boat launch in the harbour area. For kayakers, the harbour provides a sheltered launch with access to the Collingwood shoreline and nearby Craigleith.

Craigleith Provincial Park

Craigleith provides rocky shoreline access on Nottawasaga Bay between Collingwood and Thornbury. The park's shale beds are popular for fossil collecting (observation only; collection is prohibited). The shoreline is rocky rather than sandy, but provides excellent access for shore fishing and wading. A daily vehicle permit is required.

Thornbury Harbour

The town of Thornbury maintains a public harbour and waterfront park where the Beaver River meets Georgian Bay. The harbour area provides boat launch access and a pleasant waterfront walk. The Thornbury Fish Ladder, where salmon and trout climb upstream to spawn in autumn, is a unique seasonal attraction accessible from the waterfront path.

Inland Lake Access

While Georgian Bay dominates the region's waterscape, the inland lakes provide additional shoreline access for swimming, fishing, and paddling:

• Grundy Lake Provincial Park: Beach and shore access on five interconnected lakes along Highway 69.
• Six Mile Lake Provincial Park: Sandy beach and shore access near Port Severn, with calm water suitable for families.
• Bass Lake Provincial Park: Beach and swimming access near Orillia, on the route to the Georgian Bay region.
• Haliburton area lakes: Multiple public access points on lakes in the Haliburton Highlands, managed by the municipality and provincial parks.