thousand islands national park

I didn't join tour but my friend drive me there and take a boat trip around the islands. The place is bigger than I thought and some interesting stories are behind the island. I wish I can live here, having my own boat and spend my days as relax as now.

I have been visiting the Thousands Islands National Park ever since I was a baby. Now that I am an adult, I bring my family to the area to enjoy as well. The area is so beautiful and we enjoy it a lot. We recently purchased a boat so will get to enjoy the St. Lawrence River as well. I would highly recommend people visiting this area - they won't be disappointed.

Cons: no trail signs, visitor center closed during the summer, views are private property.Almost every corner is private property, especially the waterfront. There are no trail signs and the visitor center is closed during the summer. They charge you $6.80 for nothing. They have a lot to learn with the US National Park services.

My family took a day tour with 1000 Islands Kayaking and then stayed in the park for a couple of nights in one of their oTENTik cabins. It was the best family vacation we have ever taken. The kayking (and guide) was fabulous with tons of interesting sights like sunken ships! The area is simply beautiful and we met some really nice folks. The oTENTik was comfy and kept us out safe from the (few) bugs. We are definitely going back!

PROS-Renting a kayak from 1000 Islands Kayaking Company in Gananoque is easy and affordable. The kayaks even come with a pass to the national park. The kayaks can fit a lot of gear too (we were going out for 3 days).-Paddling through shallow parts was really fun. Such a great chance to see sections of the Thousand Islands that larger boats will never see.-Campsites were clean and well maintained (campsite #2 at Camelot Island and campsite #8 at Aubrey Island both have spectacular views of the water)-Swimming at Thwartway/Leek Island is great. There's a sandy beach and the water stays shallow for a decent distance.-The toilets were super clean and built in an environmentally friendly way.TIPS-Avoid open water as much as possible. Paddle on the lee sides of the islands to be away from the current & wind. Even if a route through open water seems shorter, It will most likely take more time and be less interesting than if you zig zag through islands-Campsites are first come first serve. Upon arriving to the island, leave your kayak and your gear but grab a pen and a campsite sheet to quickly grab the best spot. That said, there aren't really any "bad" spots.-Using cheques to pay for the campsites can be easier to carry than cash.-For big groups, Camelot has a cluster of 4 campsites.-Bring a garbage bag since most islands don't have any garbages. Bonus points if you do some shoreline clean up-Sandals with a heel strap that you don't care about getting wet are ideal footwear. Sneakers or flip flops are not. Neither is going barefoot.CONS-Rotting fish (and birds) on some shores can make getting out of the kayak a bit gross. Not really a big deal but not really something you want to step on barefoot.All in all, it's a great park to visit for either a few hours or a few days! No matter what, it's an adventure.

This is the closest National Park to my hometown of Ottawa, about 1.5 hours away. We went to kayak the islands. It is a beautiful place, we launched out of Gananoque where it is easy to skip from Island to island for a reasonable cheap beaching pass that can be purchased at the docks on the Park Islands. Managed to find a great campsite as well despite it being a busy weekend. The best time to paddle was right before dusk when the boat traffic dies down a little but when you are out of the main channel it really isn't too bad.They didn't take credit card for purchasing the beaching pass or camping permit so make sure you bring some cash.Very different experience from Jasper or Banff because of how many private cottages were nearby, but it was a very beautiful place with each Island having short hiking trails and lots of great spots for swimming and picnics. The bathrooms were cleaner than the ones in my house.