Loop: Snug (or Dillon) to Big McCoy, Limestones, Minks, Red Rock, Snake, Franklin Island return.

Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

Route Length: 40 km (50 km if you paddle to Limestones and back)

Maps: 41 H7/8 Parry Sound - Charts: 2242

Launch / Landing: Snug Harbour or Dillon Cove (**see notes on launching/parking at these sites at bottom of this page)

Description: A great out and back loop from either Dillon or Snug Harbour Public Launch sites for a weekend or up to 4 day trip. This trip showcases some of Georgian Bay's prettiest island groupings. Late summer opportunities allow for a visit to the lonely Limestone Islands (10 km offshore - recommended for intermediate/advanced paddlers only) .
North Limestone Island, Provincial Reserve

The southern islands in this archipelago chain are known as the Mink Islands, delimited by the Red Rock Lighthouse (approximate position 9 km west of Snug Harbour. The northern portion of the island chain are called the McCoy Islands ( 5 km due west of mouth of Shawanaga Inlet or 15 km wnw of Dillon Cove). The Limestone Islands lie parallel to them west of Mink Island Chain ( 5km ).

" Our paddle from the mainland out among the islands as far as Big and Little McCoy will take us into the eroded roots of the Grenville Mountains, possibly the greatest mountain range the Earth has ever seen. Worn away now, but once as high as Everest, mountain peaks rose over Parry Sound and Gravenhurst, stretching in a Himalayan-like range from Texas to Labrador and on to Scandinavia a billion years ago. In fact, some reconstructions of the continents at the time put Australia and southern Africa to the south of Texas and envisage the Grenville Mountains running from there almost to the north pole ! " (White Squall Geopaddle, Prof. David Pearson, 2007)

Part 1: Snug Harbour to Big McCoy (or Dillon Cove to shorten your paddle) Launch from Snug Harbour and paddle up the inside of Franklin Island (Shebeshekong Channel). This is the small boat channel so watch out for traffic! Or alternatively paddle the outside of Franklin Island (west side is most scenic but can be rough water on a windy day). Paddle north to Shawanaga Inlet. Large campsite can be found along the eastern shore of the inlet north of Edge I. in the many coves and bays along the shoreline. Continue to paddle west crossing to Twin Sisters (private island - and boat channel is located here too), then to bottom end of Islands south of Hertzberg I. Possible campsites exist in and around Boiler Bay south side of Hertzberg Island. Continue to paddle west crossing now to Big McCoy. There are many great large campsite surrounding the outside of Big McCoy - most are located at the souteastern and nortwestern corners - thunderbox type outhouses exist at many of these sites (maintained by the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Association).

Points of Interest:

• Turtle Rock in Shawanaga Bay (along shoreline just north of Edge I.) - offerings of tobacco, food and beads are left by travelers even today to ensure calm weather - a tradition started by an Ojibway boy caught in a storm, seeing a giant turtle he prayed to it for calm weather. With the passing of the storm, the boy turned to thank the turtle but instead was greeted with a smooth rock instead; the boy then left
  an offering of meat as thanks.
• The Ghost of Big McCoy Island - local legend has it that on a full moon evening each
  September, a mournful scream can be heard from the deepest part of Big McCoy. Why does this
  island continue to be haunted? (read all about it in Ghosts of the Bay)
• Southwest Island Group (2 km west of Big McCoy) - Nesting area for common and Caspian Terns, Cormorants, & Canada Geese. A single lonely elm tree stands proud and tall and small vegetation thrives due to the numerous rock fissures containing trapped sediment & bird guano.
  
  

Part 2: Big McCoy to North Limestone Island (intermediate paddlers only - optional daytrip ) - a 5 km crossing to the west will put you at the Limestone Provincial Reserve Islands. As of Aug. 1st each year, these islands can be accessed by visitors (access is restricted in spring and early summer due to nesting bird colonies). Best to check with the staff at Killbear Provincial Park before you go anytime of the year for permission.

Some Interesting Facts about the Limestone Islands:

• Breeding Colonies: They support large breeding colonies of ring-billed and herring gulls, common and Caspian terns, great-blue and black-crowned night herons, double-crested cormorants and many lesser birds and have been a banding site used by ornithologists of the Dominion Wildlife Service for many years.
• Fishing Station: (1894) There was a small fishing station on southern Limestone Island.
  
• Aboriginal Pits - inland of fishing station location are evidence of four dug pits - archealogic digs have determined that these pits formed part of the dwellings of Iroquoian Indians, of the pre-European period who, during their period of tenure, there, made use of fire (charcoal remains) to prepare food (broken pots) which food, at least in part, consisted of fish, birds and clams (bone and shell fragments). There is also some very slight suggestion that stone artifacts may have been made there by the occupants of these pits. ("A Preliminary Investigation of the South Limestone Island Archaeological Site"by Garman W. Douglas and John A. Macfie)
• Tropical Fossils: The limestone island rock is about 470 million years old and belongs to the middle of the Ordovician Period. The limestone solidified from the mud on the bottom of a shallow, Florida Bay-like sea that flooded almost all of North America and was home to a wide variety of marine organisms. Many great specimens of fossils can be found here (the best examples are at the southwest corner of North Limestone Island). The Limestone Islands are isolated fragments of a once continuous layer that connected to the Bruce Peninsula in one direction and Manitoulin Island in the other. ((White Squall Geopaddle, Prof. David Pearson, 2007)
  
  
  

Part 3: Big McCoy to Green Island - 8 km - paddle south down the island chain. Alternative campsites and lunch spots exist on Dart I., Elmtree, Wallbank. The best camping on the Mink Islands is on Green Island (west, south and northwest sides). Green is a good base camp location to set yourself up for a daytrip out to the Southern Limestone Island group. Green is also the last public camping spot amongst the Mink Islands. All other islands to the south are private but worthwhile paddle through and around.

Points of Interest:

• Wreck of the Seattle -
  
• Canadian Architectual Award Winning Cottage on Boucher Island
  

Part 4: Green Island to Red Rock to Snake Island - 9 km -

Points of Interest:

• Old Fishing Station
• Red Rock Lighthouse - was rebuilt three times over the years and deceased lighthouse keeper
  Adam Brown is still local legend for tending the lonely rock for over 40 years. His name can be
  still seen today carved into the hard granite stone - well they had lots of time!!
  
  

Part 5: Snake Island to Snug Harbour (alternative route home - cross to Franklin Island - Henrietta Point and extend your stay with a last nights camp or lunch spot on Franklins many southern campsites)


**Snug Harbour & Dillon Cove Parking and Launching Suggestions:

Support the local marinas. They have friendly service, good food, local knowledge and controlled parking - can’t beat that eh? Carling Township ratepayers are the ones who maintain access points for the benefit of everyone, so use the docks and ramps quickly and don’t spread your gear all over hell’s half acres. Thanks!

Snug Harbour

Gilly’s (Snug Harbour Marina)

• free launching if you pay for parking… good deal eh
  
• they have a wonderful, inexpensive restaurant with fresh Bay fish
• there is also a store there with ICE CREAM and a washroom

Government Dock

• free launching
• drive and unload at wharf - keep boats/gear neat in small pile - clear area
• DON’T TRESPASS on either side of wharf-where it’s obviously private -park back at lot-right hand side before last curve in road as you’re driving in -closest lot is for ratepayers only, so use further one-it is for visitors.
• if you park in the wrong spot, you will be ticketed and towed

Dillon Cove

• there is no free visitor parking - parking is for ratepayers only
• go to Dillon Cove Marina (it’s right there) & pay
• they have a great shop with cold drinks and ICE CREAM!
• dock is available to all but you must move quickly not to jam up the wharf
• unload, keep boats/gear neatly in a small pile. Leave the ramp for motor boats