Thousand Islands National Park protects granite islands and rugged shorelines along the St. Lawrence River. Parks Canada frames the park around kayaking, boating, river picnics, camping, wooded trails, rocky lookouts, biodiversity, and Indigenous heritage.
The key planning detail is access. Island sites are boat-access, so visitors need to think about paddling, boat rentals, private boats, mooring, shuttles, or other official access options before booking camping.
Thousand Islands is a strong choice for travellers who want a water-based Ontario national park with island camping and short-trip flexibility. The park offers campsites, oTENTiks, paddling, boating, hiking, red chairs, events, programs, and river scenery between Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, and Montreal travel corridors.
It can work as a paddling trip, a camping weekend, a picnic stop, or a scenic boating itinerary, but the best plan starts with maps, access, reservations, and water safety.
Plan around kayaking, boating, hiking, island camping, oTENTik stays, events, programs, red chairs, picnicking, biodiversity learning, and cultural landscape interpretation. Parks Canada keeps current information for how to get there, island access, camping reservations, maps, boating, fees, passes, safety, water safety, wildlife, park regulations, and facilities.
If you do not have a boat, check official access options before reserving an island site.
Parks Canada currently lists Thousand Islands National Park as reopening May 15, 2026, with facilities not maintained between Thanksgiving and Victoria Day. Confirm seasonal dates, island access, camping and oTENTik reservations, boat access, fees, parking, mooring, trail conditions, weather, and safety guidance through the official source before travelling.
