Thousand Islands Islands

The Thousand Islands is an archipelago in the St. Lawrence River between Canada and the United States, spanning roughly a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of river and officially comprising 1,864 islands. The zone is shared by Ontario on the Canadian side and New York State on the U.S. side.

Islands vary from small uninhabited rocks to larger inhabited islands and privately owned estates. Popular activities include boat tours, private boating, fishing and visits to landmark islands with historic houses and castles.

The archipelago developed as a leisure and boating destination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when wealthy visitors built summer residences and ornamental structures on several islands. Many islands remain privately owned, while notable public attractions have been restored and opened for tourism.

Geographically the islands lie at the outlet of Lake Ontario where the St. Lawrence River begins, with Canadian access points at towns such as Kingston and Gananoque on the Ontario shore.

• Island count: There are 1,864 islands that are officially counted as part of the Thousand Islands; islands range from tiny rock outcrops to inhabited islands with year-round communities.
• Getting around: Most visitor activity concentrates on boat cruises, private boating and fishing; seasonal boat services operate from towns such as Gananoque and Kingston on the Canadian side.

What to See#

• Archipelago: A dense concentration of islands and islets spread across a roughly 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the St. Lawrence River, straddling the Canada-United States border in the river between Kingston and the Thousand Islands Bridge.
• Boldt Castle (Heart Island): Boldt Castle on Heart Island is a restored early 20th-century mansion and a major visitor attraction in the American sector of the archipelago; boat access is typical for visitors.
• Singer Castle (Dark Island): Singer Castle on Dark Island is another privately restored castle open for tours by appointment during the summer season.

The Thousand Islands region is accessed from Ontario by road or rail to Kingston, Gananoque or Brockville (Highway 401 serves the corridor). Regular boat cruises and sightseeing launches depart from Kingston, Gananoque and Brockville to the islands; visitors commonly drive to one of those towns and board a tour boat to visit the islands.

• Depart early from Gananoque or Kingston for morning light and far fewer large tour boats; early departures also let you reach quieter islands before day-boat traffic increases.
• Choose a small-boat cruise, water taxi, or private rental to reach lesser-visited public islands in Thousand Islands National Park rather than the big sightseeing ships - smaller operators can land you on park islands or access viewpoints larger boats do not.
• If you plan to see Boldt Castle (on the U.S. side), treat it as an international crossing: carry a passport and confirm docking and border procedures before you go to avoid surprises.