Stunning Killarney Proves the Destination Is Just As Important as the Journey
Published: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 6:00 pm
A version of this article appeared in the Summer (July/August) Issue 2022 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
If you drive down the long and winding roadway known as “The 637,” your vehicle will eventually descend into the water. You have reached the boat launch in the center of the village of Killarney Ontario, a village that came together before the country of Canada itself.
With this somewhat remote location on the North Shore of Georgian Bay, Killarney is inhabited by around 500 full-time residents and has kept its maritime charm throughout the ages. The area was instrumental in the development of the typical resource industries that birthed the nation.
From fur trade to logging and fishing, Killarney now trades mostly in tourism as three resort properties operate for leisure guests, groups, and weddings year-round.
At the westerly end of Killarney Channel, you will discover a white 3-storey, gabled hotel sitting right on the water. The Sportsman’s Inn dates back to the turn of the last century when it served both locals and tourists traveling on one of the many elegant Great Lakes’ passenger boats.
Known as the place where everyone gets together and socializes, on land and in the water, the Sportsman’s Inn offers a full-service marina, two restaurants, George Island Cabins, a motel, an oyster bar, and several executive suites.
Walk east along Channel Street past quaint waterfront stores and leafy homes, you will discover a footbridge leading to Killarney Mountain Lodge. Once the refuge for an industrialist from Detroit, his clients, and his business partners, it now offers beautiful new and updated accommodations, expanded dining options, a pool, and its own full-service marina. With all its recent changes, however, the buildings and people still maintain that relaxed charm you can only experience in a true lodge atmosphere.
The famous Carousel Lounge boasts 360-degree views of the property and has served as the perfect tonic to the end of a long day’s hike in Killarney Provincial Park or boat ride to Baie Fine.
With its wide range of activities and excursions offered by both properties, guests have the choice of experiencing some of Northern Ontario’s most spectacular scenery. Pristine waterways, a thriving marine ecosystem, and mature forests support diverse local wildlife that can be spotted everywhere you go.
Iconic to the area are the La Cloche Mountains — made from White Quartzite and at one time, higher than the Rockies, they are visible throughout the North Shore of Georgian Bay. One of the most popular hikes in Killarney is known as The Crack and gives hikers an opportunity to touch and climb over the quartzite rock itself. The mid-way point offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Juxtaposed to the white quartzite is a blanket of pink granite found at the water’s edge. Worn smooth throughout the ages, it can also be investigated on several of the hikes around Killarney. Known as The Chik from its proper name Chikanishing, this local hike is a wilderness version of parkour over pink granite and a breathtaking shoreline you won’t experience anywhere else in the world.
One of the most significant additions to Killarney is Canada House, a 35,000-square-foot conference center made entirely from Douglas Fir and White Pine. The only one of its kind in the world, Canada House is a stunning work of architecture with vaulted ceilings and massive windows and terraces looking out to the wilds of Georgian Bay. Its banquet facilities are used by groups having retreats, companies hosting meetings, and of course weddings with all of Killarney as their backdrop. The Ranch House restaurant offers a menu of crafted and curated dishes including wild game.
Perched atop black iron stilts and just outside Canada House is The Big Dipper, the world’s largest paddle. Recently acknowledged by Guinness, it measures 110 feet and six inches long. The perfect stop for an Instagram moment while in Killarney.
Killarney’s slightly remote location is both a barrier and a blessing as this village has retained a rustic charm and down-to-earthiness that’s so hard to find in cottage county these days. Now with the careful development of these three resort properties people from all over the world can come to experience Killarney and all it has to offer.
Often said by those who have been touched by this place, Killarney can be a little difficult to get to but even harder to leave.
tags: Canada, Destination, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
