Gananoque on the St. Lawrence River

Gananoque brings together the St. Lawrence River, art, history and opportunities for active days. The waterfront offers a beach and access to the water, while trails and museums reveal other sides of the town. If you are considering Gananoque as a vacation destination, you can focus your vacation rental search on whether you would rather spend your time outdoors, by the water, or discovering culture and history.

Trails and River Landscapes

The Gananoque Trail System is a 12 km loop trail on the edge of town. It can be divided into three loops, each of which returns to the starting point. When planning your day, you can decide whether to walk the entire route or one of the available loops. Another option is the Lions Loop, which is accessible to bicycles and wheelchairs.

Gananoque is also part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. It runs along the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, connecting 155 communities and hundreds of natural and cultural heritage sites. This makes the town part of a larger route that encompasses both landscapes and cultural destinations.

Enjoy the Water

Joel Stone Beach sits on the shore of the St. Lawrence River and features a sandy beach, a swimming dock with deep water, and a splash pad. It offers a range of ways to enjoy time by the water. For families, the splash pad is a distinct attraction, while the swimming dock and sandy beach add to the riverside amenities.

Those who want to experience the St. Lawrence River by canoe or kayak can launch for free at the Gananoque Day Dock & Kayak Launch. The launch site provides access to the river. Sightseeing cruises are another way to get out on the water: 1000 Islands City Cruises Gananoque offers a range of cruises, with ports in Gananoque and nearby Ivy Lea.

Discover Art and History

Confederation Park is home to Canada’s largest outdoor contemporary art exhibition. The works commissioned for the Sculpture Park in Confederation Park are intended to reflect the history or environment of Gananoque and the surrounding area. Those interested in public art can discover works here that relate to local history or the environment.

The self-guided Art Walk takes visitors through art galleries, cooperatives, studios and supporting businesses in the Arts District. The district is on King Street between the bridge and Charles Street. For a different perspective on Gananoque, the historic walking tour uses archival photos to show changing or continuous uses of the town’s built heritage over the past 200 years.

The museums also offer distinct areas of focus. Located on the waterfront, the Thousand Islands Boat Museum is a hands-on museum where visitors can touch, build and experience river history. At the family-friendly 1000 Islands History Museum, visitors experience ten thousand years of Canadian history in the 1000 Islands. Together, they offer everything from a hands-on introduction to river history to a broad historical timeline.

Explore More Places

Alongside Gananoque, you can also consider Johnstown, Kemptville, Prescott, Merrickville, Brockville, Westport, Mallorytown and Leeds And The Thousand Islands as destinations in their own right.

For the broader travel overview: Leeds And Grenville United Counties.