How to get to Flowerpot Island, plus tips for a great visit
Sea stacks are amazing geological rock formations that seem to defy gravity. They’re created as harsh waves cause shore rocks to erode over centuries. To see one, you’d typically need to travel to an ocean coastline. But thanks to the powerful waters of the Great Lakes, there are some excellent inland sea stacks in Ontario. Here’s a look at how to get to Flowerpot Island to see the two famous sea stacks visible along its shoreline, either by boat tour or with your own canoe or kayak.
We visited Flowerpot Island as part of a media tour hosted by Bruce Grey Simcoe and Destination Ontario. Have questions about how to get to Flowerpot Island? Join our Facebook community!
Flowerpot Island and Tobermory are stops along our Georgian Bay Circle Tour road trip >
How to get to Flowerpot Island: First, book a boat tour
Flowerpot Island is located just north of Tobermory within Fathom Five National Marine Park. Administered by Parks Canada, this park became the first federally protected area of water in the country when it was created in 1987.
To get to Flowerpot Island, you’ll first need to plan a road trip to Tobermory. The island is not reachable by car and there’s no private mooring available. There are only two ways to get to Flowerpot Island from Tobermory: you can buy a ticket for an organized boat tour, or you can take a canoe or kayak.
Several tour operators organize Flowerpot Island cruises from Tobermory, the town at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Most of these tours also visit the pair of shipwrecks in Tobermory’s Big Tub Harbour. There are partially and fully covered boats, and some also have a glass bottom so the shipwrecks can be viewed from above. We’ve had great experiences on Tobermory boat tours with Bruce Anchor Cruises.
On average, a boat tour that includes the shipwrecks in Tobermory’s Big Tub Harbour and a trip out to Flowerpot Island lasts from 60 to 90 minutes. From its departure past the Big Tub Lighthouse in Tobermory, the ferry ride to Flowerpot Island takes roughly 15 minutes.
If you’re short on time, you can see the flowerpots from the boat
There are two types of boat tours available to Flowerpot Island. If you want to see the flowerpots but you’re short on time, book a stay-aboard cruise. Your tour will circle around Flowerpot Island, and you’ll return to Tobermory without disembarking. For the best views of the flowerpots, sit on the starboard side of the boat. (If you’re facing the direction the boat is moving, starboard is to your right-hand side.)
The other type of tour you can book for Flowerpot Island is a drop-off cruise. With this type of ticket, you can disembark and hike around the island as detailed below, then take another boat later in the day to return to Tobermory.
Can you canoe or kayak to Flowerpot Island?
It is possible to canoe or kayak to Flowerpot Island. However, this is a challenging 6.5-kilometre trip from Tobermory across open water in Georgian Bay. When the wind picks up, conditions can become very difficult with little notice. You should only attempt to canoe or kayak to Flowerpot Island if you are a highly skilled and experienced paddler.
What can you do on Flowerpot Island?
Most people who visit Flowerpot Island focus on hiking. From the boat dock at Beachy Cove, you can head straight to the island’s two flowerpots along the Loop Trail. This is an easy trail, and the hike to the flowerpots takes approximately 15 minutes one-way. You’ll also find a cave, the historic Flowerpot Island lightstation, and a museum. You can hike back the way you came, continue onto the more challenging section of the Loop Trail, or try the Marl Trail.
Swimming is permitted on Flowerpot Island. Most people swim at the Beachy Cove picnic area near the boat docks and at the flowerpots. Note that the water stays very cold well into August.
Don’t miss your return boat back to Tobermory
This tip is very important! When you book a drop-off cruise, your tour operator will let you disembark onto the island and return on a later sailing. When you select your departure time, you’ll either be assigned a return time or, if it’s less busy, you may be able to choose one.
It’s very important to know when to meet the boat for your return trip and to be back at the boat dock well ahead of that time. If you miss your return boat, getting back to the mainland is a huge hassle at best, maybe impossible at worst.
How much time do you need on Flowerpot Island?
You’ll need at least two hours on Flowerpot Island to hike to the flowerpots and the cave, and three hours if you’d also like to visit the Flowerpot Island lighthouse. If you plan to explore further along the hiking trails, add an extra one to two hours or plan to stay overnight at one of the island’s backcountry campsites.
Time your visit to Flowerpot Island wisely
Flowerpot Island is worth visiting for its sea stacks, a type of rock formation that’s rare away from ocean coastlines. Because the flowerpots are relatively accessible, the island does get busy at times. Summer weekends are the most popular times for visiting Flowerpot Island, while weekdays are slightly less busy. For a quieter experience, try visiting at the beginning or end of the boat touring season, which runs from early May to mid-October.
Bring everything you’ll need while on Flowerpot Island
Usually, food and fresh water are not available on Flowerpot Island. It’s important to bring everything you’ll need for the duration of your visit, including plenty of water, snacks, and a portable lunch if you’re planning a picnic.
You’ll also need sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. You may wish to bring a hat and bug spray, especially earlier in the season. Wagons and strollers are permitted on Flowerpot Island, but you’ll find them impractical on the uneven terrain.
When the Flowerpot Island Lighthouse Museum is open, the gift shop there sells snacks and drinks. Note the gift shop only accepts cash. The museum is a 20 to 30-minute hike from the Beachy Cove boat dock and is not open daily, so it’s best to arrive with everything you need and consider any purchases here a bonus.
Are there bathrooms on Flowerpot Island?
You’ll find the bathrooms on Flowerpot Island at Beachy Cove near the boat dock as well as at the Flowerpot Island lightstation. These are very basic pit toilets with no running water, but they are well-maintained.
Plan to take your trash back to Tobermory with you
If you visit Flowerpot Island during its busiest season, you may find there are lined garbage bins available near the boat docks. However, it’s challenging to maintain garbage pick-up on an uninhabited island. It’s best to carry any trash back with you to Tobermory for disposal on the mainland.
Spending time in Tobermory? Explore things to know about Bruce Peninsula National Park >
You may not have mobile phone service
Cell service can be spotty on Flowerpot Island. You may find you have little or no access to your mobile phone network, depending on your carrier. Expect to be unreachable for the majority of your visit.
Stay on the trails to help preserve Flowerpot Island
There are two trails on Flowerpot Island, though we could technically say there are three.
The Lighthouse Trail section of the Loop Trail starts at the Beachy Cove boat dock. This easy trail follows the coastline around to the two flowerpots, the cave, and the Flowerpot Island lightstation. The hike from Beachy Cove to the lighthouse takes 30 minutes one-way. Most people follow this same trail to return to the boat dock.
At the lighthouse, the Loop Trail turns and heads into the centre of the island. This 1.4-kilometre section is called the Mountain Trail. It’s rated difficult as it climbs up and down the hills through the forest and returns to Beachy Cove. This section takes 40 minutes to complete one-way on average.
There’s also the Marl Trail, which is a moderate trail from the boat dock to the west side of the island. This 800-metre trail takes 20 minutes to complete one-way. It’s less busy than the other trails and can be a good choice for a quieter experience.
It’s okay to walk on the cobblestone beaches to approach the flowerpots, and you can also walk up the staircase to the cave. Otherwise, it’s very important to stay on the marked trails on Flowerpot Island. Every step away from the established trails harms the island’s fragile environment. Please enjoy your time respectfully so future visitors can enjoy the island as much as you do.
Leave only footprints, take only photos and memories
Flowerpot Island is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park. As with any Parks Canada place, it’s important to visit with a conservation mindset.
Please don’t pick flowers or plants. Some of the species that grow on Flowerpot Island are very rare! It’s also important not to feed wildlife. There are no bears or deer on Flowerpot Island, but you will find smaller creatures like red squirrels and garter snakes. Human food disrupts their instincts and puts them at risk, so please don’t feed them.
Campers with backcountry experience can stay overnight
You can sleep on Flowerpot Island, but you’ll need to arrive prepared. There are six backcountry campsites, and each one has a flat section designed for a tent. The sites are quite primitive. There’s no running water, and there are no fire pits since open fires are not permitted anywhere on the island.
To camp on Flowerpot Island, you’ll need to purchase a permit from the visitor centre in Tobermory and buy a ticket for an organized boat tour. You’ll then bring all your gear with you on the boat and disembark at Beachy Cove. The campsites are a short walk from the boat dock. There is a wheeled cart on the island for transporting your equipment and supplies.
Be sure to bring everything you need, including plenty of food and water, a tent and sleeping bags, a portable camping stove, bug spray, and a first aid kit. You’ll also need supplies for at least one extra day. Weather conditions cause boat trips to be cancelled, which may require you to stay on the island for longer than expected. There are pit toilets available on the island for camper use.
Backcountry camping experience is recommended, but everyone needs to start somewhere. If you’re considering it, do plenty of research and give it a try!
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