• Home
• Services
  Marinas Boat Sales & Services Boat Stores Shopping & Services Accommodations Transportation Attractions Charters & Cruises Real Estate Places to Eat Rental & Tackle
• Advertise
• Who We Are
• Ontario Boating
  Central Region Eastern Region Northern Region Southern Region Safe Boating
• Contact

Ontario Boating - South

The Western Region of Ontario’s WaterWays includes the southernmost point in the country.  Pelee Island drops into Lake Erie from Point Pelee forming a natural bridge across the lake for migrating songbirds, waterfowl and birds of prey.  This whole region is a naturalist’s dream.  Much of the area is in the Carolinian forest zone.  It has plants and animal species that you’ll find nowhere else in the country.  The route north from Erie to Huron is a natural border between the US and Canada with thousands of slips to choose from and lots to do whether you want to commune with nature or go downtown.

Lake Erie

This is a busy lake.  15 million people live along its shores.  Along with lake freighters and recreational boats, you’ll see fishing tugs, bringing in a large harvest of perch and pickerel.  Along the northern shore, most towns will have at least one great place to enjoy a fry-up of fresh caught perch.  The long sand beaches and warm clear water, farmers’ markets and the excellent wineries ashore (the ice wine from Pelee Island is world renowned!) draw people to the region.  The excellent fishing, swimming and diving on wrecks bring them out on the water.

Eastern Shores

After a climb of 326 feet from Lake Ontario, the Welland Canal brings you up to the Eastern Shores of Lake Erie at Port Colborne.  This town celebrates life on the Great Lakes with races, regattas fishing derbies, and annual festivals such as Canal Days.  The shoreline here is a beach, the waters are clear and warm and filled with boats and there is so much to do ashore you hardly need go any further.

Long Point Bay

When the west wind piles steep sided waves on Lake Erie, the shelter from Long Point is welcome.  This extraordinary sand spit stretches more than 20 miles into the lake and is recognized as a biosphere reserve by the United Nations.  Birdwatchers will probably add to their lists and the nearby waters are filled with large bass and pickerel.  Ashore, the towns have full service marinas restaurants and supplies.

Central Elgin

At Port Stanley, where Central Elgin meets Lake Erie, you can take a trip through time on a railway built more than century ago.  The seven-mile trip to St Thomas doesn’t take long, but the scenery is spectacular – particularly over Kettle Creek.  Port Stanley has transient docks acres and acres of sandy beaches and an interesting downtown to explore.

West Elgin

Rondeau is Ontario’s second oldest provincial park and it is unique for many other reasons.  Its Carolinian forest is home to endangered birds such as the prothonotary warbler, and southern flora species such as the sassafras, and tulip tree.  You may see a Virginia opossum here, although its range is extending farther afield.   The park extends nearly five miles into the lake and during the annual migration you’ll see waves of songbirds and even the tundra swan.

Pigeon Bay

Pelee Island is the southernmost point in Canada – about level with the northern border of California.  The shallow Erie waters here have claimed many boats over the years and the clear waters are a diver’s dream.  Ashore there are bicycling trails, bed and breakfasts, great farmers’ markets (Leamington is the Tomato Capital of Canada), and, in keeping with the bird watching all along this shore, the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary is here as well.

Detroit River

The Detroit River passes the largest metropolitan area on any international border and it is one of the busiest border crossings in North America.  In addition to millions of vehicles, some 8000 commercial vessels every year carry goods across the river.  In its 30 miles, the Detroit River has berths for 12000 or more recreational boats.  Yet despite all the traffic and urban pressure, the river and its banks contain all the plant an animal species of the Canadian Carolinian region.

Lake St Clair

Tucked into the chain of Great Lakes, Lake St Clair looks small on the map but this nearly round like has a diameter of 25 miles.  Its average depth of ten feet tells you how important it is for large boats to stay in the shipping channel, but the marshes and wetlands that surround its shore support waterfowl and fish.  Duck hunters from around the world come here in the fall.  Boaters come and go all season for the great food, the interesting shops and attractions.

St Clair River

Where it flows into Lake St Clair, the river has created a broad delta, one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world.  Just over 36 miles long, the river is easy to navigate but its commercial traffic combined with pleasure craft makes it very busy.  At Port Lambton and Sarnia there are plenty of transient slips and interesting attractions ashore.  Sarnia hosts fishing derbies and offshore powerboat races, and soon after you cruise under the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia and Port Huron, you enter Lake Huron and discover why the bridge – and much of the surrounding area – includes the name blue water.