Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve
Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve
Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve
4.5
About
Features animals
Learn more about animal welfare in tourismSuggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingFull view










The area
Address
See what other travellers are saying
- nickelcitygirlSudbury, Canada666 contributionsBeautiful spot!This is a day use only park; there is no camping available. The website indicated that the Visitor Centre would be open weekends in May and June and all week during July and August, but just a heads up that this was not the case during our visit. The Visitor Centre was closed when we were there, and the washrooms were closed as well (the sign indicated that they are only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Pack whatever you need to eat or drink, as there were no options to purchase anything. Also note that there are no garbage cans, so you bring out whatever you take in. There is a very nominal fee; the most expensive walk in fee is $2 for an adult 18+. There was some flooding when we visited, so not all of the trails were available. We did the Inland Alvar trail, which is about a 5 km loop. There were a few spots where you are by the water (Misery Bay and Lake Huron). The water was so clear! It's an easy walk and the trail is well marked. If you want to be along the water for a long stretch, it looks like the 8 km Coastal Alvar trail follows Lake Huron for about 3 1/2 km. Definitely worth a visit!Visited August 2020Written November 1, 2020
- Faith W1 contributionMagic....What a find! After hiking the insanely busy Cup and Saucer Trail. This park was all that you could wish for a short trail. We took the circular yellow trail, approx 7 KMS in total. The interior walk was beautiful woodland, moss and soft ground criss crossing alvar rock formations which ended on a wild windswept shoreline with a gazebo. The return hike took in shoreline and was more travelled, with evidence of its ice age rock formations. Note, only bathrooms on that trail (at least) are at Visitor Centre.Visited August 2020Travelled with familyWritten September 4, 2020
- NeilP451229 contributionsA good walk and provides what is promised.We went on a very warm day. The centre was not open and parking was paid via machine. Some good explanations of glacial landforms at the centre and then we went part way around the coastal red trail to see the Alvars. Someone who came later said she had heard that the red trail had been partly washed out and we found the piece along the beach a little hard to follow but there were markers visible most of the time. The trails were generally well marked throughout. Lots of plants to see in the inland trail portions.Visited June 2022Written June 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
86 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
20
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Diya Maria M
2 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
The coastal Alvar trail is the most beautiful hike on the island. We were lucky to also spend over an hour at the visitor centre with park warden Brad, who told us all about the history of the island and the park. He was incredibly patient and is a fantastic asset to the facility -- the knowledge and passion he shared with us made the rest of the hike very meaningful. The education opportunities at the visitor centre are wonderful and so important to many of us who are unfamiliar with Manitoulin. Thank you Brad for making this trip even more worthwhile.
Written September 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andra S
2 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Family
I loved every second we were there! My family had so much fun walking around and looking at the beautiful lake
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahnaid
Listowel, Canada405 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Couples
We love provincial parks. We came here to experience one that was new to us. The park itself was lovely, but I am not ranking it any higher because of the staff. Hen we went into the visitor centre to have a look, we were greeted by a park warden who almost caused us ot leave the park, First we were chastised for not booking a day pass when we have a park pass and thought the park was full give the lecture but it wasn’t. Then we were given a long speech we didn’t ask for while we stood there with lawn chairs abut the history of the dead settlers who ‘first’ owned the land. The interpreter actually suggested we might enjoy Providence bay more because we can’t play a radio (which we didn’t have) and might not appreciate the flora and fauna (I use iNaturalist regularly to help identify birds and flowers I see on hikes that I’m unfamiliar with. The icing on the cake was that we wanted to buy the park crest and sticker for our collection but he couldn’t sell them to us on a weekend and we would have to come back on a weekday when the friends of the park were there. Apparently it is a big deal that the park finally has a conservation officer but in our experience that person is king people feel like they shouldn’t visit.so whatever you do if you visit one weekend thi summer, by-pass the visitor centre!
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
talula77London
Toronto, Canada56 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Couples
This is a lovely remote area with unique beauty and geography. The beach is beautiful and the hiking trails are great. It’s very remote and not busy which is also nice. The water is so clean and clear. You will love it! Highly recommended.
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BMartin
Ontario, Canada31 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Family
Beautiful park. The volunteer working the visitor was incredibly helpful. Easy walking trails. Bring your water shoes to walk the rocks in the water. Wish we would hav head more time to explore.
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie L
Waterloo, Canada579 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Couples
A beautiful ecosystem to enjoy as you hike the terrain - a mix of coniferous and Carolinian forestscapes. This is a flat trail walk through wild forest spaces - incredibly peaceful and beautiful. When you reach the shoreline, you are met with pristine views amd breathtaking beauty. We had the trail, and the shoreline, pretty much to ourselves the day we hiked in. We were there to hike (no swimming for us, alas!) and we walked the Yellow trail in about 90-100 minutes, walking at a good clip. There is a longer 'red' trail (an additional 5km to our 7km loop) - alas, the blue trail was closed, sadly - was the trail we really wanted to explore.
During summertime jaunts, be sure you have plenty of water... it is a hot walk!
Highly recommend, make this hike one of your top three.
During summertime jaunts, be sure you have plenty of water... it is a hot walk!
Highly recommend, make this hike one of your top three.
Written August 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanya G
2 contributions
Jul. 2022 • Family
Beautiful places to visit while on the island.
It was fairly flat hike until you got to the the beach.
The red trail walk along the beach is large rocks, glacial shelf and Alvars. The kids loved rock hoping along the water.
Great place to set up a beach day as well.
Bring everything you need to drink and eat. They only have washrooms at the visitor centre.
Definitely a must see.
It was fairly flat hike until you got to the the beach.
The red trail walk along the beach is large rocks, glacial shelf and Alvars. The kids loved rock hoping along the water.
Great place to set up a beach day as well.
Bring everything you need to drink and eat. They only have washrooms at the visitor centre.
Definitely a must see.
Written July 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NeilP451
Caledon, Canada229 contributions
Jun. 2022
We went on a very warm day. The centre was not open and parking was paid via machine. Some good explanations of glacial landforms at the centre and then we went part way around the coastal red trail to see the Alvars. Someone who came later said she had heard that the red trail had been partly washed out and we found the piece along the beach a little hard to follow but there were markers visible most of the time. The trails were generally well marked throughout. Lots of plants to see in the inland trail portions.
Written June 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JMark
Ancaster, Canada550 contributions
Aug. 2021 • Couples
Spectacular views and nice trails. We did theong red route which went down by the water. Be ready to get your feet wet or wear water shoes with a pair of hikers. Only criticism was the trail to move away from the water back to visitor center was not well marked from the water area. We walked by it and then back tracked to find it
Written August 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nickelcitygirl
Sudbury, Canada666 contributions
Aug. 2020
This is a day use only park; there is no camping available. The website indicated that the Visitor Centre would be open weekends in May and June and all week during July and August, but just a heads up that this was not the case during our visit. The Visitor Centre was closed when we were there, and the washrooms were closed as well (the sign indicated that they are only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Pack whatever you need to eat or drink, as there were no options to purchase anything. Also note that there are no garbage cans, so you bring out whatever you take in. There is a very nominal fee; the most expensive walk in fee is $2 for an adult 18+. There was some flooding when we visited, so not all of the trails were available. We did the Inland Alvar trail, which is about a 5 km loop. There were a few spots where you are by the water (Misery Bay and Lake Huron). The water was so clear! It's an easy walk and the trail is well marked. If you want to be along the water for a long stretch, it looks like the 8 km Coastal Alvar trail follows Lake Huron for about 3 1/2 km. Definitely worth a visit!
Written November 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yossarian B
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Is the beach good for swimming? Is it sandy or rocky? How deep is the wager? Etc.
Jeff B
Evansville, Canada
Lots of people swimming there today - beautiful!
Is this bearcounty or can you take a hike without encounter bears? I don't feel at ease if I think there are bears
valvan2014
Stratford, Canada
Is this a camping provincial park?
OnParks
Ontario, Canada1 contribution
We don't offer camping at Misery Bay Provincial Park, but it's a fantastic spot for a day trip.
Located on Manitoulin Island, Misery Bay offers over 15 km of hiking trails, a boardwalk and a bird-viewing platform overlooking the wetland. Keen birders and casual observers will see many species of warblers that nest in the park, like Northern Parula, Black-throated Green and Yellow-rumped, flycatchers like the Eastern Kingbird, sparrows like the Clay-coloured and LeConte’s, as well as the occasional Bald Eagle or Sandhill Crane.
With over 470 species of plants known to be within the park, including species at risk such as the Lakeside Daisy (Manitoulin Gold) and Pitcher’s Thistle, there is always something to see no matter what the season.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing