Fathom Five NMP
The Southwest - Ontario
General information about the National Marine Park
Fathom Five NMP is a national marine conservation area in Georgian Bay. The park's goal is to protect freshwater ecosystems and preserve the region's shipwrecks and lighthouses. Fathom Five encompasses numerous islands, including Flowerpot Island with its namesake “flowerpots.” These rock formations were eroded from the Niagara Escarpment. The park was established in 1987 and encompasses the area of Fathom Five PP and the western part of Georgian Bay Islands National Park.
Number of visitors
Best time to visit: May to October
Our visits:
So far 1 visit: October 2025
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 10 CAD per person per day
- Covered by the Discovery Pass
- Open year-round
*The Discovery Pass is a “flat-rate” pass for all areas managed by Parks Canada. It costs CAD 83.50 per person, or CAD 167.50 for up to 7 people in a single vehicle, and is valid for one calendar year, calculated on a day-to-day basis.
Boat trip to Flowerpot Island
Description:
If you don't have your own boat, you can explore the park on a tour boat. There are various providers offering different tours from Tobermory. We opted for a tour with Blue Heron Cruises with a 3-hour stop on Flowerpot Island. The tour also includes a trip on a glass-bottom boat over one of the numerous wrecks that have sunk in Lake Huron over time. This is the wreck of the Sweepstakes, which now lies in Big Tub Harbor off Tobermory.
On Flowerpot Island, you can choose from three hiking trails that lead to the Flowerpots, a lighthouse, a cave, and many beautiful viewpoints overlooking Lake Huron.
Note: If you stay at the Harbourside Motel, you will receive a voucher for Blue Heron Cruises. With this voucher, you only pay for one person on a tour for two.
Trail length: 2,6km roundtrip (Flowerpot Trail)
Altitude difference: – but there are several steps on the trail
Time needed: 2h
Difficulty level: easy
Our rating: We really enjoyed the boat tour to Flowerpot Island. It was interesting, entertaining, and offered plenty of variety. We spent three hours on the island and had enough time to explore everything. We would definitely recommend booking a tour that allows you to disembark at Flowerpot Island and take a closer look at the island.
