General information about the 1000 Islands National Park
Founded in 1904, Thousand Islands National Park is located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. It is part of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and connects the Canadian Shield from Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario to the Adirondack Mountains in New York. The national park consists of 20 larger and about 90 smaller islands. However, the entire 1000 Islands region consists of a total of 1864 islands and stretches across both sides of the border between Canada and the USA. With a total area of 24.4 km2, the park is one of the smallest national parks in Canada. Hiking trails, the visitor center, and the park administration are located on the mainland along the Thousand Islands Parkway between Brockville and Gananoque.
Number of visitors
Best time to visit: May to October
Our visits:
So far 1 visit: October 2025
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 9.50 CAD parking fee/car/day
- Covered by the Discovery Pass*
- The park facilities are open from mid-May to mid-October.
*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.
Visitor Center
Description: The National Park Visitor Center is located on 1000 Island Parkway and is usually open between mid-May and mid-October. Here you will also find beautiful grounds and picturesque viewpoints overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The two red Adirondack chairs, which can be found in all Canadian national parks, provide another beautiful photo opportunity.
Our rating: Since we were in the park after Thanksgiving, the Visitor Center was unfortunately no longer open during our visit. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile stop because the surroundings here are so beautiful that there are plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs a little.
1000 Islands Tower
Description: The tower is located on Hill Island in Canada. It can be reached via the 1000 Island Bridge. This costs a toll of CAD 5, which can be paid in cash or by credit card. The toll is only payable when traveling towards Hill Island. The return journey is free of charge. The tower is not part of the national park and is privately run. If you want to take the elevator to the top to enjoy the view, it costs CAD 19.50 per person plus tax. The tower is open from mid-May to mid-October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is also a small souvenir shop on the ground floor.
Our rating: We really enjoyed our trip to the 1000 Island Tower. Especially in autumn, when the trees change color, there are great views over the national park and the entire 1000 Islands area.
Boat Tour
Description: Boat tours are offered from many locations along the St. Lawrence River. Since we wanted to see Boldt Castle, among other things, we decided on a tour from Ivy Lea. This “Two Castles” tour lasted 2 hours and took us past numerous islands to Boldt and Springer Castle. Since Boldt Castle is located in the USA, you have to carry a passport with you if you intend to disembark on the island to see the house. We decided on a tour without a visit.
Our rating: The boat tour itself was okay. It was interesting to pass by the pretty islands and see the sometimes gigantic buildings. However, the boat was very old and some of the benches inside were broken and old. In addition, some of the explanations were difficult to hear. In our opinion, the 2-hour tour is only worthwhile if you get off at one of the castles and take a look around one of the islands. The trip to Singer Castle was very long and there wasn't much to see along the way except water. If we were to visit again, we would either book a 1-hour tour or a longer tour that includes a visit to Boldt Castle.
