Northern Ontario & Manitoulin: A Golfer's Guide

Stretching from the forested highlands of Northeastern Ontario to the limestone shores of the world's largest freshwater island, this trail pairs genuine wilderness scenery with accessible, unhurried golf. Rainbow Ridge Golf Course, one of Ontario's longest-running island courses, anchors the Manitoulin end of the route, while Huron Pines Golf and Country Club draws players deeper into the northern interior.

• Rainbow Ridge Golf Course: An 18-hole, par-72 championship layout established in 1932 and set on Manitoulin Island — one of Ontario's most historically rooted golf experiences at 6,424 yards.
• Huron Pines Golf and Country Club: A Northern Ontario club offering competitive green fees (CAD $61.44) in a classic boreal setting, ideal for a relaxed round away from the crowds.
• Island dining: Fresh Lake Huron whitefish appears on menus across Manitoulin, from the waterfront patio at Buoy's Eatery in Gore Bay to the storied bar room of Anchor Inn Restaurant & Bar in Little Current.
• Lakefront lodging: Cottage and camping resorts line the island's bays, with options ranging from tents-and-trailers at Black Rock Resort to a Victorian B&B retreat at Twin Peaks Bed & Breakfast.
• Big-sky scenery: Every round on this trail unfolds against the backdrop of boreal forest, open sky, and the shimmering waters of Lake Huron's North Channel.

The natural starting point for most visitors is Rainbow Ridge Golf Course in Manitowaning, on the eastern reaches of Manitoulin Island. Opened in 1932, it is one of the older continuously operating courses in the region, and its 6,424-yard, par-72 layout rewards players who can manage a mix of mature tree-lined fairways and Manitoulin's characteristically open terrain. The course carries a championship designation, meaning players of all handicaps will find genuine tests here, while the island's unhurried pace ensures that a round rarely feels rushed. Playing Rainbow Ridge in the morning — when light filters across the island's rolling landscape — sets a high bar for the rest of the trip.

From Manitoulin, the trail extends north into Northeastern Ontario, where Huron Pines Golf and Country Club offers a contrasting experience rooted in the region's boreal character. Green fees at Huron Pines sit at a reasonable CAD $61.44, making it an accessible addition to the itinerary without sacrificing the sense of playing somewhere genuinely remote. Together, the two courses capture the dual appeal of this trail: island golf steeped in history on one end, and northern Ontario's quieter, pine-framed club culture on the other.

Day 1 — Arrive on Manitoulin, settle in Manitowaning: Cross onto Manitoulin Island and check in at Wayside Motel Manitoulin or My Friends Inn in Manitowaning. Spend the afternoon getting oriented — South Bay is a short drive away — before heading to Little Current for dinner. Anchor Inn Restaurant & Bar, a Manitoulin landmark since 1888, is the place to start with fresh whitefish and a waterfront view.

Day 2 — Rainbow Ridge and island exploration: Tee off early at Rainbow Ridge Golf Course for a full 18 holes on one of Ontario's most historically significant island layouts. After the round, drive west along the Trans-Canada through the island's interior, stopping for lunch or dinner at Buoy's Eatery in Gore Bay, where handcrafted pizzas and a harbourfront patio make a relaxed end to a day on the course. Return to Manitoulin Resort or Black Rock Resort for an evening by the water.

Day 3 — Little Current and the North Channel: Take a morning at a slower pace — Twin Peaks Bed & Breakfast in Mindemoya is well positioned for a central-island breakfast before heading back through Little Current. Try North 46 Restaurant inside Manitoulin Hotel for lunch, where sweeping views of the North Channel and LaCloche Mountains pair with Indigenous-owned hospitality. Elliott's Restaurant in Little Current is another island favourite worth knowing, with one of the broadest menus on the island.

Day 4 — Drive north to Huron Pines: Leave Manitoulin via the swing bridge at Little Current and head north into Northeastern Ontario to play Huron Pines Golf and Country Club. The manageable green fee and boreal surroundings make it a satisfying final round before the drive home, rounding out a trip that moves naturally from island history to northern Ontario's quieter, forest-framed golf culture.

Manitowaning serves as the most convenient base for golfers playing Rainbow Ridge Golf Course, with several lodging options within easy reach of the first tee. The Wayside Motel Manitoulin sits just 2 km from the course and earns top ratings among visitors for straightforward, well-located accommodation. The My Friends Inn offers a family-run alternative with a garden and terrace, while the Manitoulin Resort on Lake Manitou provides lakefront cottage and camping options for those who want to extend the stay with waterfront downtime between rounds.

For a quieter retreat, Twin Peaks Bed & Breakfast in Mindemoya offers adults-only Victorian-style accommodation on 12 acres in central Manitoulin Island — a good choice for golfers looking to unwind in calmer surroundings after a day on the fairways. Those who prefer a more rustic setup will find cottage, camping, and trailer sites at Black Rock Resort along the shores of South Bay.

Whether the draw is a century-old island course or a pine-framed round deep in Northern Ontario, this trail rewards golfers who appreciate scenery, history, and genuine regional character in equal measure. Start planning the route and let Manitoulin Island and the northern Ontario landscape do the rest.