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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Manitoulin Farmstead's lavender blooms through July near Mindemoya, about 30 minutes from the 8 km Cup and Saucer Trail and Bridal Veil Falls.
4 places · updated October 17, 2026
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The road onto Manitoulin Island crosses a single-lane swing bridge at Little Current, built in 1913, and the pace slows once you're over it: small villages, inland lakes, limestone bluffs and long Lake Huron beaches. Mindemoya, in the middle of the island on Lake Mindemoya, is the commercial hub for groceries, hardware and gifts. From there it's about 15 minutes to the 2 km sandy beach at Providence Bay, about 25 minutes to the waterfall and harbor village of Kagawong, and about half an hour to the cliffs of the Cup and Saucer Trail.
Manitoulin Farmstead is a lavender farm and homestead near Mindemoya that also raises Mini LaMancha goats. Its lavender blooms through July, and visits work through a membership: members book an appointment, and the farm also holds scheduled events. July is the month to plan around, and it pays to check the farm's event list and book before you cross the bridge, since island distances add up and services are spread out.
The lavender farms
- Manitoulin FarmsteadLavender farm · Mindemoya
July
By appointment only for members, plus scheduled summer events such as bouquet picking, yoga and picnics; 2026 season opened July 4.
Best time to visit
Seasons here follow the Northern Hemisphere. July is lavender month: Manitoulin Farmstead says its field blooms throughout July, with visits by member appointment or at scheduled events. The Old Mill Heritage Centre in Kagawong opens on weekends in late May and daily from June 3 (2026), and Maja's Garden Bistro in Mindemoya holds Gourmet Garden Gigs on Wednesday evenings in July and August, by reservation. In summer the Little Current swing bridge swings open for boats during the first 15 minutes of each daylight hour. In fall the Kagawong River becomes a fish sanctuary for the salmon spawn, and Misery Bay Provincial Park's day-use season ends October 18 (2026). Gore Bay's museums are closed until May 2027.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Cup and Saucer Trail🥾 Trail · Highway 540, west of Little Current · about 24 mi, 30 min drive
About 8 km of hiking trail with sheer drops and wide views, including an adventure loop; most of it is on Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy land, reached from the trailhead lot on the east side of Highway 540.
Open year-round (closed for maintenance June 8–11, 2026)
Pay-as-you-go parking
- Bridal Veil Falls & Kagawong River Trail💧 Waterfall · Kagawong · about 20 mi, 25 min drive
Stairs from Main Street lead down to the basin of the falls, where the 6 km Kagawong River Trail follows the river to Mudge Bay; the river is a fish sanctuary during the fall salmon spawn.
- Old Mill Heritage Centre and Post Office Museum🏛️ Museum · Kagawong · about 20 mi, 25 min drive
Local history at 15 Old Mill Road: early sawmills and shipping, island lighthouses with the Kagawong lighthouse lens, Berry boat-building, a military exhibit and a pioneer post office moved from Spring Bay.
Weekends May 23–31, then daily from June 3 (2026)
Free; donations welcome
- Kagawong Main Beach & Sandy Beach🏖️ Beach · Kagawong · about 20 mi, 25 min drive
Main Beach, downtown between the marina and the Old Mill, has washrooms and a playground (no dogs); Sandy Beach at the end of Maple Drive on Mudge Bay allows dogs.
- Providence Bay Beach🏖️ Beach · Providence Bay · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
The island's well-known 2 km sandy beach, with a boardwalk.
- Mindemoya & Lake Mindemoya🏘️ Town · Mindemoya
The island's commercial hub, with grocery, hardware, clothing and gift shops, four public beaches on Lake Mindemoya and a seasonal inflatable waterpark on the lake.
- Little Current Swing Bridge🌉 Landmark · Little Current · about 28 mi, 35 min drive
Built in 1912–13 for the Algoma Eastern Railway and opened to cars in 1946, the 368-foot single-lane swing span is an Ontario Heritage site; in summer it opens for boats during the first 15 minutes of each daylight hour.
- Misery Bay Provincial Park🌳 State park · Evansville · about 40 mi, 50 min drive
A 1,076-hectare nature reserve on the Lake Huron coast with an eco-friendly visitor center, about 15 km of hiking trails and rare plant communities.
Day use only, May 15–October 18, 2026
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Maja's Garden BistroRestaurant · Mindemoya
Mindemoya garden bistro that hosts Gourmet Garden Gigs on Wednesday evenings in July and August, by reservation.
- Mountain View ResortFarm stay or campground · Big Lake
Eight housekeeping cabins on Lake Manitou, taking guests since 1895, with a view of the Cup and Saucer bluffs and a fully accessible cabin.
- The Carter HouseInn or B&B · Kagawong
Adults-only bed and breakfast at 77 Main Street in Kagawong, a short walk from the falls stairs and the Old Mill.
- Rockgarden TerraceRestaurant · Spring Bay
Lakefront resort on Lake Mindemoya with a European-inspired dining room, a licensed garden terrace under maples, and Mindemoya Cave tours.
A one-day plan
- 9:30 AMCup and Saucer Trail
Hike out to the lookouts and back; about 2 hours.
- 12:00 PMBridal Veil Falls · about 25 min drive
Take the stairs down to the falls basin; about 45 minutes.
- 12:50 PMOld Mill Heritage Centre · about 2 min drive
Free local-history museum by the harbor; about 30 minutes.
- 1:45 PMMaja's Garden Bistro · about 25 min drive
Lunch in Mindemoya; about 1 hour.
- 3:00 PMManitoulin Farmstead · about 5 min drive
Walk the lavender and see the goats; visits by member appointment or at a scheduled event, so book ahead. About 1 hour.
- 4:30 PMProvidence Bay Beach · about 15 min drive
Walk the boardwalk and the 2 km beach; about 1 hour.
- 6:00 PMRockgarden Terrace · about 20 min drive
Dinner on the garden terrace overlooking Lake Mindemoya; hours aren't posted, so call ahead.
Tips
- Book Manitoulin Farmstead ahead: visits are by member appointment or at scheduled events, not drop-in.
- Cup and Saucer parking is pay-as-you-go at the Highway 540 trailhead lot.
- In summer the swing bridge opens for boats for the first 15 minutes of each daylight hour, so allow extra time when driving on or off the island near the top of the hour.
- Dogs aren't allowed on Kagawong's Main Beach; Sandy Beach on Mudge Bay welcomes them.
- Stay on marked trails along the Kagawong River; the township warns of poison ivy.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When does lavender bloom on Manitoulin Island?
Manitoulin Farmstead says its lavender blooms throughout July.
Can I just drop in at Manitoulin Farmstead?
Visits are arranged through the farm's membership by appointment, or you can come to one of its scheduled events.
How long is the Cup and Saucer Trail?
About 8 km of hiking trail, reached from the trailhead parking lot on Highway 540.
Is the Old Mill museum in Kagawong free?
Yes. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
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