Rules and regulations

Thousand Islands National Park

We want all park users to have a memorable visitor experience. To protect the park’s resources and your safety, regulations are enforced. To ensure that your stay is enjoyable please read and observe the following.

General guidelines

Fees

Fee season:

Victoria Day weekend through Thanksgiving.

  • Island facilities.
  • Boat launch, trailer parking, and vehicle parking at Mallorytown Landing.
  • Jones Creek and Landons Bay.

Fees for docking, launching, mooring buoys, beaching, camping and parking are payable immediately upon arrival.
Self-registration payment areas are located on all islands and at Mallorytown Landing , Jones Creek and Landons Bay. Fees are listed at payment areas.

Permits

Valid permits must be visible to park staff and displayed on the vessel, vehicle dash, and/or campsite. Self- registration permits are valid only if they are complete and payment has been deposited in vault.

  • All vessels using park facilities and islands or moored to a vessel that is using park facilities require a valid beaching or mooring permit (including dinghies, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, jet skis, paddle boards etc.).
  • Day use mooring permit expires at 7 p.m. on day of purchase.
  • Overnight mooring permit (which includes day-use), mooring buoy, boat launch, camping, beaching, and daily parking permits expire at 11 a.m. the following morning.
  • Seasonal mooring permits are valid for day and/or overnight mooring throughout the entire park operation season in Thousand Islands National Park and other Parks Canada locations.
Facilities

Facilities are available on a first-come, first-served basis with the exception of oTENTiks and reservable campsites.

  • Garbage and recycling must be packed out or deposited in the bins provided at select locations. Use of garbage and recycling facilities is by valid use permit only.
  • Do not place objects such as barbeques, chairs, tables, etc. where they can obstruct pathways and docks.
  • Picnic tables are prohibited on docks.
  • No foreign objects (e.g., pet waste bags, diapers, sanitary napkins, garbage) may be placed in composting toilets because it is very difficult for park staff to remove.
  • Do not use washrooms for washing dishes, laundry, or cleaning fish.
  • Bicycles, motorized vehicles, and horses are not permitted on park trails.
Camping

Camping is only permitted at designated sites. Maximum two tents/8 people per site. Tents are not permitted on oTENTik sites. Permit must be posted at site with surname or reservation number visible.

  • Docking and beaching fees are not included in camping fee.
  • oTENTik reservations at Mallorytown Landing includes parking for one vehicle.
  • Reserved campsites & oTENTiks must be booked online or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
  • Check in: any time after 2 pm for campsites / after 3 pm for oTENTiks.
  • Check out: before 11 am for campsites and oTENTiks.
  • Food preparation and food storage are not permitted inside oTENTiks. Outdoor food storage containers are provided.
  • Smoking is not permitted within the oTENTiks.
  • Pets are not allowed in the oTENTiks or on oTENTik sites with the exception of oTENTiks 3B and 3E at Mallorytown Landing.
  • Tents unoccupied for 48 hours or without a valid permit may be removed from the site by park personnel.
  • Permit holder must be at least 19 years of age.
Noise

No excessive noise at any time. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 8 am. During these times, the use of stereos, musical instruments, generators or other items that cause excessive noise is prohibited. Barking dogs may be disturbing to other users.

Generators

The operation of charging systems (including inboard and stand-alone generators and boat engines) is permitted between 8 am and 10 pm. Only at the following locations: Mallorytown Landing, Beau Rivage Island, McDonald Island, Hill Island, and Central Grenadier Island, with the following conditions:

  • Someone must remain in the vicinity of the boat.
  • Exhaust fumes and excessive boat running must not disturb other visitors.
  • The operation of charging systems (including inboard generators and boat engines) is not permitted at mooring cans on generator-free islands.
Fires

Fires are only permitted in provided receptacles and fire pits. Temporary fire pits can not be used in the park or on park docks. Fires are subject to posted conditions, with the following conditions:

  • Firewood must be purchased in the park from self-serve bins near docks or from park staff. Firewood cannot be moved into or out of the park.
  • Natural materials cannot be collected for firewood.
  • Fires must not be left unattended.
Pets

Pets are permitted in the park providing:

  • They are on a leash not greater than 3 m in length and under control at all times.
  • They do not interfere with other visitors’ enjoyment of the park.
  • They do not harass wildlife.
  • Owners clean up after them (dispose of droppings in garbage cans, not  in toilets).
  • Pets are not permitted on oTENTik sites (with the exception of 3B and 3E) or on beach areas.
Respect the park

Respect the park, its plants and animals; do not:

  • Disturb, harass, or feed wildlife.
  • Pick or collect natural or historic objects.
  • Damage or destroy trees or plants. Vessels may not be tied to trees.
Drones

Drones are not permitted in National Parks unless permission is provided by the Park Superintendent.

Hunting

Hunting chasing or disturbing wildlife is prohibited in National Parks.

Fireworks

Fireworks and other explosives are prohibited in National Parks.

Rock & ice climbing restrictions

No person shall engage in rock climbing or ice climbing in Thousand Islands National Park, except as authorized by a permit issued by the Superintendent.


Park islands

General guidelines
  • Dock space and mooring buoys may not be reserved.
    Space cannot be guaranteed during peak periods. Where possible, vessels must be moved on the dock to make room for other boaters.
  • Maximum length of stay (docking/mooring) is 3 consecutive nights per island.
  • Yellow lines on docks are for the use of national park and emergency vessels only and may not be used by other boaters at any time.
  • Blue lines on docks are for camping and oTENTik permit holders only. Docking fees are not included in camping and oTENTik fees and must be purchased on arrival at the island.
  • Red lines on docks are for commercial mooring permit holders only, with a maximum landing time of 20 minutes for drop-off and pick-up.
  • Rafting is prohibited on docks and mooring buoys. This is in place to prevent damage to current facilities and vessels.
Mooring bouys
  • Only one vessel may tie to a mooring buoy - maximum length 40 feet.
  • Rafting onto vessels tied to mooring buoys is not permitted.
  • Dinghies cannot be left at mooring buoys without a valid mooring permit.
Beaching and dinghy permits
  • Any vessel accessing a park island at a point other than a dock or mooring buoy (e.g., beaching areas or ramps) requires a beaching permit.
  • Beaching permits are not valid for docks or mooring buoys.
  • All vessels using park facilities and islands using park facilities require a valid beaching or mooring permit (including dinghies, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, jet skis, paddle boards etc.).
  • Seasonal beaching permits can be purchased for beaching only. Beaching permits are not valid for docks.
  • Dinghies tied to a vessel must not impede traffic.

Mallorytown Landing day-use area

Parking and launching fees

All vehicles and boat trailers must have a valid daily or seasonal permit to use parking and launching facilities during fee collection season.

  • Daily permits are only valid when placed on dash of vehicle and visible to park staff. Parking permit expires at 11:00 am. The following morning. Vehicles/ trailers require a daily permit for each day they use the facilities.
  • If staff are not on duty or available, payment must be made at the self-registration payment area.
  • Maximum length of vehicle and trailer combination for parking is 15 m or 50 ft overall.
  • Parking fee does not include docking (with the exception of the 10-minute loading/unloading area).
  • Loading/unloading parking and dock areas near launch facilities have a 10 minute maximum length of stay. Vessels using dock facilities for longer than 10 minute launch and leave must pay for day use or overnight docking.
  • Maximum length of stay for parking at Mallorytown Landing is 15 consecutive days.
  • Detached boat trailers cannot be left in the parking lot.
  • Park island guidelines apply to docking/beaching facilities at the day use area. Please see these under “park islands”.

Jones Creek and Landons Bay hiking trails

Parking fees

All vehicles must have a valid daily or seasonal permit to use parking facilities during fee collection season.

  • If staff are not on duty or available, payment must be made at the self-registration payment area.

Liquor regulations

Liquor

Possession and consumption of liquor* in a public place such as a dock, picnic shelter, or other outdoor park area is illegal in Ontario and is subject to the Liquor Licence Act (LLA).
These provisions apply to all those who enter a National Park as well. Possession and consumption of open liquor is restricted to a licenced premise, residence, or other private place. Within a National Park both campsites and vessels can be considered a “residence” provided the following conditions are met:

Campsite:

  • One member of the camping party must be in possession of a valid camping or oTENTik permit.
  • Campsites must be used for traditional camping practices and not solely for liquor consumption or distribution.

Vessel:

  • The vessel must contain facilities consistent with a normal residence including permanent lavatory, sleeping and cooking facilities.
  • The vessel must be used as a residence when consumption of liquor products occurs.
  • The vessel must not be underway. It must be docked, moored, anchored or hard aground.

Violators are subject to fines under the LLA. Also, those impaired by drugs or alcohol while operating or even having care and control of a stationary vessel are in contravention of the Criminal Code of Canada.

*Liquor includes any alcohol fit for human consumption as a beverage or in combination with any other matter and includes “spirits, wine, or beer or any combination thereof” (LLA, 1990)


For your comfort and safety

  • Black legged ticks, potential carriers of Lyme disease and Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, are common in Eastern Ontario and Thousand Islands National Park. Please visit our Ticks and Your Health page for more information on how to protect yourself.
  • Garbage and recycling service and generator use is available on limited islands. Visitors who want a more natural park experience can enjoy generator-free islands that have a pack-in, pack-out policy. Identify these islands on our facilities and services chart.
  • The water of the St. Lawrence River and other surface water in the area may carry bacteria. Water should be filtered and then treated or boiled before drinking or bring your own drinking water. For more information regarding drinking water please refer to Health Canada’s website.
  • Be sure that you are well prepared and that you have all the right gear to make every outing safe and enjoyable. Visit AdventureSmart for more details.
  • We value our visitors! Please visit our Visitor Safety page to ensure a safe visit.

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