Water Sports · Ontario
Hartley Bay Marina
A marina and access point on the lower French River near Killarney, ON, valued by paddlers and boaters for safe parking, shuttles and friendly, helpful staff, plus cottages to rent.
What visitors say
Hartley Bay Marina is the last put-in on the lower French River, which makes it a key starting point for canoe trips on the river and for boating out toward Georgian Bay. Reviewers who have used it for years describe it as a well-run, dependable base.
Staff and the owner get warm praise. Paddlers mention help planning routes, shuttles back to their vehicles when a route changed, and one camper whose trailer tire blew had it replaced by the owner. The busy, steep launch is managed well, parking is described as safe, and there are washrooms to use before setting out. Canoe rentals are available, and one group paddled down from Wolseley Bay with a rented canoe and a shuttle from the marina.
Beyond paddling, the marina offers cottage rentals overlooking the bay, which one guest found clean, comfortable and well equipped, and it serves as a boat-access point for cabins along the Pickerel River. Families, backcountry trippers and cottagers all use it.
The main caveat is cost. One canoeist found that parking and launch fees for two canoes, on top of park reservation fees, added up quickly for a multi-day trip. The launch can also be busy on peak days, so arrive early.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 214 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Hartley Bay Marina directly.