Our place faces south fronting on Lake Huron with over 1 km of shoreline! The log cabin, built from local pine logs in 1993, sits on its own 20-acre wooded lot, making it completely private. We are bordered by public beaches: Lonely Bay beach is one bay west and Providence Bay beach one bay east. You’ll love my place because of the complete quiet, sweet air, water view, stars and wildlife. My place is good for couples, solo adventurers, families (with kids), and furry friends (pets).

This property is uniquely held as a conservation area. It fronts on Lake Huron on one of the least developed bays on Manitoulin Island. We are listed with the Ontario Woodlot Association as part of Ontario's Managed Forest Plan. We are officially designated as a light-free pollution zone, making star-gazing a special treat.

Our property has been family held for 30 years as an environmentally-friendly, recreational- use property. No hunting or harvesting has been allowed during our tenure. In the sping, this area boasts a multitude of wildflower varities including wild trilliums, iris, lillies, ladyslippers and orchids.

We are surrounded by water systems. The southern border is Lake Huron, while to the north and east there is lake/swamp system called Sandy Lakes. The Grimesthorpe Creek runs into Lake Huron to the west. Our property is part of a 2 km wide buffer running along the shoreline. The forest cover on the property is comprised of mixed hardwoods and conifer stands. The hardwoods are primarily maple, poplar, birch and iron wood. The conifers are white pine, cedar, balsam fir and spruce.

Our forest complex is an important area for Ontario's flora and fauna. Some endangered and species at risk live here. The following list, compiled under our Forestry Managment agreement, describes some of the mammals, birds and reptiles found on our property:

Mammals:
-White tailed deer - Odocoileus virginianus – Seen all year. In the summer they are seen on the trails,near the swamps and walking through the bush and near the cabin. In the winter they yard in the thick cedar areas.
-Marten – Martes Americana - All year. Not seen very often, but there are seen tracks throughout the more dense forest areas.
-Mink – Mustela vison - Spring, summer and fall. Seen around the swamp.
-Beaver – Castor Canadensis – Many beavers inhabit the swamps and are rarely seen in the lake.
-Red fox – Vulpes vulpes – Sometimes seen throughout the year, but their tracks are often found all over the property during the winter months.
-Snowshoe hare – Lepus americanus - Can be seen all year, but mostly seen in the spring and fall when they are changing colours.
-Skunk – Mephitis mephitis - Not seen very often, but we know they are there!
-Red squirrels - Sciurus vulgaris – All year. Red squirrels are all over the property and can be seen flying through the trees or heard chattering in the bush.
-Racoon - Procyon lotor- Seen in the summer and fall. Their tracks can be seen all over the forest, especially near the wetland.
-Coyote – Canis latrans – All year. Coyotes are sometime heard ‘yipping’ in the distance. Their tracks can be seen in the winter on the packed down trails or along the lakeshore. With so acreage available, they shy away from populated areas.
-Timber wolf – Canis lupus - Very elusive, and rarely seen running the trails.

Birds:
-Bald eagles – Haliaeetus leucocephalus - Spring, summer, fall and winter. Eagles fly along the shoreline.
-Ruffed grouse - Bonasa umbellus – All seasons, mostly in spring, summer and fall. They can be heard in the spring, drumming, and are seen in the birch and poplar trees eating the buds.
-Woodpecker species – (Pileated, Hairy, Downy) – All seasons. Can be heard tapping away in the forest looking for food, or laughing at us!
-Song birds – Some species all year, but warblers and migrators only in the warm months Chickadees and blue jays are very common.
-Waterfowl – Spring, summer and fall. Sand Hill cranes, Canadian Geese, Ducks and loons are most prominent in summer. Dean's Bay is a virtual nursery to all waterfowl in the spring.
-Raptors – Spring, summer and fall. Red tailed hawk and the northern harrier are quite common in this area, along with shrikes and American kestrel. Often seen flying over the swamp area looking for food.
-Turkey vultures – Cathartes aura - Spring, summer, fall. The vultures can be seen circling in the air currents.
-Crows – Corvus brachyrhynchos and Ravens - Corvus corax – All year. Very common to see these birds in the area often roosting in a tree. They are often in groups of two or more.

Amphibians/Reptiles
-Leopard frogs, American toad, tree frog and spring peepers. – Spring and summer
There is an abundance of leopard frogs near the swamp. Large tree frogs and the spring peepers are always heard after the snow melts. Toads are found in the bush in dryer areas.
-Painted and snapping turtles – Seen in the summer months. Often noticed in the swamp sunning themselves on the logs. In the spring the painted turtles are seen moving around looking for places to lay their eggs.
-Salamanders – Seen in the spring and summer while moving firewood.

Guest access

You will have access to the property's trails and the entire shoreline of Lake Huron - as far as you can walk! Although Manitoulin's shoreline can not be privately held, you must obtain legal permission to access it. As our guest, your cabin sits right on the shore and so you can walk anywhere along it. A two kilometer walk within Dean's Bay will bring you to lovely, almost private, sand beaches.

Interaction with guests

We live full-time on the property and so are available to help at any time. We are here to recommend activities and places to visit during your stay on Manitoulin, if you like.

The neighbourhood

Directions from the Ferry dock in South Baymouth: follow Highway 6 for approximately 5 kms. Turn left at the sign to Tehkummah via 10th Sideroad. As you approach Tehkummah turn left via Government Road to Providence Bay. At the Stop Sign in Providence Bay turn right on to the Highway 551, turn left at Sand Road, following it for 5 klm. Take the first left turn at Lake Huron Drive (if you turn right you will see the Grimesthorpe Graveyard on your left). Follow Lake Huron drive keeping left at the fork in the road so you are now on Burke St. (Lake Huron Drive continues right). Continue 0.5 klm turning left at #119 Burke St. The cottage is the first house on your right.

Directions from Little Current: follow Highway 540 West to M'Chigeeng, approx. 30 km. At M'Chigeeng intersection turn left on to Hwy. 551.

Follow Hwy 551 to Mindemoya. At the stop sign in Mindemoya turn right towards Providence Bay. Approx 10 kms to the next Stop Sign. Go straight through (the signs point either right towards Spring Bay or left towards Providence Bay); this is Beaver Road. Travel about 5 klm along Beaver Road taking the first left on Grimesthrope Road. Continue for 0.5 klm. along Grimesthrope Road passing Grimesthorpe Cemetry on your right. Continue straight along Lake Huron Drive. (Turning left puts you on Sand Road and takes you into Providence Bay). Continue along Lake Huron Drive BUT turn left at the fork; this is Burke St. Look for our address on the left; 119 Burke. We at the first house down the Boulder Beach Road.
Estimated total time from Espanola: 1.5 hours.