Main Duck Island

Main Duck Island lies about ten miles out from the Lower Gap . Both Main Duck and the nearby Yorkshire Island are both administered by Parks Canada, but are undeveloped and uninhabited. They both have a rich history steeped in shipwreck lore, harsh winter living conditions and, of course, bootlegging during prohibition. "King" Cole was a legendary figure who raised cattle on the island and controlled the fishing rights for many years. "King" also trans-shipped the occasional bottle of whiskey.

Later, Main Duck was owned by John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State in the Eisenhower Administration. Dulles Washington airport was named after him.

Schoolhouse Bay is located near the centre of Main Duck Island. There are port and starboard hand buoys at its entrance (port hand buoy is lighted) as well as a lighted range to guide you in. Beware - the channel is narrow. The bay is shallow and choked with weeds. Anchor well and anchor securely!

Although there is a single dock on the east side of Schoolhouse Bay, it is usually occupied. Main Duck is a very popular fishing spot.

Many boats choose to anchor out in one of the north facing bays where the swimming is perfect. Check the weather forecast carefully! The holding is not that great. A ten mile fetch can be quite a respectable force should the wind pipe up at night. Don't say we didn't warn you!

This is a view of Main Duck showing the old keeper's house and the light. Schoolhouse Bay is off to the left.

The first lighthouse was placed on Main Duck Island in the early 1800s. It was replaced by a new 70-foot lighthouse at the west end of the island in 1913. For lighthouse aficionados, the present station houses a third-order Fresnel lens visible for 16 miles. Due to the harsh winter conditions on Lake Ontario, the lighthouse was constructed of reinforced concrete. Still, the shoals around Main Duck have claimed dozens of ships over the years. Walking the beaches, you can still fill your pockets with small lumps of coal - from the bunkers of wrecks.

Fair weather anchorage west of Schoolhouse Bay.

Main Duck is a hiker's paradise. Trails lead from the shores of Schoolhouse Bay to the south shore of the island where there are spectacular white beaches - actually zebra mussel shells. You can pick up the old road to the lighthouse from the head of the open bay just west of Schoolhouse Bay and follow it through open fields and woods to the light. Birdwatchers will have close ups of Cliff Swallows and Cedar Waxwings. The north shore of the island is composed of sedimentary rocks, which in some places are outcrops that form rather impressive - but unstable - cliffs.