As lockdowns continue and everyone seems to be looking for a change of scenery, a unique opportunity awaits just south of Ottawa, where a nine-acre island surrounded by the mighty St. Lawrence is up for sale. Part of the Thousand Islands, the island offers the ultimate private getaway, complete with bays for swimming and pretty walking trails. 

Owned by the same family for nearly a century, the island known as Dumfounder is largely undeveloped, save for a few 1940s-era cabins that are equipped with electricity and running water. Internet is provided via underwater cable. The cabins are simple but functional, made with local granite and cedar. Granite also supports the large dock areas, which include a 40-foot covered slip. 

The real assets are outside, in the trails and shorelines of the island, which gets its name from a British gunboat active in the area during the War of 1812. (In fact, the current owner is one of Canada’s most prolific yacht designers.) Evergreen and deciduous trees offer shade through the trails that lead to lookouts, quiet rocky bays, and swamps teeming with life. There’s a blueberry patch, and succulents grow underfoot amidst the pine needles. Multiple quiet bays offer options for your daily dips; the smooth rocks lead to clean, clear water that reaches 100 feet depths. 

Dumfounder is part of a group of islands called the Lake Fleet Group, known for great views and waters suitable for small and big boats alike. The entire Thousand Islands region has been designated a unique biosphere by UNESCO, which notes its billion-year-old rocks and diverse ecology.

Whether you’re looking to build or simply want a getaway surrounded by nature, this island offers the chance to live surrounded by nature in a region steeped in history.

For more information on this unique opportunity, visit Dumfounder.ca.