Beach
Convicts' Pool (Piscine des bagnards)
A sea pool walled in by convicts, the safest place to swim on the island.
Typical duration
60 min
Price
Free
From port
0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Transfer time
10 min
Indoor / Outdoor
outdoor
Queue risk
low
👨👩👧 Family friendly⚡ Good for short stops
🕐 Best time to visit
Mid-tide on a calm day; bring water shoes
On the east shore of Île Royale, convicts built a wall of rocks to close off a natural basin from the open sea, creating a pool sheltered from the swell and the strong currents. It's the one place on the island where swimming is sensible. The bottom is rocky, so bring water shoes, and leave nothing valuable on the rocks.
Getting there from the port
From the landing stage, follow the coastal path north along the east shore (about 10 minutes).
Best transport: walk Cost: Free