Nottawasaga Bay

Rocky shore on Nottawasaga Bay near Lafontaine.

Nottawasaga Bay is a bay of Lake Huron in Ontario, at the southernmost end of Georgian Bay. Communities on Nottawasaga Bay include Meaford, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach.

The western shore of Nottawasaga Bay is determined by the Niagara Escarpment, which reaches Nottawasaga Bay between Thornbury and Meaford. The southern shore is flat limestone plain, with cedar marshes. The Nottawasaga River flows into Georgian Bay near the southern end of the bay, and from the estuary onward to the east the shore is predominantly sand dunes and marshes created by the strong predominant northwest winds. This part of Nottawasaga Bay is heavily built up with summer homes. Nearer to Thornbury and the Beaver River Valley there are some vineyards, the furthest north anywhere in Ontario, and many apple orchards dot the area.

Nottawasaga Bay is one of Ontario's busiest tourism areas, but recreational use has taken a toll on it. Pollution from cottages, towns, industry and agriculture have caused a noticeable decline in water quality in recent years, resulting in some beach closings.