You’ve probably seen the photos. A tiny speck of rock, a single house, one lonely tree, and a couple of wrought-iron chairs sitting precariously close to the river’s edge. It looks like a Photoshop prank or a scene from a Wes Anderson movie. But Just Enough Room Island is very real. It sits in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, tucked away in the Thousand Islands chain between New York and Ontario. It’s exactly what the name suggests. It is just enough.
Actually, it’s about 3,300 square feet. That is roughly the size of a tennis court.
The Sizeland Family and the Quest for Privacy
Back in the 1950s, a family known as the Sizelands bought the tiny plot of land. They wanted a weekend getaway. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere the world couldn’t find them. They built a cottage that takes up nearly every square inch of the dry land, planted a tree, and dubbed it Hub Island. But the name didn’t stick. Locals and tourists started calling it Just Enough Room Island because, well, look at it. One wrong step out the front door and you’re going for a swim.
The irony is thick here. The Sizelands wanted solitude, but by building such a quirky, minimalist retreat, they created a global tourist magnet. You can’t hide when your house is a literal landmark. Boats buzz by constantly. People point. Cameras click. It’s the most public "private" island on earth.
The island used to be part of a larger count of islands in the region. To be considered an "island" in the Thousand Islands, a piece of land must stay above water year-round and support at least one living tree. For a while, this little patch of silt and stone was just a "shoal." The Sizelands allegedly planted that famous tree specifically to meet the criteria. They wanted their rock to be official.
What It’s Actually Like on the St. Lawrence
If you’ve never been to the Thousand Islands, it’s hard to describe the scale. There are actually 1,864 islands scattered across a 50-mile stretch of the river. Some are massive, housing sprawling estates like Boldt Castle on Heart Island. Others are just jagged rocks where a single cormorant might perch. Just Enough Room Island sits on the extreme end of the "habitable" spectrum.
Living there—even for a weekend—requires a specific kind of mindset. You aren't just "near" the water. You are on the water. When the St. Lawrence gets choppy or the spring melt raises the river levels, the water laps at the very foundation of the house. It's a constant negotiation with nature.
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The house itself is a sturdy, brick-faced cottage. It has lived through decades of harsh New York winters and humid summers. It doesn’t look like a shack. It looks like a suburban home that accidentally got dropped into a river by a giant. There’s a tiny strip of "beach" that appears when the tide is right, but mostly, it’s just the house and the river.
Shattering the Guinness World Record
For a long time, Bishop Rock off the coast of the Isles of Scilly held the title of the world’s smallest inhabited island. It had a lighthouse on it. But when that lighthouse became automated in 1982, it lost its "inhabited" status in the eyes of many. That’s when Just Enough Room Island took the crown. It’s about half the size of Bishop Rock.
Think about that.
It is the smallest place on the planet where a person can technically live, eat, and sleep without being on a boat.
The logistics are a nightmare, honestly. How do you get groceries in? Boat. How do you get rid of trash? Boat. What happens if you sleepwalk? You’re in the St. Lawrence. It’s a lifestyle that demands total organization. You can't just "run to the store" because you forgot milk. You have to check the weather, untie the skiff, and head to Alexandria Bay.
The Mystery of the "Living" Status
People often ask if anyone actually lives there. The answer is: occasionally. It remains private property. You can't just hop off your tour boat and knock on the door for a tour. The Sizeland descendants still own it, and while they aren't there 365 days a year—the winters in the Thousand Islands are brutal and the river freezes—it is still a functional seasonal home.
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The maintenance must be a gargantuan task. Moisture is the enemy of any structure, and here, the humidity is 100% every single day. The foundation has to be checked for erosion constantly. The St. Lawrence is a powerful river with a significant current. It’s not a stagnant pond. Millions of gallons of water rush past those walls every minute, heading toward the Atlantic.
Why the Thousand Islands Matter
To understand why a place like Just Enough Room Island exists, you have to understand the culture of the region. This area was the "Gilded Age" playground for the ultra-wealthy in the late 19th century. Millionaires from New York City and Pittsburgh would come up here to build "summer cottages" that were actually 30-room mansions.
Just Enough Room Island is almost a parody of that era. While George Boldt was building a literal castle nearby, the Sizelands were carving out a tiny, humble slice of paradise. It represents a different kind of American dream—not the dream of having everything, but the dream of having just enough.
Navigation and Seeing it For Yourself
If you want to see it, you’re heading to Alexandria Bay, New York. It’s the hub for most of the boat tours. Most of the commercial lines, like Uncle Sam Boat Tours, will cruise right past it.
- Proximity to Boldt Castle: It is incredibly close to Heart Island. You can actually see the castle towers from the Sizeland's front porch.
- The Border Factor: You are inches from the Canadian border here. Your phone will likely flip-flop between US and Canadian towers, so watch your roaming data.
- Best Time to Visit: June through September. Any earlier and it's too cold; any later and the tourist boats stop running regularly.
There is something deeply satisfying about seeing the island in person. It defies our modern urge to expand, to build bigger, to take up more space. It is a lesson in boundaries. The river provides the boundary, and the house respects it.
Practical Tips for Thousand Islands Travelers
If you are planning a trip to see Just Enough Room Island, don't make it the only stop. The region is dense with history. Stop by the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton. It’s one of the best maritime museums in the country. Also, bring a passport. The best way to experience the river is to weave in and out of the Canadian and American channels.
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The water is remarkably clear. Because the river bed is mostly rock and the zebra mussels (an invasive species, but great for clarity) have filtered the water, you can often see 20 feet down. Seeing the "footing" of Just Enough Room Island underwater is just as fascinating as seeing the house above it.
Beyond the Viral Photo
The internet loves this island because it looks like an escape. We all have days where we want to put a moat between us and the rest of the world. The Sizelands actually did it. They didn't need a massive fortress or a private jet. They just needed a sturdy boat and a tiny rock.
There’s a local rumor that the family gets annoyed by the fame. Who wouldn't? You’re trying to read a book on your porch and a boat with a megaphone-wielding guide floats by every twenty minutes, explaining your life story to 100 strangers. It’s the price of owning a piece of history.
It’s a reminder that even the smallest places can have the biggest impact. You don’t need an empire. Sometimes, you just need a house, a tree, and just enough room.
How to Plan Your Visit
To get the most out of a trip to see Just Enough Room Island, follow these steps:
- Base yourself in Alexandria Bay: This is the "tourist heart" of the region. It’s walkable and has the highest density of boat tour operators.
- Book a "Millionaire’s Row" Tour: This specific tour route almost always includes Just Enough Room Island because it’s right next to Boldt Castle.
- Bring a Zoom Lens: Since the island is private property, you cannot land on it. You’ll be viewing it from the water, usually from about 50 to 100 feet away.
- Check the Water Levels: If it’s been a particularly rainy spring, you might see the water literally touching the siding of the house. It’s a sight to behold.
- Respect the Privacy: If you see people on the porch, a friendly wave is fine, but remember it’s their home. Don't be "that" tourist.
The island isn't going anywhere, but it is a fragile ecosystem. The rock it sits on is ancient Gneiss and Granite, part of the Frontenac Axis that connects the Canadian Shield to the Adirondack Mountains. It’s tough stuff. It has survived thousands of years of ice and water, and with a little luck and some good maintenance, the smallest inhabited island in the world will be there for another hundred years.
Go see it. It’ll make your own apartment or house feel like a sprawling palace. And it might just make you realize how little you actually need to be happy. Just enough is plenty.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
Download a nautical chart of the St. Lawrence River (NOAA Chart 14772) to see exactly how the islands are clustered around the "narrows" near Alexandria Bay. This helps you understand why navigation here is so tricky and why Just Enough Room Island is tucked away in such a specific spot. Pack a high-quality pair of binoculars; the detail on the house's stonework and the tiny "yard" is best appreciated with some magnification from the deck of a passing boat.