Ontario Boating - North
Now this is wild. There are towns and a few cities to be sure, but between them lie the rugged shoreline of the Canadian Shield, wild rivers and deep evergreen forests. First Nations’ people from ancient times have left their marks on lakeside rock faces. You can feel their presence in the winds. You’ll walk beside rivers ice cold even in August, see pine trees with bark worn smooth by generations of wind and snow, and, with your first visit, understand why boaters from around the world are drawn to this WaterWay.
The North Channel
The 100 miles of the North Channel has drawn boaters from around the world. The scenery is breathtaking. The intricate maze of channels and bays offer no end of cozy anchorages and a walk ashore can take you along a path and into the time of First Nations’ people. In the many small towns along the shores there are places to charter sailboats and cruisers, take flights, stay ashore. Manitoulin Island, which forms the southern boundary, is so named because it is thought Manitou… The Great Spirit… lives there. When you cruise this magical WaterWay you may well come to the same conclusion.
Lake Superior
A freshwater sea, Lake Superior is the largest lake in the world. Deep and cold, lined with sheer rock cliffs and dark forests, the lake draws boaters to prowl the rocky shores. 200 rivers flow into the lake, inviting canoes and kayaks to explore and offering exceptional fishing. A shore lunch of fresh caught trout is one of the greatest pleasures of this area. At Agawa Bay, ancient volcanoes created one of the world’s finest pebble beaches. Along the north shore, the islands and slivered shoreline create some 2000 miles of coast to explore.
Sault Ste Marie
The rapids at “The Soo” are world renowned for trout… Ernest Hemingway once said it was the best trout fishery on earth. The history of the region is well recorded here. The Sault Canal National Historic Site, the Norgoma Ship Marine Museum and the Ermatinger Clerque Heritage Site are three worth visiting. The refurbished Canadian recreational boat lock makes it easy to pass through the world’s busiest boat locks but you don’t want to leave too soon. The Queenston shopping district is well worth a visit and if you’re here for the Canada Day weekend, enjoy the annual tugboat race.
Algoma
The rivers and myriad lakes in this part of the country offer unending adventure, exceptional fishing, and places where you will feel as if you are the first to set foot. Along the Lake Superior coast offers sand beaches, towering cliffs, islands to explore and pristine bays bracketed by the oldest rocks in the world. Look for fossils and you may find Stromatolites from 1.8 billion years ago, the oldest fossils every discovered. Look for peace and quiet and you will find it at every twist of this fascinating coast.
Thunder Bay
The name conjures visions of huge waves crashing on rocky shores and while storms do happen, the waters of Lake Superior gently welcome boaters. Marinas and transient slips will give you a view of the Sleeping Giant Island just off shore and a home while you explore the surroundings. There is a lot to do ashore… paddle a canoe or kayak on one of the many rivers or lakes; take a walk through 4000 acres of parkland or ride a bike; look for amethysts or climb a mountain for the view; enjoy an outdoor concert or shop and dine to your heart’s content.
Lake Nipigon
Sand beaches on Lake Nipigon are greenish black… and that’s just the beginning of the new experience in Ontario’s northland. You can charter fishing boats and look for lake trout weighing over 50 pounds. Five to eight pound brook trout are not unusual and the world record holder – 14.5 pounds – was caught in the Nipigon River. You can pull into the Nipigon Marina and hike to Red Rock. The Nipigon Hiking Trail has easy loops or more challenging treks that’ll give you a few hours in the wilderness.
Lake of the Woods
Along the north shore of this magnificent lake you’ll find 14000 islands and 65000 miles of shoreline. The north shore is rocky and cut with craggy bays but the south is low and sandy. Kenora on the north shore, near the mouth of the Winnipeg River is a thriving community with plenty to do ashore. Sioux Narrows, to the east, is the place for beautiful sunsets and North America’s longest single-span wooden bridge. Hiking trails, fishing, dining and shopping or communing with nature, the Lake of the Woods region is awe inspiring.