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Northern Ontario

'Big' is a theme in Northern Ontario. The area is so vast that it could fit six Englands and still have room for a Scotland or two. Industry is big here, too: most of the world's silver and nickel ore comes from local mines, while boundless forests have made the region a key timber producer. What's not so big is the local population; as of the most recent census, none of the cities have over 100,000 residents.

Two main highways weave an intersecting course across the province. Hwy 17 (the Trans-Canada) unveils the area's scenic pièce de résistance, the northern crest over Lake Superior. From Sudbury, misty fjord-like passages hide isolated beaches among dense thickets of pine, cedar and birch. Further north, Hwy 11 traverses through Cochrane – where the Polar Bear Express connects to Moosonee – to Thunder Bay, the intersection of the two highways.

Explore Northern Ontario

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northern Ontario.

  • Park

    Killarney Provincial Park

    Killarney is often called the crown jewel of the Ontario park system, and is considered to be one of the finest kayaking destinations in the world…

  • Museum

    Science North

    After passing through a tunnel dug deep within the 2.5-billion-year-old Canadian Shield, work your way down through the spiral of exciting hands-on…

  • Museum

    Fort William Historical Park

    French voyageurs, Scottish gentlemen and Ojibwe scuttle about while re-enacting life in the early 1800s at this historical park. From 1803 to 1821, Fort…

  • Park

    Lake Superior Provincial Park

    Lake Superior Provincial Park protects 1600 sq km of misty fjord-like passages, thick evergreen forest and tranquil sandy coves that feel like they've…

  • National Park

    Pukaskwa National Park

    With only 4km of roads within its 1878-sq-km expanse, visitors to Ontario's only wilderness national park have to explore via hiking or paddling. It's…

  • Park

    Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

    Seen across the lake from Thunder Bay, the jagged Sleeping Giant Peninsula resembles a large reclining man. Its rugged, forested terrain has been…

  • Island

    Slate Islands

    Drop by the town of Terrace Bay (www.terracebay.ca) and catch a boat (return from $165 each with four people) 13km to this outstanding archipelago, which…

  • Zoo

    Polar Bear Habitat & Heritage Village

    Despite all the polar bear talk, there are no wild polar bears in the region. This center, the world's largest polar bear facility and the only one with…

  • Harbor

    Marina Park

    The focus of exciting development plans, Thunder Bay's marina area is a pedestrianized haven of parkland, fountains, footpaths, a skate park and public…

  • Park

    Quetico Provincial Park

    This endless waterlogged preserve has some of Canada's finest wilderness canoe and portage routes, courtesy of over 2000 lakes and 460,000 hectares of…

  • Area

    Bay & Algoma Historical District

    Thunder Bay has a population of well over 10,000 Finnish Canadians, descended from immigrants who began arriving in the late 19th century. Locals happily…

  • Canyon

    Ouimet Canyon

    Ouimet Canyon, just 12km off Hwy 17, is a treacherous crevasse up to 200m wide, scoured out by ice and wind during the last Ice Age. A microclimate has…

  • Viewpoint

    Caribou Mountain Fire Tower

    Follow the road 2km from town, then climb a short path through the trees of White Bear Forest and, finally, a vertigo-inducing spiral staircase to enjoy…

  • Park

    Mississagi Provincial Park

    Mississagi Provincial Park, 35km north of Elliot Lake, is a secluded expanse of hemlock forests, sandy beaches, trembling aspens and chirping birds…

  • Historic Site

    Fort St Joseph National Historic Site

    St Joseph Island, a quiet expanse of woodland about 60km southeast of Sault Ste Marie, sits alongside the US border in the northwest corner of Lake Huron…

  • Park

    Lake Nipissing Waterfront

    A walk along the scenic Lake Nipissing shoreline reveals several enjoyable activities. Shrubs, trees and perennials line the path, maintained by the North…

  • Park

    Neys Provincial Park

    Rocky Neys Provincial Park, 26km west of Marathon, has craggy beaches, furry caribou, short hiking trails (1km to 4.5km), and sunsets that make for a…

  • Museum

    Cree Cultural Interpretive Centre

    Operated by Moose Cree First Nation, this center features indoor and outdoor exhibits of artifacts, including bone tools, traditional toys, reusable…

  • Historic Site

    Amethyst Mine Panorama

    Visit this mine, 60km east of Thunder Bay, and pick your very own purple chunk of amethyst, Ontario's official gemstone, in the public digging area. While…