Northern Ontario's Ultimate Bucket List: Train, Boat, and Floatplane Adventures

A classic and typical road trip through Canada is usually empty asphalt winding through stoic tall pine trees. But there are other awesome ways to see Northern Ontario, not just from the road. You can have some unforgettable adventures by rail, by air and by water.

There are some pretty unique things to do in Ontario itself, but if you’re looking to head to the northern part of the province, this is where you’ll find some true bucket-list adventure. From deep-canyon trail tracks to soaring through the clouds to fly-in fishing destinations, the adventures we’ve listed below are ones you’ll want to add to your Ontario travel bucket list.

1. All Aboard: Northern Ontario's Best Train Tours

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train

Departing from Sault Ste. Marie, the Agawa Canyon train is a Canadian Signature Experience one-day excursion. It rolls gently over the landscape alongside pristine northern lakes and the breathtaking Montreal River trestle bridge before descending 500 feet down to the floor of the 1.2-billion-year-old canyon. Visitors are greeted with green forest, waterfalls, and a breathtaking lookout. You’ll see through your own eyes why members of the Group of Seven were inspired by this place.

• Learn more and book your trip via the Agawa Canyon Tour Train.

The Polar Bear Express

Leaving Cochrane, Ontario Northland Station, the Polar Bear Express journeys north through subarctic muskeg to Moosonee, Ontario, near the edge of James Bay. This is a vital link to the James Bay coast and a gateway to Moose Factory, Canada’s oldest English-speaking settlement.

• Plan your northern rail expedition with The Polar Bear Express Passenger Train

The Return of the Ontario Northlander Train

A highly anticipated return of the Ontario Northlander train connects Toronto to Timmins with a rail connection to Cochrane. The revitalized passenger rail service will bridge the gap between the urban south and the northern wilderness, making Ontario train vacations easier.

Train-In Lodges by VIA Rail

An important link between White River and Sudbury, VIA Rail’s "Budd Car" is an experience all its own. This line allows access to remote train-in lodge experiences and boat-access-only cabins along the tracks, giving you immediate access to remote waters in Northern Ontario.

• Plan your northern VIA Rail trip with Algoma Country

2. Set Sail: Northern Ontario's Best Boat Tours and Ferries

There are more than 250,000 lakes across the province, and water isn’t just part of the scenery; it’s part of the adventure.

The MS Chi-Cheemaun Ferry

We don’t think there’s any maritime trip more famous than the MS Chi-Cheemaun Ferry. The “Big Canoe” is a massive vessel between Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. Taking the ferry is an integral part of any northern road trip (this is our opinion, but also a fact), letting you relax from the drive while the ferry sweeps over Georgian Bay.

• Secure your crossing details on the Owen Sound Transportation website.

The Historic Chief Commanda II

Cruising out of North Bay, the Chief Commanda II is a popular staple of Ontario boat tours. This 320-passenger twin-hull catamaran has showcased the beauty of Lake Nipissing for over half a century. Whether you board for a scenic afternoon cruise to the Manitou Islands, a deep-wilderness trip down the historic Upper French River, or one of their popular sunset live-music cruises, it offers a first-class view of the northern horizon right from the open-air upper deck.

• Book your lake cruise via the Chief Commanda II.

Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours

Operating out of Sault Ste. Marie, the Miss Marie offers a captivating two-hour cruise aboard a 100-passenger vessel along the St. Marys River. The boat cruise navigates directly through both the Canadian and American lock systems, bridging Lake Superior and Lake Huron—all without needing a passport. It offers a front-row seat to freighters, the historic Soo Locks, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site locks and towering industrial shorelines.

• Secure your lock tour tickets at Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours.

Lake Superior Boat Tours

Lake Superior feels less like a lake and more like a vast, inland freshwater sea. Booking one of the Lake Superior boat tours allows you to navigate the rugged, towering coastlines, view ancient sites from the water, or explore the remote islands of the Superior Shoals.

• Find certified local boat operators at the Superior Country website.

Island Hopping with Lake of the Woods Boat Tours

In Sunset Country, Kenora serves as the launching pad for spectacular Lake of the Woods boat tours. With over 14,500 islands, you can book historical cruises, charter a private water taxi to a secluded island beach, or dock at one of the luxury boat-in lodges that boast along the waterways.

3. Take Off: Northern Ontario's Best Floatplane Tours

Nothing captures the vastness of the wilderness more than seeing it from the air in a floatplane.

Scenic Flights with Killarney Air Services

Experience the dramatic contrast of rugged mountains, sapphire waters, lush greens or the ancient canopy of the Algoma Highlands with scenic flights from Killarney Air Services. Offering sightseeing tours out of Sault Ste. Marie at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre hangar, including air tours of St. Joseph Island in the North Channel of Lake Huron, Searchmont and Garden River, the Mississagi River, and along the coastline of Lake Superior. A great option for visitors who want the thrill of a floatplane trip without a week in the wilderness.

• Book your aerial tour with Killarney Air Services.

The Ultimate Angler’s Dream: Fly-In Fishing Lodges

A fly-in fishing vacation in northern Ontario provides unparalleled access to remote lakes only seen by a small number of humans each year. From an airbase, you’ll board a Bushplane and fly over miles of Boreal Forest, lakes and rivers directly to a fly-in fishing lodge deep in the wilderness.

• Find fly-in lodges across northern Ontario:
  • Sunset Country
  • Superior Country
  • Algoma Country
  • Northeastern Ontario

Fly-in Paddling & Remote Boat-Access Stays

And finally, there are wilderness trips beyond fishing. There are many operators specializing in fly-in paddling trips, dropping your group at the headwaters of wild rivers for a guided journey. And if flying isn’t your thing, there are boat-in lodges and boat-access cabins that are accessible by water taxi or a lodge shuttle. Your only company during your morning coffee is the call of the loons.

Deep in the Boreal Forest

In Sunset Country, Wabakimi Provincial Park, Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, and Quetico Provincial Park are perfect for multi-day fly-in adventures. A floatplane drops you off, landing on interior lakes with access to river systems like Ogoki and the Bloodvein River. Visitors can expect world-class fishing, opportunities to view wildlife like eagles and woodland caribou, all within a peaceful, remote atmosphere.

In Algoma Country, the landscape is quite different, with towering rock faces, steep canyons and whitewater routes. A fly-in paddlers destination is Missinaibi Provincial Park, home to the 500-km Missinaibi River, one of the longest canoe routes in the Hudson Bay watershed. It’s a place to test your skills! For paddlers looking for something with a mix of solitude and fascinating geology, try Mississagi Provincial Park and Obatanga Provincial Park*.

*Note: Obatanga is a non-operating park.

Northeastern Ontario provincial parks offer a mystical landscape of vertical rock faces, hidden lake chains and the oldest old-growth white pine forests left. This region is home to Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park and Sturgeon River Provincial Park. Both are part of a massive, interconnected backcountry paddling network in Temagami. You can charter a floatplane that flies you directly into the waters of Florence Lake. From there, take on the rushing waters of Lady Evelyn River, or hike Maple Mountain for a panoramic view.

Plan Your Ultimate Northern Ontario Trip

These Northern Ontario experiences deliver the kind of travel memories that last long after you return home. Don’t just plan a drive; plan an adventure that lets you step away from the wheel and directly experience the heart of Northern Ontario.

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