Lake Superior – A Majestic Coast
By John Cameron
Wabakimi Park A Wilderness Wonder
Northwestern Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park and northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are among North America’s best-known canoe destinations but North of Superior’s lesser-known Wabakimi Provincial Park is as big as those two areas combined, offering some 2000 kilometres of amazing canoe routes.
Wabakimi Park is a true northern wilderness, featuring the world’s largest boreal forest reserves and spectacular views of the Canadian Shield. Home to woodland caribou, moose, eagles and wolves, the park was established in 1983, largely due to the efforts of Thunder Bay/Superior North’s new MP Bruce Hyer as well as many other long time residents of the Town of Armstrong.
Visitors can fly from Armstrong’s numerous fly-in bases in to remote lodges and camps to sport fish or they can enter the 892,061 (2.3 million acre) park by train and canoe. Paddling treks can take as few as three days and are a great chance for novices (with help of guides) to sample variety of types of paddling, from gentle streams, crystal clear lakes (there are 12,000 of them in the park) and long rapids.
Wabakimi is also known for outstanding fishing for trophy walleye and great northern pike along with lake trout and speckled trout. Ask your guide to take you to all the hot spots and be sure to visit www.northofsuperior.org for a long list of lodges and outfitters in the Wabakimi Park area!