The waterfront city of North Bay, Ontario is full of must-see sights for the first-time visitor—the historic downtown, Kate Pace Way and beautiful Lake Nipissing, the Gateway Arch and CF 100 Canuck Memorial, the North Bay Museum, and the Capitol Centre. It’s also home to many hidden gems. Not all these hidden gems are hard to find—some are in plain sight but too often overlooked. Some are less polished—in the rough or outdoors, perfect for the adrenaline seeker—while some shine brightly as cultural gems.
Here are my top ten hidden gems in North Bay, Ontario.
Just recently launched is 13 kilometres of brilliant mountain bike or walking trails alongside a pump track. Trails on the network range from beginner to difficult and offer some great fun and beautiful scenery. The real gem here is that depending on availability, volunteers from the North Bay Mountain Bike Association (NBMBA) offer visitor tours of the best trails and lookouts for free!
I met my volunteer NBMBA trail guide in the Three Towers trail system parking lot next to its namesake three communications towers and the east and west trailheads. My guide’s favourite trail was Eastbound and Down—a double black diamond enduro trail known for the rock drops, big rock slabs, jumps, and tight corners.
Like the pioneers, I decided to go west to the green trails (easy) and blue trails (intermediate). The view overlooking Hillside Lake is your reward. When you reach the end of the trail, suddenly the bush clears and you are met with a glistening body of water below.
A note for cyclists: Tourism North Bay, Discovery Routes Trails Organization, and the North Bay Mountain Bike Association (NBMBA) are “wheelie excited” about their new visitor bike program Mountain Bike Our Way in North Bay. Stay & Play packages, like the one I chose at the Best Western, provide all the comforts you need, including a big pool and jacuzzi that tended to my sore muscles after my epic ride.
Breakfast at Farina (the Italian restaurant gem hidden in the hotel) is also a must. Their breakfast poutine can feed two, and both it and the eggs benedict are topped with a delicious tarragon hollandaise. One evening I got takeaway cannoli to enjoy in my room as a snack after watching the sunset at the aptly named Sunset Park.
The Manitou Islands are situated in Ontario's fifth biggest lake. Shrouded in mystery and only accessible by boat they easily earn their hidden gem status. Lake Nipissing and the Manitou Islands are located on Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory, which is the traditional land of the Anishinaabe Nipissing First Nation. Some locals believe the islands are cursed—there are stories of failed attempts to inhabit them, including one mining operation and one hotel. Great Manitou (also known as Devil's Island), is said to be haunted. So, don’t try to inhabit the islands, but do visit their beaches. The islands are accessible by jet ski or boat from the North Bay Marina on Lake Nipissing. Your hidden gem—a long sandy beach—on Great Manitou Island awaits.
If you don't have your own watercraft, the Chief Commanda II offers a perfect alternative to see the Manitou Islands from the comfort of the 320-passenger twin-hull vessel. "The Chief," and its 90-minute cruise across Lake Nipissing, gets hidden gem status for the Captain’s stories and knowledge of the area, and for their fully licensed bars stocked with local beers and great burgers. The company also offers trips to the Upper French River and sunset cruises to Callander Bay to witness a famous Lake Nipissing sunset. The sunset could be its own hidden gem, because they can be elusive, but spectacular if you catch one.
In the traditional territory of the N’bisiing Peoples, along the Chippewa Creek EcoPath, visitors will find a new resident: Miskwaadesi, (which means "Painted Turtle" in Anishinaabemowin), representing the Creation teaching of Turtle Island.
Travel to the end of Regina Street and you’ll see why the turtle is a must-see hidden gem. Honouring Anishinaabe culture, the amphitheatre wraps around the giant painted turtle—a granite petroform symbolizing Turtle Island and the Anishinaabe Creation story. Her back reveals the lunar calendar, connecting visitors to nature’s cycles, the four posts, the directions of the Medicine Wheel, and many teachings that have been part of Anishinaabe culture for more than 10,000 years. Miskwaadesi was brought to life by the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (NBIFC) in partnership with the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority. The signage in three languages at the site helps visitors understand this incredible space, the plants, and why this area is so special.
Don’t miss Miskwaadesi’s eggs—represented by stones by the stream’s edge—which await keen explorers. The stone eggs represent the Seven Grandfather Teachings: courage, honesty, humility, respect, truth, love, and wisdom.
From here, the 3.2-km paved trail between Lake Nipissing and Thomson Park radiates out.
I rounded out the day at an iconic North Bay restaurant called Churchill’s. This fine dining spot on Lakeshore Drive is known for its prime rib and extensive wine list. Don’t miss their pillowy pan-fried gnocchi in a spinach cream sauce. According to our server, the dish has been a local favourite for decades. For more places to dine in the city, download North Bay's EAT + DRINK guide.
A walk around the downtown to admire some art murals and award-winning gardens—well-kept by volunteers—is a must.
The Dionne Quintuplets Museum educates visitors about the miracle of the famous quint's survival, their exploitation, and their role in bringing notoriety and economic opportunity to Northern Ontario. The waterfront museum, housed in the relocated home of the Dionne Quintuplets from Corbeil, Ontario, provides an intimate look at the lives of Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie, and Marie Dionne, who became global sensations after their birth in 1934. The museum is packed with original artifacts, but the hidden gem is the docents who bring their story alive. One of the tour guides is even a descendant of the Dionne Quints. (And it's free… or by donation to learn about ‘Quintland’ and the five sisters who once rivalled Niagara Falls as Canada’s most popular tourist attraction.)
Right next to the Quints Museum is the North Bay Museum. I'm adding it as a hidden gem, because visitors in the know can request to have the electric model train turned on. Kids of all ages love the train which runs around a track near the ceiling. In addition to the interactive displays throughout the museum, the museum's gift shop is a highlight, offering a wide selection of model trains, planes, and hobby materials, perfect for collectors and hobbyists. Train fanatics will also note that the museum is housed in the historic Canadian Pacific Railway Station.
The Stepping Stones hike is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a serene and challenging hiking experience. Accessed from the end of Stepping Stones Way, and located within the Mattawa River Provincial Park, these trails are maintained by dedicated volunteers year-round. We took the challenging red trail, hiking over roots and hugging the shoreline with enchanting views of the Mattawa River. We happened upon the annual general meeting of the deerflies when we cut back along the swampier blue trail, which I don't recommend in fly season. Minus the biting flies, Stepping Stones is a must-visit gem, ready for hiking or winter fatbiking.
The Mattawa River was an important water route for Indigenous people in the area followed thousands of years later by voyageurs, trappers, and loggers. The must-do hidden gem is to get out on the water, regardless of how lovely the views were from the Stepping Stones trails. Canoeing and kayaking are highly recommended, and I did the Talon Gorge paddle with Shockwaves Paddle. His individual or ultra-small group tours allow for a tailored experience.
I rented a boat with Shockwaves, which we launched at Pimisi Bay on the Mattawa River. We never had to ask how much further it was—once we left the bay and were flanked by cliffs in the gorge, we could hear the quiet rumble of the Talon Chutes which soon became thunderous as it blocked any further travel west on the river.
Having braved Stepping Stones in the morning, we opted against the takeout and hiking path to the left of the falls to gain a different vantage point of them.
Bryce from Shockwaves Paddle was nice enough to ensure the wind was at our back on the return paddle. (How's that for customer service?)
The La Vase Portages are a hidden gem offering a unique blend of historical significance, natural beauty, and adventurous challenge, all while remaining a relatively undiscovered destination in Ontario.
Once used by Indigenous peoples and voyageurs, the “mud” portages link the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers to Lake Nipissing, and beyond to the Great Lakes.
While Canoe Day organizers thankfully cut out the part of the route that gave it the name La Vase, which means silt or mud in French, the route we took on the annual Canoe Day event still preserves the majority of the rugged, authentic paddling and portaging.
Fortuitously, I was in the canoe with Shelly Morrison of Near North Paddle & Nature Bound. She is one of the only guides locally who will be offering La Vase paddling tours outside of the Canoe Day fundraiser.
We portaged some beaver dams and powered over others. We conquered the kilometre-long pavement portage. These challenges only enhanced the sense of accomplishment when the day was done. Marvelling at the different water lilies and other dramatic flora through windy channels of reeds and wild irises also kept motivation levels high. It doesn't get more authentic than this!
The small stretch of this historic route is protected by the Friends of La Vase Portages. I highly recommend a guide or suggest you join their annual Canoe Day. Check out the route Interactive Map of Portage Route: La Vase Portages.
To end the day, I found myself back at Sunset Park, watching the ducks play in the shallows, while the sun was setting.
Duchesnay Falls is my last North Bay hidden gem. Tucked away just west of the city, it's surprising that the area isn't much busier given the beauty and hiking opportunities year round. The 1 km loop we chose was quite vertical in sections, but I barely raised my heart rate as I couldn't help but keep stopping to take photos. Cross to the west side of the falls to reach the best views.
Even during the low-water season of the summer, there are still dozens of gorgeous vistas to admire or photograph Duchesnay Falls. In the fall, the forest is a kaleidoscope of colours, as the maples burn red and orange, the birches radiate yellow, and the pines boldly stay dark green. Winter's quiet white blanket shrouds the falls for a peaceful snowshoe. In spring, the water flow is furious and mesmerizing. It's a gem because it's never the same, it's always beautiful, and it's free.
These ten hidden gems are waiting for you to discover in North Bay. Some are in plain sight, and others require a little more effort. Start planning!
