Mattawa Area is Open for Business

Recent flooding has caused damage in the Northern Ontario community of Mattawa, causing the town to declare a state of emergency. But if you’re concerned about travelling to the area, rest assured: many local tourism businesses—both in Mattawa proper and the surrounding Papineau-Cameron area—are still offering services. In some cases these services are limited, but other businesses in the region are unaffected by the flooding.

“It’s been chaos with the flooding, and it’s a shame because where we are, the water level is higher than usual, but we’re not flooded,” says Nicole Grigorov, co-owner of the Mattawa River Resort and Cardinal Lodge. “Because we’re Mattawa River Resort, people assume we’re in Mattawa, so we’re having a lot of people going online and cancelling their reservations,” she laments. “I had $60-80,000 of cancellations, just like that. And I have a staff of 19 to pay, so that hurts.”

Grigorov understands why travellers may be put off by news about the flooding. “They don’t want to come somewhere where there’s devastation, they want to come somewhere they can relax,” she says. “But there’s no need for people to cancel their reservations. There’s nothing to fear. It’s business as usual.”

Whether your summer plans involve RVing, ATVing, fishing, boating, or just taking it easy in the great outdoors, the Mattawa area has your vacation needs covered.

Here’s what you need to know.

Fishing and boating

Due to the flooding, boaters and anglers are not currently permitted on the Ottawa or Mattawa River waterways, but many other lakes in the region are just a short drive away. Your hosts will be glad to direct you to the nearest lakes. Mattawa Sports and Marine is a family-owned and operated small engine specialist shop that can help with your boating needs.

Accommodations

Lazy Rock RV Park and Campground, on Taggart Lake, offers overnight RV sites, serviced and unserviced tent sites, and seasonal sites. Each site includes a picnic table, fire table, fire ring and lake access, and some sites can accommodate an RV up to 40 feet. Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating and swimming are all available on this secluded lake.

Le Voyageur Inn, in Mattawa, has ATV/UTV-friendly accomodations, is walking distance from many facilities, and is located in a historic building constructed in 1881.

Mattawa Adventure Camp, located on the shores of the Ottawa River, suffered some minor damage during the flooding, but is very much still open for business. ATV/UTV trails, part of the 300-km Voyageur Multi-Use Trail System, are fully open for use. While fishing and boating are currently unavailable on the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers, Mattawa Adventure Camp is happy to help you fry up your day’s catch upon your return from a day out on nearby Lake Talon, Lake Nosbonsing,  or Papineau Lake.

Mattawa River Resort and Cardinal Lodge, on Lake Chant Plein, offers 8 km of boating and fishing opportunities, 12 cottages, campfires, a beach, great food, canoes and kayaks, and motorized boat docking facilities to its patrons. Beautiful views and good old-fashioned hospitality fill out the experience.

The Mattawa Golf & Ski Resort, along with a nine-hole golf course, offers several fully equipped cottages.

Sid Turcotte Park, a camping and cottage resort in Mattawa, has kept its cabins open along with limited full-service RV sites despite high waters, declaring: "This little flood won't hold us down!"

Two Rivers Motel, right in the heart of Mattawa, welcomes ATV/UTV users and offers a pet-friendly, bilingual service in recently full-service renovated rooms.

Valois' Restaurant and Motel, a fixture in Mattawa since its opening in 1934, is an ATV/UTV-friendly spot on the shore of the Ottawa River.

The Welcome Inn, on Earl’s Lake, boasts a 500-foot beach, fine bass fishing, trailer parking and a nearby chip truck to satisfy your hunger.

Adds Papineau-Cameron mayor Robert Corriveau: “I want to tell you that we are open for business and ready to serve you. We look forward to greeting you this week, next weekend and all year long.”

We at NorthernOntario.travel extend our heartfelt support for the people of Mattawa displaced or otherwise affected by the flooding. We encourage travellers to help the area by coming and supporting these and other local businesses.

Find more places to see and stay at in Mattawa

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