From riverfront cabins in Mattawa to bluff-top stays on Manitoulin Island and island lodges on Lake Temagami, Northeastern Ontario is packed with cottages you can rent in every season. These are waterfront stays with docks, fire pits, saunas, snowmobile trail access, and paddle-out mornings built in. Whether you’re planning a Lake Nipissing beach week, a French River fishing trip, a Temiskaming snowmobile escape, or a romantic luxury glamping weekend, once you're make it to one of these cottages, you will never ever want to ever go away.
When you picture a classic Northern Ontario waterfront cottage, this is it. Timber beams, wide porches, boats bobbing in the marina, and the sparkling turquoise water of Killarney Channel stretching out in front of you. Think chalets and lodge-style suites, a heated outdoor pool, a sauna after a long day outside, and a vintage cocktail bar with wraparound floor-to-ceiling views.
You can head out paddling or hiking in Killarney Provincial Park, or just stay put and watch the light shift over the bay. The La Cloche mountain range rises up behind you, and the quartzite shoreline is unmistakably Northern Ontario.
Big horizons and slow evenings define cottage life on Manitoulin. The shoreline shifts from sandy beaches to limestone bluffs, and lake views stretch for miles.
High above Lake Huron near Sheguiandah, Ten Mile Point Resort sits on a bluff with open views toward the La Cloche Mountains. Scandinavian-inspired cabins line the ridge, while additional waterfront options sit closer to the water. Private decks and fire pits make the elevation part of the experience, with some of the widest vantage points on the island, with excellent campfire views.
Set along Lake Manitou, Green Bay Lodge offers quiet waterfront stays with year-round suites. Guests have access to canoes and kayaks, sandy-bottom swimming from the dock, wooded walking trails, and a meditation nook tucked into the trees.
Lake Nipissing delivers big sunsets, steady fishing, and long stretches of shoreline.
In North Bay, The Finch offers four boutique cottages right on the beach with breathtaking views of Lake Nipissing. Each Instagram-worthy cottage includes a full kitchen, modern bath, and curated interiors—and captures the spirit of mid-century road trips, beach blanket bingo and stiff cocktails. The private beach and west-facing shoreline (with private sauna!) deliver uninterrupted sunset views across the lake, while the city’s waterfront trails, ski hill, and restaurants are just minutes away.
Along the picturesque shoreline of the West Arm of Lake Nipissing, Saenchiur Flechey Resort offers six fully equipped cottages—which sleep up to 40 people if you’re planning a party—spread across 130 acres. Dock access, marked walking trails, and boat rentals make it easy to explore the lake’s islands and inlets. The West Arm’s reputation for musky and pickerel fishing is another draw for the anglers in the group! In addition to endless hiking options on their well-maintained nature trails, you're sure to spot wildlife in their natural habitat.
Known for its old-growth pine forests and deep connection to the land, this is where you come to unplug, paddle, hike, and feel small in the best way.
Cabins line the shoreline of this private island lodge on Lake Temagami, connected by a wooden boardwalk that circles the property. Inside, they’re classic Northern Ontario: full kitchens, indoor bathrooms, and heated for year-round use. Every cabin faces the water. In summer, guests arrive by boat; in winter, the ice keeps the island accessible, with warm cabins waiting at the end of the crossing.
Ridgewood’s housekeeping cabins sit along a quiet Temagami lake, spaced for privacy and built for longer stays. Each one includes a full kitchen, indoor plumbing, comfortable sleeping areas, and a simple living space. Outside, there’s a propane BBQ and picnic table. There’s no Wi-Fi or television on site, which lets you focus on dock swims, canoe paddles, and quiet evenings by the campfire.
On Lake Temiskaming, Maiden Bay Camp's winterized cabins and campsites overlook wide-open water. Propane stoves, wood heat, and dock access make it cozy for year-round use, while nearby snowmobile and ATV routes connect lake days with trail rides.
This is where cabin stays meet classic Northern Ontario angling.
Located on an island in the historic and beautiful French River, Crane's Lochaven Wilderness Lodge is a premier Northern Ontario fishing lodge. The fifteen cabins, each with a private sundeck, look over the French River. Book an all-inclusive fishing package that include meals and boat use, or plan a family stay and explore the river. Don’t miss their famous fish fry!
Near the Spanish River, Agnew Lake Lodge pairs cabin rentals with fishing, hunting, and guided outdoor packages. Snowmobilers access OFSC trails in winter, and paddlers can arrange shuttle service for multi-day river trips.
River systems, Crown land, trail access, paddling routes, and room to roam shape the experience as much as the cabins themselves.
Mattawa Adventure Camp's fully equipped waterfront cottages on the Upper Ottawa River include kitchens, bathrooms, and private outdoor space, but the real draw is what surrounds them. Docks lead straight into boating and fishing, while nearby trail networks support hiking, ATV riding, and snowmobiling. Winter packages extend the season, making it a basecamp that stays active year-round.
On Kukagami Lake in Markstay, Pine Falls Lodge cabins sit with forest on one side and open water on the other. Kitchens and indoor bathrooms make longer stays easy, while Crown land access invites hiking and snowshoeing. Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are ready at the shoreline, and the wood-burning sauna facing the lake gives the property its signature finish.
On Kenogamissi Lake near Timmins, WildExodus brings something different to the cottage scene. Alongside waterfront cabins, prospector-style glamping tents sit close to the shoreline, with framed canvas walls and real beds that keep it comfy while staying connected to the outdoors. Lake access, forest trails across the 22-acre property, and seasonal workshops round out your stay.
There’s just something about sleeping beneath a curved ceiling of canvas and sky. These luxe glamping domes offer real beds, real heat, and real wilderness just outside the door.
On the quiet shores Pimisi Bay, Otter Pointe Resort pairs wilderness with comfort. Stay in one of two four-season geodesic domes, complete with heat, A/C, wood stove, kitchenette, and private deck. Paddle straight from shore with complimentary kayaks and boards, warm up in the lakeside sauna, then end the night at your own waterfront firepit.
Tucked near McGregor Bay in Birch Island, the private geodomes at Among The Trees feel designed for couples who want a little seclusion with their adventure. Heated and thoughtfully furnished, each dome offers a cozy basecamp for days spent paddling Georgian Bay’s winding inlets or hiking into the La Cloche Mountains.
