Trains, Planes and Canoes

This dream trip takes you deep into Wabakimi Provincial Park.

As a child, did you spend your days playing with toy trains, planes and little boats? If so, you will love this "big boy (or girl)" adventure.

Your wilderness trip starts with a float plane ride into the heart of Wabakimi Provincial Park. After unloading your gear from the plane, your wilderness paddling journey begins. 

Canoeing-Wabakimi

As you canoe through the pristine waterways, watch for elusive woodland caribou, moose, beavers and other wildlife.  Drop your line and catch “the big one.” There’s nothing like fresh fish cooked over an open fire.

Sunset-in-Wabakimi

At the end of the day, enjoy the sunset while listening to the haunting call of the loon.  

On your last day, while waiting along the CN line near the Allanwater Bridge, you’ll wonder if the VIA Rail passenger train will really stop in the middle of the forest to pick you up.

Allanwater-Bridge-sign

Yes – it will. After loading up your canoes and gear, the next thing you know, you’ll be sipping a cold beer in the observation car on your way back to Armstrong Station. 

If You Go

Wabakimi’s vast wilderness offers endless paddling possibilities. Contact Wabakimi Wilderness Outfitters or Wilderness North for trip planning advice, outfitting and guiding services.

The trip launching point, Armstrong, is approximately three hours by car north of Thunder Bay. 

While You Are Here

While in Thunder Bay, explore back in time to the year 1815 to experience the fur trade at Fort William Historical Park. There are 42 authentic, reconstructed buildings on the site and actors in period dress to bring it to life.

For more outdoor adventure and gorgeous panoramas, head east on Highway 17 and visit the cliffs of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park via its hiking trails.

For travel information, visit Thunder Bay and Northwest Ontario.

About Trish Manning

Trish Manning is an adventure travel writer and the content coordinator for Ontario Outdoor Adventures. She is an avid outdoor person who loves to hike, paddle, SUP, snowshoe, cross-country ski and explore Ontario's great outdoors with her golden retriever, Daisy.

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