Canoeing has never been this peaceful

If you always dreamed of canoeing in crystal clear lakes where the only traffic you'll see are the loons, moose, and eagles, then a wilderness canoe trip to Sunset Country is the answer. The landscape of Northwestern Ontario beckons the wilderness canoeist. If you're looking to experience the joys of flat water canoeing in the remote wilderness, there is no better place than Ontario's Sunset Country. You can take a weekend, week, or even longer - it's up to you.

Iconic Wilderness Parks

Northwestern Ontario is home to some of the most famous canoe parks in Canada. At the top of this list are Quetico Park south of Atikokan, Woodland Caribou Park west of Red Lake and Wabakimi Wilderness Area - a vast wilderness park with 12,000 lakes and larger than the State of Connecticut. These parks have thousands of miles of canoe routes where you can paddle centuries-old pathways first used by the Anishinaabe people and followed by the European fur traders. Paddle back in time and see the wilderness as it was then and how it still is today. Of course, with over 70,000 lakes, rivers and streams in Sunset Country, these parks are not your only options. Your canoeing options are really endless in Northwestern Ontario. Many of the Lodges and resorts in Sunset Country also have canoes to borrow or rent if you want to go out for an hour or two.

Explore Nature through Photography

For those who want to capture images of nature in our region, you'll find no better opportunity than when you go on a wilderness canoe trip. See the majestic Canadian moose or woodland caribou. These animals are not your everyday run-of-the-mill wildlife sighting. Shy of humans, they live deep in the bush and it is truly amazing to see and photograph. Rounding out the show are bald eagles, great horned owls, otter, beaver, black bear, timber wolves and whitetail deer.

Stand in Awe of the Canadian Shield

The massive granitic rock outcrops define the look and feel of the landscapes in Sunset Country. This rugged landscape is bewildering to those who see it for the first time and remain part of the soul for those who return to see it year after year. Paddle beneath rock faces that are 80 feet high and which extend along the lake shoreline for miles. On some of these rocks are Anishinabek Pictographs - "rock paintings" that are hundreds of years old, each with its own story to tell.

Immerse Yourself in the Northern Boreal Forest

Northwestern Ontario is part of the great Boreal forest that rings the northern hemisphere of our planet. Breathe deeply straight from the "lungs of the earth" and experience what the term "fresh air" really means. The boreal forest is in itself is a wonder of the world with lush plants and trees and full of amazing sights and sounds. The northern forest gets it name from Boreas, the Greek god of the North Wind, and he is definitely someone you'll hear from on your trip.

Blue Paradise

As a wilderness canoeist, we know that it is the water where you'll be spending most of your time and believe us when we say Northwestern Ontario is Blue Paradise - a system of connected freshwater lakes and rivers like nowhere else on the planet. You could paddle Sunset Country for the entire summer and not see ten percent of what is here. With 70,000 lakes and rivers, we can guarantee the paddling part of the trip will be an experience you can't get anywhere else. Around each corner or the next peninsula the scenery changes and you'll be so overwhelmed - in a good way - by the diversity of the landscapes and waterways that you won't notice how tired you are. At the end of a long day paddling, you can find that perfect campsite alongside the lake, have fresh walleye cooked over a camp fire and sip a cup of coffee as you look overhead at the spectacle of the Aurora Borealis. There is absolutely no light pollution up here so if you're a stargazer, then the heavens await you.

So what are you waiting for, go plan your Ontario wilderness canoe trip.

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