Sustainability Spotlight: Eco-Friendly Travel in Thunder Bay

Looking to experience Thunder Bay through a greener lens? This vibrant Northern Ontario city offers plenty of ways to embrace eco tourism while enjoying the huge and beautiful lake on its doorstep, and its even bigger boreal landscape. From green travel experiences like self-guided bike tours and low-impact lodging to sustainable shopping and eco-friendly dining, Thunder Bay is a rising hub for green tourism in Canada—it just makes sense for Thunder Bay residents and travellers alike to want to protect all this natural beauty.

Whether you're exploring the city’s scenic trails by bike, sampling locally sourced fare at The Growing Season, staying at sustainable accommodations like The Courthouse Hotel, or shopping local at Goods & Co. Market, there are countless ways to travel responsibly. Here are six easy and impactful ways to enjoy eco-conscious tourism in Thunder Bay—without sacrificing comfort, taste, or fun!

Bike, Hike, and Explore: Outdoor Activities for Sustainable Travel in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay has a network of bike trails to get around town, including 56 km of multi-use trails and another 42 km of bike lanes/shared lanes. Hop on a bike to visit some of the area’s most popular destinations, including Prince Arthur’s Landing and the waterfront. You can rent bikes at Rollin’ Thunder as well as Community Spokes (which also has a free DIY spot to do your own repairs if needed, and low-cost used parts). As well, Delta Hotels Thunder Bay has an incredible location right on the waterfront with e-bikes and helmets available for guests to rent.

Love mountain biking? Explore the Trowbridge Forest Multi-Use Recreational Trail System at the north end of the city for plenty of rugged trails in the heart of the boreal forest. Check out local favourite routes to get an idea of some biking options both within the city and the countryside, like the Slate River Valley. Of course, there are lots of non-motorized activity options in the winter too—consider snowshoeing, fat biking, ice climbing or skiing on the area’s excellent routes.

Walk Thunder Bay: Self-Guided and Eco-Friendly Tours to Discover the City

Take a guided or self-guided tour to get a closer look at some of the city’s unique features. In the summer, the Thunder Bay Museum offers historical guided tours of various TBay neighbourhoods. If you’re interested in learning more about the area’s rich bounty of edible or useful wild foods, book a foraging walk, offered throughout the summer by the Boreal Museum.

The free Thunder Bay Driftscape app is a great way to access self-guided tours, which include themes of public art, urban murals and historical sites, or you can pick up a physical map at one of Thunder Bay’s three visitor centres.

To get around on local transit (buses) consider downloading the free app to help you plan your route. 

Where to Eat Sustainably in Thunder Bay: Local, Plant-Based, and Eco-Friendly Restaurants

Locally grown and produced food is a fantastic (and delicious) way to make sustainable choices, and fortunately Thunder Bay has a lot of great independent eateries that are proud to serve local meat, cheese, baking and produce whenever possible.

Some of your choices for local fare include Beefcake’s Burger Factory, Both Hands Pizza, Eat Local Pizza, El Tres, Prime Gelato, Rebel Salad, Red Lion Smokehouse, Rose Valley Lodge & Restaurant, The Growing Season and Tomlin Restaurant.

The Growing Season and Rebel Salad both have a reusable takeout container program, The Bakeshop on Boundary is totally fine with you bringing your own take-out containers for their amazing pastas, sandwiches and desserts, and Sweet North Bakery is happy to fill up your reusable to-go mug with their freshly made coffee or tea at both their locations.

For those who prefer plant-based options to minimize their ecological footprint, head to Bonobo’s, Thai Kitchen, Madhouse, Bay Village Coffee, Dolce Coffee House or Up Shot Coffeehouse. Thunder Bay’s very first Veg Fest, celebrating vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, is happening on July 5, 2025 too.

Sip Local: Thunder Bay’s Best Craft Breweries with a Sustainable Twist

Local craft beer is a tasty way to savour beverages crafted with ingredients like local malt and Lake Superior water, and seasonal options that feature, for example, local hand-harvested spruce tips. Kick back and sample some flights and snacks at the city’s four breweries: Dawson Trail Craft Brewery, Sleeping Giant Brewing Co., (which also offers tours), Lakehead Beer Co., and The Brew Pub at Prospector Steak House.

Eco-Friendly Accommodations in Thunder Bay: Glamping, Green Hotels, and Upcycled Stays

Glamping is a fun and unique way to enjoy Thunder Bay’s beautiful natural setting. Check out The Canvas Inn for canvas tents that come equipped with everything you need for a comfortable, chic stay in the great outdoors.

Interested in upcycling when it comes to accommodations? The Courthouse Hotel, a historic former courthouse that’s now a boutique hotel in Thunder Bay’s waterfront district, is one to consider! 

Hostels are often considered eco-friendly due to their shared facilities and reduced carbon emissions, so take a look at another downtown gem, The Haven Hostel, which offers a welcoming vibe and a mix of accommodations, including options for private rooms and private bathrooms.

Thunder Bay also has a range of established hotels that have a variety of eco certifications for practices like recycling, toiletry dispensers and water conservation, and your options include Best Western Plus NorWester, Home2 Suites by Hilton, TownePlace Suites Thunder Bay, Delta Hotels, Days Inn & Suites , Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre, and Hampton Inn and Suites.

Sustainable Shopping in Thunder Bay: Local Markets, Artisans, and Green Retailers

Goods & Co. Market, a Euro-style market housed in a cool former Eaton’s building in the waterfront district, is a wonderful source for hand-crafted local art, jewelry, clothing and more, plus it has a farm store for fresh local produce, baking and preserves at Superior Seasons. One new vendor is Three Seeds Corp., an innovative and earth-friendly vertical tower growing company that grows fresh greens onsite.

The Station Market is right on the waterfront in a century-old former railway station. There you’ll find a range of local businesses, including curated vintage clothing at Jewels of Crown, natural handcrafted skin care by McChristie’s Bath & Body Co., and a collection of locally made items like moose antler jewelry, local pottery and much more.

Local companies that make or carry earth-friendly items include Three Huggers (reusable paper towels, beeswax wraps and snack pouches), The Refill Co. (sustainable home and self-care products), Bare Organics (natural and organic skin care), Joyce Seppala Designs (sustainable women’s fashion), Ungalli Clothing Co. (casual wear made from recycled or organic materials and eco-friendly inks), Helen Pelletier (Indigenous-made birchbark baskets and jewelry), Tuija Hansen Fibre Design (plant-dyed fibre art and goods), Varahi Home (sustainable homewares and fashion) and Lunar Moose (jewelry made with natural materials). Check their individual websites to find out which Thunder Bay stores carry their items, or how you can buy directly.

Find a Farmers' Market in Thunder Bay

There are three farmers markets in the area. Thunder Bay Country Market has a gorgeous selection of fresh local veggies, fruits, herbs, baking, preserves and handicrafts. It is centrally located and open Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings year round. Vendors include Elfarrow with clothing ethically made with environmentally friendly materials, La Croix Aquaponics, featuring greens grown with the assistance of rainbow trout at the northwest’s only aquaponics farm, and Meet the Alternative, a new vendor with vegan "meats” and “cheeses.” Kakabeka’s Farmers Market and Thunder Bay Farmers’ Market are a treasure trove for locally produced wares. They are both open seasonally, so check their websites for current opening hours.

Explore Thunder Bay and support sustainability efforts—from food, drink and accommodations to shopping, touring and getting around, there’s so much to enjoy!

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