I have my trip all planned out going in at EP58 South Lake on July 1st till the 5th. My question relates to what to do afterwards. We're off until the 10th and are trying to decide what to do. I have several great plans that revolve around cheeseburgers and cold beer in the Superior National forest, but am looking for ideas on the Canadian side.

It's going to be my wife, our boys (10 and 12) and me. We already have Ontario fishing licenses so would just need some ideas on where to go.

My idea was to head through the Hwy 61 border crossing, spend a day seeing sights near Thunder Bay, then slowly make our way car camping over to Fort Frances to come back into the US.

Questions:
What to do in Thunder Bay besides Tim Hortons, amethyst mines and Ft. William?

Where to car camp/fish/swim between Thunder Bay and Fort Frances?

Any can't-miss stuff to see in the general vicinity?

The Amethyst Mines were a hoot! - not at all what I expected. Very unsophisticated. Amethyst (low grade) by the pound.

Kakabeka falls are worth a stop. Now I'm curious about these Amethyst mines.

Hex

Just north of Thunder Bay, you could try the Eagle Canyon Adventures zipline .

If it were me I'd just make my canoe trip longer.

quote Grandma L: "The Amethyst Mines were a hoot! - not at all what I expected. Very unsophisticated. Amethyst (low grade) by the pound. "

The parking lot had crushed amethyst as gravel, there was an old guy with a jack hammer across the revine "digging" an amaythist vein. An old red and white trailer house as a store and information center, lots of piles or "tailings" - that were low grade amathyst sold by the pound.

there is Hoito's finnish restaurant, 314 Bay St, thunder bay. great for breakfast, expect to wait in line.

someone already mentioned Kekebeka Falls, really neat, good diner across the road.

just across the border into Canada on hwy 61 is the visitor info center. lots of great info and helpful people. you can park here and hike the canadian trail to the High Falls of Pigeon River. most people do the MN side since it's a paved trail. the canadian side is more rugged, dirt, rocks... and you get right to the top of the falls.
there is MUCH MORE hiking and camping options so ask at the info center for those trail maps.

Atikokan: walking the town

Quetico Park office is a nice place to stop, they have a small gift shop, lots of
books, t'shirts, memorabilia

if you like to drive and explore you could take hwy 17 all the way to Red Lake Ontario, gateway to the Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, on your way back, cut south at Dryden and head to Rainy River and Ft. Francis.

no matter how you travel to Ft Francis, it's a lot of driving with not a lot in-between. make sure you tank is full!

Extend your canoe trip.

Grand Portage National Monument is pretty cool.

Also Old Fort William is pretty cool I've been to both, doing exactly what you're doing, except we went from Thunder Bay to Sault St. Marie.

Thanks Mocha and GeoFisher,
Those are some great ideas. I wish we had the time for the trip over to Sault St. Marie, that's some beautiful country!

In Atikokan you might check with Souris River Canoes . They may be able to show you how they make canoes. I'd check in advance though.

Like Mocha said just make sure you fill the tank before you drive for any distance up there.

quote Jaywalker: "In Atikokan you might check with Souris River Canoes . They may be able to show you how they make canoes. I'd check in advance though. "

I heard others it was really enjoyable.

It would be neat to check out various entry points.

Anybody been to the Quetico library in Aitkoken?

quote Pinetree: "

quote Jaywalker: "In Atikokan you might check with Souris River Canoes . They may be able to show you how they make canoes. I'd check in advance though. "

I heard others it was really enjoyable.


It would be neat to check out various entry points.


Anybody been to the Quetico library in Aitkoken?"

definitely Souris River factory tour and the shed where they are stored. can't believe i forgot that!
there is also a store/gallery that showcases local artists work.. not sure where that is, but the town isn't that big, someone should know.

for grins, you could drive down the road to the beaverhouse entry, park and hike the portage to the lake.

don't forget your passports... you'll need them to get in and out of canada