2015 Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide 2015 | Page 29

Hiking

With our expansive forests and beautiful
lakes, it’s a given we have some of the
nicest hiking trails in the Province of
Ontario. Many Provincial Parks and
communities have established trail
systems that provide visitors with a variety
of choices during their stay. If you are an
adventurous hiker who enjoys all day treks
on rocky terrain, or an individual who
enjoys an easy terrain for light hiking with
younger children, you are sure to find a
trail to fit your needs. There are also
wheelchair friendly trails such as the
Rotary Way Trail in Kenora and
Umfreville Trail in Sioux Lookout.

Many trails also offer picnic areas, lookout
points, beaches, and rest areas. One of the
key things to remember when going on a
hike in Sunset Country is to bring your
camera. There will be numerous
opportunities to photograph song birds in
the forest canopy, and if you are lucky, you
could see mammals like deer, foxes or
rabbits scurrying about.
For more information about hiking trails
in Sunset Country, stop by one of the local
Information Centres or check out Sunset
Country’s mobile app at
apps.sunsetcountry.net

Lake trout is just one of the many species of fish to catch during the winter.

Winter Activities

Sure it gets cold up here in the winter but
with the drop in temperatures and the snow
comes unlimited opportunities for fun and
adventure! Snowmobilers will revel in
riding our fantastic system of groomed
snowmobile trails. These trails cut deep
through the forest, across frozen lakes and
present riders with some fantastic scenery
and riding. A big bonus is the fact our trails
are completely uncongested and you can
often ride all day and see only a few other
riders along the trail. Visit www.nwosta.ca
for more info on our trails.

Many communities in Sunset Country have
developed some great cross-country ski
trails with loops that will challenge any
skier. Try downhill skiing or snowboarding
in Atikokan, Dryden, Kenora, or Thunder
Bay. What we do have that is not available in
many areas are dog sled tours. Think about
the feeling you’ll get when you stay at an
outfitter who can take you on a ride through
the wilderness backcountry. Dog sledding is
a real eye opener and once you’ve tried it, we
think you’ll be back again for a second time
– it’s that fun an experience!

Photo: Jeff Gustafson

The biggest winter attraction of course is ice
fishing and in Sunset Country, the fish
generally don’t care what time of year it is
they are always looking for something to eat!
Stay at a lodge or even a hotel in town and
venture out on the ice for a day of fishing.
Many outfitters offer heated shacks for their
guests where it can be thirty below outside
and you can be sitting in a t-shirt in a shack
with an ice rod in your hand! For more
information on winter in Sunset Country,
visit www.snowontario.ca

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