2015 Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide 2015 | Page 61

Pickle Lake There is something exciting about “the end of the road”. The very phrase elicits image of wilderness and awakens the explorer in all of us. Pickle Lake is nestled at the leading edge of a vast, wild frontier located in the midst of one of seven remaining undisturbed boreal forests left on the earth. A starting point for canoe, kayak and fishing trips into no less than nine provincial parks scattered across the Canadian Shield country to the transition forest and onto the Hudson Bay lowlands, all the way to sub-arctic tundra and the salt water coast of Ontario, Pickle Lake offers access to this 300,000 sq. miles of virgin wilderness. Moose, caribou to polar bear and beluga whale, walleye and northern pike to world class brookies. It all begins in Pickle Lake. Outfitters offering fly-in fishing, hunting and canoeing await you. Floatplanes will fly you to remote lakes where you'll find yourself completely secluded with friends, a cabin and a fish filled lake. The Municipality operates 4 access points that all have a place to launch a boat, pitch a tent and some of the best fishing around. Drive north to Badesdawa, Menako, and Mawley Lakes and the Pipestone River. Visitors can also take advantage of the many area lakes, sandy beaches, and the municipal park to swim, picnic, sunbathe, waterski, fish and canoe. Just in case you are looking for a little more excitement than soaking up the sun, there is the fun filled Black Fly Festival held every year on the July 1st weekend. Access the resources listed below for more info on Pickle Lake: • www.ontariotowns.net/PickleLake • Township of Pickle Lake 807-928-2034 or www.picklelake.ca Armstrong Armstrong and the adjacent Whitesand First Nation (combined population 650) offer a full range of modern facilities and services. Located northwest of Lake Nipigon, Armstrong is accessible via paved Highway 527 (3 hours drive north of Thunder Bay), by VIA Rail or by chartered air service to the Armstrong airport. Armstrong is the jumping off point for great fishing and hunting adventures in the Wabakimi Wilderness Park, Albany River and Ogoki Reservoir areas. If you're planning a canoe expedition on one of the many canoe routes in and around Wabakimi Park, the canoe outfitters in the area will help you plan your trip. Many fly-in outposts and fullservice lodges use Armstrong as their take off location. Fly in to lakes such as Smoothrock, Shabuskwia, Whitewater, Kagianagami, Mojikit, Damon, Wabakimi and many other great fishing destinations. Wabakimi Provincial Park is situated in the traditional lands of several First Nations communities. The name “Wabakimi” is thought to come from the Ojibway word Waubishkaugimi meaning “whitewater”. The waterways in the park have been traveled for centuries by the Ojibway people. Ancient campsites, artifacts and pictograph (rock painting) sites tell some of the Wabakimi story. Access the resources listed below for more info on Armstrong: • www.ontariotowns.net/Armstrong • Armstrong Resource Development Corp. 807-583-2080 61