2015 Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide 2015 | Page 70

Keewatin
Traveling from the west on Highway 17, Keewatin (now part of
the City of Kenora) is the first town in Ontario. The Vernon
Interpretive Nature Trails, located 5 kms down McKenzie
Portage Road, provide self-guided hiking trails through a diverse
parcel of land, with sand flats, Canadian Shield outcrops and a
series of bogs and marshlands. All species of birds or animals
native to the region thrive here, amidst 100 types of plants.
Points of interest range from a beaver house to an abandoned
fox den to a 300-year-old white pine.

The Keewatin Pot Holes provide evidence of glaciation. This
natural phenomenon consists of four rock holes ranging in
diameter from 30 inches to several feet, and as deep as 7 feet.
They are located one block south of Highway 17 on 6th Street.

Tours of the Mather-Walls House offer visitors a glimpse of the
past through a restored, turn-of-the-century home. John Mather
commissioned a Winnipeg architect to build the Queen Anne
style Victorian house in 1889. The house contains an
interpretive display highlighting the significant impact of the
Mather family on the development of the area.

In between Keewatin and Kenora, you'll find the Railway
Museum. The museum is situated in a park-like setting where
you can explore the engine or the caboose.

Access the resources listed below for more info on Kenora:
• www.ontariotowns.net/Kenora
• Tourism Kenora 1-800-535-4549 www.visitkenora.ca

Sunset on beautiful Pistol Lake.

70

Minaki
Located in one of Ontario's most scenic resort areas, the Town of
Minaki is only a 45 minute drive north of Kenora on Highway
596. The Minaki area is also home to some of Northwest
Ontario's best fishing waters. The mighty Winnipeg and English
River Systems run through the area offering great angling for
muskie, bass, walleye and northern pike. There are also
numerous lakes in the region that you can fish on.
Hunting opportunities are some of the best in Ontario with large
populations of deer, black bear and huge moose in the areas
north of the town. For the sports-minded, Minaki offers hiking,
biking and rock climbing opportunities. There are also several
beautiful campgrounds in the region.
Access the resources listed below for more info on Minaki:
• www.ontariotowns.net/Minaki