Escape to an outdoor experience like no other in Sunset Country, Ontario Canada. This is a place to fish, hunt, canoe, or you can just enjoy the beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Covering over 60,000 square miles in Northwestern Ontario, Sunset Country is a land of thousands of freshwater lakes and rivers - teeming with fish and the region has vast tracts of boreal forest inhabited by moose, bear, deer and eagles.

With over 600 lodges and resorts to choose from, you’ll be able to find a vacation option that suits your tastes and budget. For our American visitors, Sunset Country is within a day’s drive from most cities in the U.S. Midwest. For those further afield, jet service is available into cities such as Winnipeg or Thunder Bay and provides you with the opportunity to get here in a few hours from just about anywhere in the continential USA. From Winnipeg or Thunder Bay you can then connect to regional Bearskin flights that will take you just about anywhere in Sunset Country.

Sunset Country has certainly earned its reputation as “Canada’s Premier Fishing Destination”. With 70,000 fishable lakes, you’ll never have to worry about crowds out on the water. We also offer anglers the opportunity to catch a wide variety of fish including trophy-class walleye, northern pike, muskie, lake and brook trout, small and largemouth bass, perch, crappie, sauger and whitefish.

Access and species available varies based on the location within Sunset Country. Drive, boat or fly in to your destination. Our fishing is so good because of the management principle of catch and release. Anglers are encouraged to enjoy a tasty shore lunch of smaller fish but to let all trophy-sized fish go. This maintains the breeding population in our lakes and ensures that when your grandchildren visit, the fishing will be as good as or even better than it is today.

BIG GAME AND BIRD HUNTING

Venture north to Ontario’s Sunset Country and discover some of Canada’s best hunting areas for big game. This region of Ontario is a hunter’s paradise – moose, whitetail deer and black bear are all abundant. The lush boreal forests of Northwest Ontario have natural cover and food supply that produces BIG animals. Success rates are higher on a consistent bases than many other areas in Canada and the USA. If you’re a bird hunter, you’ll be happy to know that this part of Onario is on the migration flyway for many species of waterfowl. Duck and geese hunting are excellent. Our hunting websites will help you find the outfitter who can work with you in booking your hunting trip. Visit the website with information on the species you want to hunt:
www.ontariomoosehunting.ca;
www.ontariodeerhunting.ca;
www.ontariobearhunting.ca;
www.ontarioduckhunting.ca;

OUTPOSTS AND FLY-IN LODGES

Fly-in fishing is the ultimate Canadian angling experience! Here you’ll access true “wilderness” areas and experience feshwater fishing of a quality unlike any other place in North America. Fly-in outpost cabins offer anglers complete seclusion – the opportunity to have a lake all to yourself – and not see another soul for the duration of your fishing trip. If you want to enjoy the solitude a fly-in offers but you don’t want to cook your own meals, then try one of the many American Plan fly-in or boat-in lodges located in Sunset Country. Here you can enjoy the beauty of the backcountry, spectacular fishing and still get all the necessary “creature comforts” of home. For more information on outpost cabins and lodges visit our specialty website at www.ontarioflyinoutposts.ca

FULL-SERVICE LODGES

While, many who venture to Sunset Country come here to enjoy the wilderness beauty and great fishing, another reason these people visit the area is the excellent service and amenities available at our full-service American Plan lodges. Many of the packages available are “all-inclusive” and provide you the opportunity to relax and enjoy your vacation while your hosts look after all the details. These lodges offer guided fishing trips accompanied by great meals, and fine accommodations. For more information on this type of fishing experience, look under the “American Plan” link on www.ontariofishingresorts.ca

HOUSEKEEPING CABINS

If you like to fish on your own schedule and not have to worry about making it back in time for supper, then renting a housekeeping cabin is the solution. Housekeeping plans provide you with flexibility in your daily schedule and the ability to cook your own meals when you come off the water. Housekeeping cabins are also very affordable for families visiting the area – why not take your famly up to Canada for a great time on the lake? Visit our resort website at www.ontarioresortsandlodges.ca for information on housekeeping packages available from our members.

CAMPGROUNDS

Another alternative is to trailer your own boat behind your RV and stay at one or more of the 80 campgrounds that are members of our Travel Association. Flexibility in fishing location is the most tangible benefit of being mobile. Fish the lake you’re staying at or choose to fish other nearby lakes that have public boat launches. Our campground operators also offer their guests rental boats if needed. For a quick link to the campgrounds in Sunset Country visit www.ontariocampgrounds.net

WILDERNESS CANOE TRIPS

Another great way to access Sunset Country’s fantastic fishing resources and remote wilderness is by canoe. Sunset Country is home to some of Ontario’s most remote river systems and there are more than 5 “wilderness parks” to choose from. One of them, Wabakimi Provincial Park, has over 12,000 lakes within its boundaries. Other famous canoe destinations include Quetico and Woodland Caribou Provincial Parks. For the ultimate wilderness canoe experience venture to the far northern reaches of Sunseet Country where you can see polar bears and beluga whales along the Hudson Bay shoreline.

Many of these parks have established canoe routes or you can chart your own journey if you wish. There are plenty of options available for individuals and groups, guided or self outfitted, you’ll find what you need from one of our member canoe outfitters. Enjoy spectacular scenery and a pristine wilderness environment as you paddle to your fishing destination. For more information on wilderness canoe routes and canoe outfitters, visit www.canoenorthwestontario.ca

HOUSEBOATING

For a truly unique experience on a freshwater lake, the option of renting a fully-equipped houseboat is available. Explore some of Sunset Country’s largest lakes – and enjoy all the beauty in the comfort of your cabin “on the water” (and we mean “on the water”). Our houseboat operators will show everything you need to know including how to safely operate and navigate the boat, where all the best fishing spots are and how to enjoy your week on the lake from the deck of your houseboat. Mid-week checks by the operator ensure that you are well-supplied and that you are having a good time. For more information on how to rent a houseboat visit www.ontariohouseboats.ca

REGIONAL TOURING – TOWNS AND CITIES

For those travelling in an RV or by car, Sunset Country has many smaller-sized towns and cities with lots of things to see and do. Travel backcountry roads and venture into communities where everyone is waiting with a smile and a friendly “hello”a for visiting tourists. Each and every community has something unique and different to see and do. Drop in for a bite to eat at a local eatery or visit local museums and other attractions. Photo opportunities present themselves everywhere. Do a circle tour on Highways 17 and 11 or venture up the Red Lake Road or the Highway 599 Wilderness Corridor. Discover new people and places as you tour the towns and cities in Ontario’s Sunset Country. For more information on communities in our region visit www.ontariotowns.ca

THE PATRICIA REGION

The Patricia Region is the largest region in Sunset Country – covering the entire area north of the Trans-Canada Highway 17. Known as "Canada’s Heartland", the Patricia Region offers the angler a choice of remote, fly-in lakes with single outpost cabins to full-service fishing lodges that you can drive to. Bass, muskie, walleye, northern pike and lake trout are abundant in this region and many of the fish are "trophyclass" due to the remote location of many of the lakes. If you are a brook trout angler, some of our members can fly you into remote areas of the arctic watershed where these fish are abundant.

Major travel corridors include Highway 105 (‘the Red Lake Road’) – giving you access to the communities of Red Lake, Ear Falls and Perrault Falls – all major fishing destinations and the location of float plane bases to access fly-in fishing adventures in the Patricia Region.

The Highway 599 “Wilderness Corridor” provides the angler with access to fishing destinations such as Pickle Lake and Savant Lake. Highway 599 also allows for access to some of the most remote areas of Sunset Country. Its terminus just north of Pickle Lake makes it the most northerly, all-weather/all-season road in Ontario – talk about getting away from it all!

The Trans-Canada Highway 17 corridor marks the southern boundary of the Patricia Region and provides access to the communities of Vermilion Bay, Dryden, Wabigoon, Dinorwic, Eagle River, Ignace, English River and Upsala.

The Highway 72 corridor provides access to Sioux Lookout and Hudson. Sioux Lookout is also the location of a major float plane base offering access to fly-in lodges and outposts in the northern and eastern parts of the Patricia Region. The Patricia Region is also the location of several Provincial Parks including Woodland Caribou, Wabakimi and Opasquia – all provide world-class wilderness canoeing opportunities and of course, incredible fishing.

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS REGION

The Lake of the Woods Region, as its name implies, includes the entire Canadian portion of Lake of the Woods as well as an area north along the Winnipeg River System to Minaki. Home to one of the most majestic lakes in all of North America, the region has been a popular fishing destination for over 70 years. Lake of the Woods itself is over one million acres in size, has over 14,500 islands, producing over 65,000 miles of shoreline – a truly awe inspiring work of nature.

Highway 621 is known to many anglers - ending at the small community of Morson on Lake of the Woods – where "Island Splendor" is the name of the game. The Morson area offers the angler a wide variety of resorts and lodges to choose from and great fishing for smallmouth bass, muskie, northern pike, crappie and walleye.

A major route in the region is the Highway 71 corridor providing access to the famous resort communities of Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls. Both communities (now amalgamated as one municipal entity) offer a myriad of accommodation choices for the angler or traveler. Along this corridor you’ll find lodges, resorts, campgrounds and hotel/motels to suit any taste or budget.

Nestor Falls, an important float plane base, is located along the shores of the famous Sabaskong Bay on Lake of the Woods to the west and Crow Lake to the east. The area has a reputation for producing monstersized muskie as well as quality walleye, bass, northern pike and crappie. Sioux Narrows located in the heart of the Lake of the Woods, is known across North America for its fishing resorts and outdoor vacation opportunities.

Situated along the north shore of Lake of the Woods is the City of Kenora. Kenora serves as a key float plane base serving fly-in lakes north of the city. Kenora is also the location of several independent Fishing Guide Services offering guided fishing packages on the Lake of the Woods.

Travelling north of Kenora on Highway 596 you will find Minaki, a true resort community. Minaki provides anglers with access to extremely productive walleye, bass, northern and muskie lakes that are parts of the English and Winnipeg River systems. In the Minaki area, you’ll find a wide variety of lodges to choose from offering Housekeeping or American Plan packages.

THE RAINY RIVER REGION

Straddling the US/Canada border and extending north towards the Trans-Canada Highway 17 is the Rainy River region. This is a region of distinct natural beauty with many thousands of lakes populated with small and largemouth bass, walleye, muskie, lake trout and northern pike. In the region you’ll find a variety of drive and boat-in lodges/resorts as well as fly-in outposts and lodges.

Major travel corridors include Highway 11 also known as MOM’s Way, which provides access to the communities of Atikokan, Mine Centre, Fort Frances, Emo, Stratton, Sleeman and Rainy River. Quetico Provincial Park – a Mecca for wilderness canoeists, can also be accessed off Highway 11. Don’t forget to visit the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Center near Stratton – a National Historic Site!

The Highway 502 corridor splits the Rainy River Region almost down the middle. While there are no major communities on this route, Highway 502 provides the angler with quick access and a more direct route to the City of Dryden if they are headed to a fishing spot in the Patricia Region.  Have your camera ready when traveling this road as it is almost guaranteed you’ll see wildlife such as moose, black bear, deer and foxes along the way.

For help in planning your vacation and for general travel information including a poster-sized map of our region, visit www.sunsetcountry.net
or call 1-800-665-7567.