Only 75 days to Ontario walleye opener

Nice Lake of the Woods walleye

Each March many people are getting tired of winter and start the countdown to the walleye opening weekend. To many it marks the 'beginning of summer' to some it means having fresh walleye again and to some it means heading up north to their annual Canadian fishing trip.

After being closed for spawning, the walleye season opens up again in Northwest Ontario the 3rd Saturday in May each year. In 2013, that means May 18th is the day many have been dreaming about. While some anglers get fresh walleye by going ice fishing in the winter, those that are unable to make it to Sunset Country in the winter or just prefer to fish in the summer dream of opening day.

Fly-in fishing at McKusker-Keeper Lakes Camp

You can download the 2013 fishing regulations from the Ministry of Natural Resources website. To fish in Ontario, you'll need an outdoors card as well as a fishing license. The Ministry of Natural Resources is encouraging you to buy your Ontario fishing license online before you head out on your fishing trip. You can purchase either a Sport or Conservation license. The conservation license has lower limits. You can download the Ontario fishing regulations as a whole book or just the zone you will be fishing. Be sure to check the exceptions as certain lakes have special limits and slot sizes.

If you haven't booked your 2013 walleye fishing trip yet, you'd better pick a place quick before they fill up. Check out some of the lodges in Ontario with walleye fishing now.

Let the countdown begin!

Mud, Music, Dragon Boats, Blueberries and Bass!

The August 10-12th weekend was filled with events in Sunset Country. From the Atikokan 4X4 Mudfling to the Shaw KBI to the Blueberry Festival in Sioux Lookout to the Trout Forest Music Festival in Ear Falls, Sunset Country had it all. Here's a quick recap of the weekend with links to see some of the photos of these summertime events.

Blueberry Bert joining the entertainment

The Blueberry Festival

The Festival is a 10 day festival that ran August 3-12, 2012 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. This year was special as it was the 30th anniversary of the Blueberry Festival and Sioux Lookout's Centennial. The theme for this year’s Blueberry Festival was 'Hometown Heroes.' This theme was chosen to honour and celebrate the people who have worked so hard to make our community what it is today. There were over 130 events each year at the Blueberry Festival. Visit the Blueberry Festival Facebook page for tons of great photos of all the events. CKDR also has some Blueberry Festival photos.

News Articles of the Blueberry Festival: 
- Blueberry Festival Begins today, Aug. 3

Full Trottle

The 2012 Atikokan Mudfling

The Atikokan Mudslingers 4x4 Club Mudfling was held August 11-12th and had a double feature presentation. Spectators got to see "Full Throttle" and "Paper Boy Express" in action at the Opening Ceremonies and at Intermission on Saturday, and again on Sunday morning. "Full Throttle" and "Paper Boy Express" was set up in an area for you to talk with the people that built and drive these awesome machines and see their cars up close. The 4x4 Mudfling was held at the Charleson Recreation Area in Atikokan. Bookmark the Mudslingers' website for next year's events and to see photos of the event.

The Trout Forest Music Festival

The Ear Falls Waterfront Park came alive for the 17th Annual Trout Forest Music Festival August 10-12, 2012. The weather held out and concert goers were treated to over 25 musical acts including Jon Brooks, Alex Cuba and April Verch. Check out some photos of the Trout Forest Music Festival at Tourism Red Lake's Facebook page or on both Q104s or CKDR's Facebook page.

News articles about the Trout Forest Music Festival:

- Trout Forest Music Festival 2012 Gallery, Aug. 12
- Final Day for Trout Forest Music Festival, Aug. 12
- Trout Forest Music Festival has some of Manitoba's best playing waterside, Aug. 9

Rob Horley holds a 5.58lb largemouth bass caught at the 2012 SKBI - Photo courtesy of the Kenora Daily Miner and News

The Shaw Kenora Bass International

The SKBI was held August 9-11th, 2012 on Lake of the Woods in Kenora. Aaron Wiebe and Peter Tully were the 2012 tournament winners, taking home a $22,375 first prize. 2012 was the 25th year for the SKBI, which for years was named KBI until Shaw became a major sponsor. Past tournaments are showcased on the newly designed SKBI website. The bass tournament on Lake of the Woods is now known as Shaw KBI or SKBI. The biggest bag of fish came on day two with Jim Gustafson and Ben Gustafson reeling in 20.40 lbs. Jon Olson and Clay Lajeunesse got the biggest fish on both Day 1 and Day 2 with a 6.09 and a 5.99 lb bass. Day Three's biggest was caught by Michael Dufresne and Louis Syemour with a 5.38 pounder. All results of the 2012 Shaw KBI can be found online here. View some more photos of the SKBI at the 89.5 The Lake Facebook page.

News articles about the SKBI:

- Wiebe/Tully take 25th Shaw KBI with 18.85-pound final day, Aug 11
- Wiebe and Tully Win SKBI, Aug. 11
- Jim and Ben Gustafson shoot to top of the SKBI leaderboard with 20-plus-pound day two haul, Aug 10 
- McNanney, Rydberg lead SKBI, Aug.9

Dragon Boat racers on Rabbit Lake

The Kenora Dragon Boat Festival

Over 340 paddlers took part in the 10th Annual KLWRCF Dragon Boat Festival held August 12th on Rabbit Lake in Kenora. The one day festival went off without a hitch, finishes a couple of hours before the rain began. 17 boats raced this year's 500-metre water course. The races were held in heats of 2 or three boats starting off on the east end of the lake and ending just in front of the cheering crowd at the Kenora Rowing Club. After a few races, they broke for the flower ceremony where the Dragon Tamers, Chemo Savvy and other female paddlers took to the water. The Dragon Tamers were selling carnations to be thrown in the water after a touching song and the single beat of a drum. The foundation raised $22,000 from this past weekend's dragon boat races. Super Troopers won the A-side title, and Carpe Diem, members of Kenora's legal community placed first in the b-side event. Check out some of the photos on the Sunset Country Facebook page or the 89.5 The Lake Facebook page.

News articles about the Dragon Boat Festival:
- Dragon Boats Profitable for Community Foundation, Aug. 13
- Super Troopers repeat as champs, Aug. 13
- Tenth annual Dragon Boat Festival, Aug. 12

All in all, in was a very busy weekend in Sunset Country. For a list of events in Northwest Ontario, visit the new Ontario's Sunset Country Events Calendar.

Connect with Ontario's Sunset Country online

Do you need a quick question answered? Want to see inspiring photos of Sunset Country? Need up to date information?

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You can also view our main Sunset Country website which links to over 400 Ontario lodges, resorts, hotels, local travel centres, businesses and more. Looking for something specific? Try one of our many product specific websites. Ask questions about traveling to Ontario's Sunset Country via email.

It's Sports and Vacation Show Season!

The Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association will personally be at 5 sportshows this winter. Come on by to pick up our brand new 2012 Travel Guide & Fishing Map and our new Sunset Country Hunting Brochure. We also bring many of our members' brochures to the shows as well. One stop shopping!! The Sunset Country brochures will also be available at the Travel Center at all the All Canada shows as well as at the Northwest Ontario booth at the All Canada Shows.

Minnesota Sportsmen's Boat, Camp & Vacation Show

Where: St. Paul River Centre, St. Paul, MN
When: January 12-15th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Thursday January 12 -  2 pm - 9 pm
• Friday January 13 - Noon - 9 pm
• Saturday January 14 - 10 am - 9 pm
• Sunday January 15 - 10 am - 6 pm

Visit the show website for a $2 off coupon, schedule of seminars (including ones from outdoor pros such as Tony Roach, Jason Dommeyer, Jason Mitchell and Todd Amenrud), and more.

Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show

Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre, Rosemont, IL
When: January 26 - 29th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Thursday, January 26 - 2 pm - 8 pm
• Friday, January 27 - 2 pm - 8 pm
• Saturday, January 28 - 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday, January 29 - 10 am - 5 pm

If you buy your tickets online ahead of time, they are $2 cheaper and you get a free magazine subscription to Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Islands or Transworld Motorcross (one per household). See the website for details.

Cedar Rapids Sportshow

Where: Hawkeye Downs Expo Centre, Cedar Rapaids, IA
When: February 10-12th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Friday February 10 - 2 pm - to 8 pm
• Saturday February 11 - 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday February 12 - 10am - 4 pm

Visit the Cedar Rapids Sportshow website for prices, to print a coupon and for more information. Visit the "Ask the Pros" Info Booth where Fishing and Hunting experts are featured throughout the show. Stop by, ask questions, get great tips.

Red River Valley Sportsmen's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show

Where: Fargodome, Fargo, ND
When: March 1-4th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Thursday March 1 - 5 pm - 9pm
• Friday March 2 - Noon - 9 pm
• Saturday March 3 - 10 am - 9 pm
• Sunday March 4 - 10 am - 6 pm

Come to the 47th Red River Valley Sportsmen's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show, North Dakota's largest sportshow. In addition to all the exhibitors, there are tons of seminars to see including some by Frank Addington Jr., Ted Takasaki, and hunter Todd Amenrud. There is a trout pond and a Kids Fishing Workshop with the pros from Scheels. Visit their website to see a complete list of seminars.

Fox Cities Sports & Vacation Show

Where:Tri-County Arena Neenah, WI
When: March 9-11th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Friday March 9 - 2 pm - 9 pm
• Saturday March 10 - 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday March 11 - 10 am - 4pm

Visit the Fox Cities Sports & Vacation Show website for more information and coupons. 

Stop on by at any of these Sports Shows and pick up some brochures to help plan your trip. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more updates on the Sportshows.

If we aren't heading your way this year, order your free 2012 Travel Guide & Map online and have it delivered to your door.

2011 Weather Great for Vacationers, Not So Great for Our Forests

Extreme Fire Behaviour Sioux Lookout Fire 35

Monday was the official end of the forest fire season in Northwestern Ontario. While vacationers and residents alike enjoy the sun and high temperatures this summer, the same dry, hot weather wrecked havoc on our forests. The 2011 forest fire season recorded many more fires in Ontario than in 2010 and affected a much greater area. As of October 31st, the official end of the fire season, 1,330 forest fires were recorded affecting 632,533 hectares. This is the largest area burned in the last 50 years.

Waterbomer dropping water on Red Lake Fire 59

Unfortunately a lot of the area burned was due to a handful of fires which happened to be in Sunset Country. Sioux Lookout 70 was the largest fire recorded in Ontario history burning 141,000 hectares. Another fire, Sioux Lookout 35, reached 112,000 hectares making it the 8th largest fire on record. These 2 fires accounted for approximately 40% of the total area burned. The 2011 fire season was extraordinary because of the concentration of difficult fires in the northern parts of the Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Nipigon districts. Smoke from these fires disrupted the lives and businesses of many in the northern communities. 4,476 people were evacuated from 11 northern communities between July 21 and August 9th.

Red Lake was just one of the communities to see smoke most of the summer.

Of the 1,330 fires in 2011, causes have been identified for 1,210 fires. Of those 1,210, about 62% were caused by lightning and 38% were caused by human activities.

Thanks to the efforts of the MNR fire fighters and other provincial fire fighters and many others various workers, most of the fires have been put out completely. Although there are about 15 active fires in Northwest Ontario. July 22, 2011 saw the busiest day fighting fires. To put things into perspective, the resources working that day included:

• 21 waterbombers
• 96 helicopters
• 91 Type-2 sustained action crews
• 639 out of province staff
• 2,823 total personnel

You can see on the right hand side just how close the fire got to Thunderhook Fly-ins' cabin

There are many fly-in outpost cabins up in our northern woods. Normally one is grateful for the peacefulness and the remote wilderness. When there is a huge forest fire at your doorstep in these remote areas though it is hard to save some of the buildings. Thunderhook Fly-ins which fly out of Armstrong saw a lot of fire action this summer. In the heat of the summer, fire fighters were able to save their South Shab outpost cabin. Later in the season though they weren't so lucky. Their cabin on McKinley Lake was totally destroyed. The only thing left standing was the dock, water heater and stove. The canoe's were melted away to nothing. For more photos of the fires at Thunderhook Fly-ins, visit the Thunderhook Fly-ins Facebook page.

Fly-in outpost cabin on McKinley Lake was unfortunately burned to the ground.

A special thanks to all the fire fighters and support workers. It is very hard work and your help is much appreciated. To see more photos about the forest fires in Northwest Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources has posted many photos depicting the fires. The MNR also has a neat tool on their website that shows all the active fires in Northwestern Ontario. Viking Outposts from Red Lake also have a few more stories and photos of the fires in Northwest Ontario on their blog. You can view them here and here.

Our boreal forest is meant to burn. Jackpine cones only open with the heat of a fire. Hopefully though next year Sunset Country won't see as many forest fires near our communities and camps. However, this dry fall is probably not helping the cause.

Top 5 Tips When Planning a Canadian Hunting Trip

Make sure you are prepared for your hunting trip

When planing a hunting trip to Canada, you should really plan in advance as some of the following tasks will require some time. Whether you are planning, a bear, moose or whitetail deer hunt, not adhering to these rules can put a trip on hold and cost losses of fees. When planning a hunting trip to Canada, here is a list of the top 5 basic things to know:

1) Remember your Passport 
A passport is required to enter Canada by car, sea or air. If you don’t have one, get one as soon as possible. You can apply for your U.S. Passport online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html

Tip: Make two colour copies of your passport before you travel. Carry one each in different luggage or firearms case in case you lose your original. Always carry your original passport with you at all times when you travel internationally.

2) U.S. Customs Form 4457
You will need to have a U.S. Customs form 4457 filled out with a list of items of value as proof you owned them before you entered Canada. It is best to list your firearms, spotting scopes, riflescopes, video cameras, etc. This is usually any item of value that contains a serial number. Failure to obtain a completed U.S. Customs Form 4457 before you leave may end up costing you Duty (tax) at the Canadian Border as you enter back into the United States. The customs agent may think you bought your hunting equipment in Canada and therefore charge you duty. The online form can be accessed at: CBP website. Fill in the form and bring it with you to the border crossing where it will be stamped with the official customs seal. DO NOT SIGN IT until you meet the border crossing officer.

Tip: Make 2 extra copies of your Form 4457 and keep them with your extra passport copies.

Sample Form 4457

3) Canada Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form 909
Hunters must fill out the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form 909 before leaving for Canada. Don’t try to fill it out at the border, as it will delay your trip. Do not sign this form until you are at the border and the officials there ask you to sign it. You will need to present the form with your passport. There is a fee for the permit and it is approximately $25 CDN. You can pay for your permit in Canadian dollars or by MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Canadian Customs does not except U.S. Currency. Remember to always carry your firearms permit and identification while you are hunting. Do not bring any handguns on your trip as handguns are prohibited in Canada. Obtain your firearms application at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/num-nom/909-eng.htm

Tip: Fill out the form online and then print 3 copies. Double check your firearms details, especially the serial number, before you hit the print button.

4) Denied Admission to Canada
Visitors may be denied admission to Canada if you have any of the following convictions on your record:

• Minor offences (including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc.)
• Indictable Criminal offences (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.).
• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Successful Moose Hunt at Thunder Hook Fly-ins

5) Bringing back your Canadian Hunting Trophies
There are 3 different ways to get your coveted hunting trophies back from Canada into the United States:

(1) Bring them back with you by car or airplane

To bring back the raw cape, rug and/or antlers/horns home with you, you will need to fill out U.S. Fish & Wildlife Form 3-177-1. This form appoints you as the owner/broker of the animal parts you will be importing from Canada into the United States. If you use a hunting consultant, they should fill this out for you. If you booked your trip direct with the Outfitter, you will need to fill it out yourself. This form can be a little tricky and will require some research as you will be required to list the common name of the animal you are importing as well as the scientific name. Remember to present your Canadian Hunting License and tags with this form to prove that the trophy was taken legally. You can find the application and instructions at http://www.fws.gov/forms/serachdata.cfm and typing "3-177" into the search field.
Tip: Fill out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Form 3-177-1 before your hunt.

(2) Have the cape, rug and/or antlers/horns shipped

Bring back your raw trophies by having them shipped to you. Your Canadian outfitter will bring your hunting trophy to a taxidermist. An export permit must be filed in Canada to export the hunting trophies to the United States. The hunting trophy must be shipped to a USDA Port of Entry and received by a US Brokerage Company and inspected by the U.S. Wildlife Department to make sure the contents and the export paperwork match so that the hunting trophy may legally imported into the United States. Once the hunting trophy clears the U.S. Port of entry, it must be shipped to a USDA Certified Taxidermist. This process can take up to 6 months and cost upwards of $750 or more depending on how many trophies you are importing.

(3) Have the trophy taxidermy mounted and shipped back to you
Have your hunting trophy taxidermy mounted in Canada. This entails you to trust the outfitter to choose a taxidermist for you. You will not have to run the taxidermy trophy through process #2, but you will have to pay shipping and customs fees.

Being prepared for your Canadian hunting trip can make all the difference! For more information about hunting in Sunset Country or to connect with other hunters, visit HuntSunsetCountry.com. For more information regarding non-residents having firearms in Canada, visit the Canadian Firearms Program.

What's the difference between American Plan & Housekeeping Packages

Rent a Housekeeping Cabin

Confused when booking a fishing or hunting vacation in Northwest Ontario?

If you are planning to stay at a resort or lodge in Sunset Country for your family vacation, weekend get-a-way or your annual Canadian fishing trip, your accommodation choices are wide and varied. Many of the fishing and hunting outfitters in Sunset Country offer different packages including American Plan and Housekeeping cabins. Do you have to be an American to have 'American Plan'? No. I'm not sure where these terms came from or if they are even used in other parts of the world. In general, American Plan means that your meals are included and Housekeeping is where you make your meals in your rented cabin. I say 'in general' because each outfitter has various packages. Some will include everything in the American Plan Packages such as meals, baits, guide service, boat rental, gas and more. Some lodges include only the meals in their AP Package. Modified American Plan usually includes dinners. To save a bit of money you can rent a housekeeping package and make your own meals. The majority of the resort and lodges in Sunset Country offer separate cabins for every party. There are however, some American Plan resorts that offer you a room in the lodge itself.

American Plan Dining Room - Courtesy of Tom Thomson

Usually the Ontario fly-in outpost camps are just like renting a housekeeping cabin except that you fly into a remote area not accessible by car. There are also fly-in American Plan Lodges that offer you the seclusion and the luxury of hot, home cooked meals.

With all the options available when booking your Canadian vacation in Sunset Country (meals or no meals, boat rentals vs bringing your own boat, guide service, etc.) it's lucky we have the Internet! The lodges and resorts in Sunset Country describe their different fishing and hunting packages on their websites. Visit the Ontario lodges and resorts to start planning your vacation today. Order the free Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide & Map that has all of our accommodation members dotted on the map with a useful directory on the back.

Do you have more questions about visiting Ontario's Sunset Country? Feel free to call us at 1-800-665-7567 and we'll do our best to help you out.

How to Find Out What Species of Fish Are in a Lake

MNR's New Fish ON-Line Tool

In April 2011, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) launched an awesome new Fish ON-Line tool. Anglers no longer need to visit Ministry of Natural Resources offices or find an in-the-know local fisherman to gather information about the various fishing opportunities in Northwest Ontario. It provides a lot of information that used to be hard to find. Now information about the various species of fish found in a certain lake, fish stocked in lakes and some information about the lake itself is available at ontario.ca/fishing.

The MNR used a Google map and overlaid provincial fisheries data on top of it. The ministry then gathered on-hand information on about 13,000 lakes and has made all of that available as well. On those lakes, Fish ON-Line will let you see what fish species are available, the regulations for the lake and if there has been any stocking. Some lakes have the maximum and average depths of the lake. For many more bigger,  popular waterways such as Eagle Lake, the depth contour information has been overlaid as well.

For example, take Wabigoon Lake. If you click on the Lake Depth Contours in the left hand column, you can see the contours of Wabigoon Lake. Click the fish icon and you'll see the surface area of the lake is 9922 ha, the maximum depth is 14.6 m, the average depth is 6.1 m and it's in the Fisheries Management Zone 5. Click on the Wabigoon/Dinorwic Lakes Fact Sheet and you'll see specific Wabigoon/Dinorwic Lakes fishing regulations and lake facts. Under the Fish tab you'll see that Wabigoon Lake has Black Crappie, Whitefish, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

You can quick link to a popular waterway or search by lake, fish species, stocked water body, GPS Coordinates. Use the Get Directions Tool and you can find your way around quite easily. You can also link to Licence Information, the Fishing Zone Regulations and the Lake Fact Sheet. The ServiceOntario offices are dotted on the map if you are looking to buy a Fishing Licence. You can also type in your location and getting directions to the ServiceOntario.

All in all, it is a pretty impressive fishing information tool.  If you are planning a fishing trip to Ontario, check out the Fish ON-Line website to find out more information on the lake you'll be fishing on. If you are looking for a fishing resort or lodge to stay at in Sunset Country visit www.ontarioresortsandlodges.ca

Family Fishing Vacations

Take Your Kids Fishing in Sunset Country

Between video games, Internet chat rooms, television and mp3 players, kids today don't get to experience the outddors the same way we did. Yet, it is the outdoors and the activities you can do there that will teach them lessons no electronic device ever will. The simplest of pastimes - fishing - is probably one of the best activities you can do with your kids to get them away from the TV and into the great outdoors.

Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario, Canada is an ideal destination for a family fishing vacation. With thousands of lakes, beautiful forests and hundreds of lodges and resorts to choose from, you can be confident a trip to our travel region will make your kids say "I can't believe this place".  This is even more the case if your family lives in a big city where concrete is the dominant landscape feature. 

Your children will be in awe of the birds and wildlife in our area and they will see things that just are not available back home. Maybe it will be a moose feeding in a shallow bay or a bear along side of the road as you drive to your destination. These experiences are invaluable for kids whose understanding of nature is limited because they seldom get to experience it.

As for the fishing, well it is simply second to none up here in Canada. Your kids won't complain that fishing is boring or that it takes forever to catch something. Within minutes your kid could land a beautiful Ontario walleye, a trophy northern pike, a smallmouth bass that jumps a foot above the water's surface or who knows, maybe even of of our famous Ontario muskies that will make their eyes open wide and their insides stir with excitement!

In addition to great Canadian resorts and lodges, there  are over 100 RV Parks and campgrounds you can go to if you want to experience something different. For true adventure, consider taking your  children on a Canadian fly-in fishing trip where you'll be the only people on the lake. The ride in on a bush plane will only make it that much more exciting and memorable for your kids. Catching over 100 walleye in a day may also stick in their minds for a while....

In addition to the great fishing your kids will enjoy swimming in the lake, hiking down a nature trail or just riding in a boat across the water.

Sunset Country Travel Association is a non-profit organization that promotes travel to our part of Canada. We have all the information you need to plan your trip so contact us and we'll be glad to help.

Sunset Country - A Place Like No Other

Wilderness Next Door

Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario really is a place like no other. Located in the central part of North America, Sunset Country offers thousands of square miles of wilderness, much of it pristine and untouched by modern civilization. This is a landscape with almost 100,000 lakes rivers and streams, vast stretches of woods and abundant wildlife and fish.

You can see the likes of moose, deer, and bear in our forests as well as dozens of species of songbirds and large birds of prey such as bald eagles and osprey. We can offer you some of the best freshwater fishing on the planet with trophy-sized muskie, pike, walleye, trout and bass in our lakes. Bring your camera to catch images of the area's wildlife, scenery and of the many big fish you'll catch.


For those who want to paddle across the water, Sunset Country was made for the wilderness canoeist. Do names like Quetico, Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi conjure up dreams of a trip you always wanted to take? These are only three options and with many qualified and knowledgable canoe outfitters, your trip planning can be relatively simple.

Cruise vast lakes on a houseboat. Lake of the Woods is located in Sunset Country are Lac Seul and Dog Lake. You can rent a houseboat on any of these lakes and take your floating cabin to a different location each day. Experience tremendous fishing, find your own secluded beach and relax in the beauty of the Canadian outdoors.

For the family that loves to go camping in Ontario, Sunset Country is the place in the Province to go. You can choose from a variety of private campgrounds across the region or stay in a Provincial Park. Bring your RV or your tent no matter, the guarantee we can provide is you will have a fun time!

Fishermen and familiy vacationers have a choice of many resorts and lodges in the Sunset Country travel region. For a truly unique experience, why not consider a trip to a remote fly-in outpost or lodge? You'll step aboard a bush plane and fly to a lake that has no roads into it and best of all, no other people!


If you are just traveling through Sunset Country on your way to another destination, then make sure to go through the many small towns and cities along the way. In these towns and cities you'll find a good selection of hotels, motels and bed and breakfast facilities.

What really makes our part of Canada special is how close we are to you! If you live in the U.S. Midwest, Western Canada and Southern Ontario, you can get here easily and in good time. For more information on how we can help you make it all happen, order your free Ontario Travel Guide and Map for Sunset Country, the Great Canadian Experience!

Come Discover the Great Canadian Experience

As you go through life, never forget to take time out for yourself!

Vacations are important for many reasons but probably the most important one is the opportunity that time off from your job represents to rejuvenate yourself. Others of course, are to spend time with your family, your friends or your partner. When you make the decision to visit Sunset Country, it's because you want to experience Canada's Great Outdoors. Located in Northwestern Ontario, north of the State of Minnesota, Sunset Country is definitely one of the most beautiful of all places on our planet. This is a land of 70,000 lakes and rivers, 60,000 square miles (100,000 square km) of Boreal forest and a place best defined by its wilderness landscapes.

We are famous for among other things, our spectacular freshwater fishing, and we can offer anglers from the United States, Canada and around the world some, if not the best fishing Canada has to offer. For over 70 years, fisherman and families have trekked north to our area to enjoy the bountiful harvests available from our many lakes and of course, the sheer natural beauty of the land. On the list are walleye, northern pike, bass, trout, muskie, crappie and several other species of fish. Up here, the fish stories really are larger than life! You may just catch that "fish of a lifetime" during your stay.


For those who just love the outdoors, then this is the place God had in mind for you. Much of the region is untouched by humans and looks essentially the same way it did 500 or even 1,000 years ago. The rugged landscapes of the Canadian Shield are some of the most scenic in the world and there are endless places where you can go camping, hiking, swimming and wildlife viewing. The air is super clean, no exhaust fumes up here eh! You can visit several locations on an RV tour or come and pitch a tent in one of our many Wilderness Provincial Parks.

If you want to get away but are not too keen on roughing it then no worry, Sunset Country has many great resorts and lodges where you can book a room or a whole cabin. Located on a gorgeous freshwater lake, your stay will be comfortable and most importantly relaxing. You can choose from meal plans or do your own cooking - it's up to you. For something completely different, why not rent an outpost cabin where you either fly or boat in to your own private piece of paradise. At one of these locations, you can literally "own" the lake for the week of your stay. There are literally no other cabins or people to worry about - the true definition of "getting away from it all!"

This is just a sample of the many vacation experiences you can enjoy in Ontario's Sunset Country. If you want to order a free travel guide and map we would be happy to send you one. You can also call our toll free line at 1-800-665-7567 if you want to speak to one of our staff members in person.