Staff Pick
Road Trip Cochrane – Polar Bear Express to James Bay
Cochrane
Moosonee
300
km
5h
drive
All seasons
season
The Itinerary
Cochrane, an 8 h drive north of Toronto, is the road-accessible terminus of the Polar Bear Express — an Ontario Northland Railway train running 300 km further north to Moosonee on James Bay. It's the only land way to reach this coastal community of 1,500 — there are no roads.
The 5-hour ride crosses taiga, marshes and the last boreal forest before James Bay wetlands. Moosonee, on the Moose River's west bank, is mostly Cree (Mushkegowuk) population. Canoe-taxis cross to Moose Factory Island (1673, Ontario's oldest European settlement) for Centennial Park, St. Thomas' Church and the Cree Cultural Interpretive Centre.
Cochrane is also known for the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat — a 23-hectare sanctuary for orphan polar bears, open to the public. Tim Horton's birthplace is now a museum. The Arctic Watershed (divide between Atlantic and Arctic drainage) crosses the area.
The 5-hour ride crosses taiga, marshes and the last boreal forest before James Bay wetlands. Moosonee, on the Moose River's west bank, is mostly Cree (Mushkegowuk) population. Canoe-taxis cross to Moose Factory Island (1673, Ontario's oldest European settlement) for Centennial Park, St. Thomas' Church and the Cree Cultural Interpretive Centre.
Cochrane is also known for the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat — a 23-hectare sanctuary for orphan polar bears, open to the public. Tim Horton's birthplace is now a museum. The Arctic Watershed (divide between Atlantic and Arctic drainage) crosses the area.
Points of Interest
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Polar Bear ExpressOntario Northland train, 300 km to James Bay.
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Moose Factory Island1673, Ontario's oldest European settlement.
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Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat23 hectare orphan polar bear sanctuary.
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Mushkegowuk CreeJames Bay Cree culture, cultural centre at Moosonee.
Fishing Spots Along the Route
Protected areas along the route
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TIDEWATER PROVINCIAL PARK
Provincial Park
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Great Claybelt Agricultural Areas
General Use Area
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NAHMA BOG AND POOR FENS CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
Critical Aggregate Areas
General Use Area
🌿
Southern Resource Area
General Use Area
🌿
GREENWATER PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
NORTH DRIFTWOOD RIVER PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
MAHAFFY TOWNSHIP GROUND MORAINE CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
FREDERICK HOUSE LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Remaining ('Straggler') Lakes (A)
General Use Area
🌿
Mattagami River Area
General Use Area
🌿
Kidd Creek Complex
General Use Area
Take this route offline
Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Cochrane. Export the map as a geo-referenced PDF before you go and open it in BorealMaps — your GPS position shows on the map with no signal at all.
Try PDF Export How geo-referenced PDF maps workPractical info
- Departure Cochrane
- Destination Moosonee
- Distance 300 km
- Duration 5h
- Category Long (250–500 km)
- Best season All seasons
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