Road Trip Dryden → Kenora – Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows
Dryden
Kenora
285
km
3h30
drive
Summer
season
The Itinerary
Northwestern Ontario, on the cusp of the Prairies, is Canada's best-kept cottage-country secret. The Trans-Canada Highway (17) between Dryden and Kenora crosses 285 km of boreal forest and crystal lakes, including the vast Lake of the Woods — 14,552 islands, more than 25,000 km of shoreline.
Kenora, a 15,000-person resort town, is the lake's "gateway." Husky the Muskie, a giant fiberglass statue, marks downtown. The marina is the hub for cottage rentals, cruises (M.S. Kenora paddlewheeler) and floatplane charters to walleye, pike and lake trout outfitters.
Highway 71 south leads to Sioux Narrows, famous for Canada's longest pedestrian wooden bridge (64 m), and to Nestor Falls. Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park is 1 h away. Wabigoon Lake and the Wabigoon Ojibwe community offer an Indigenous perspective. Sunsets over Lake of the Woods rank among Canada's most beautiful.
Kenora, a 15,000-person resort town, is the lake's "gateway." Husky the Muskie, a giant fiberglass statue, marks downtown. The marina is the hub for cottage rentals, cruises (M.S. Kenora paddlewheeler) and floatplane charters to walleye, pike and lake trout outfitters.
Highway 71 south leads to Sioux Narrows, famous for Canada's longest pedestrian wooden bridge (64 m), and to Nestor Falls. Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park is 1 h away. Wabigoon Lake and the Wabigoon Ojibwe community offer an Indigenous perspective. Sunsets over Lake of the Woods rank among Canada's most beautiful.
Points of Interest
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Lake of the Woods14,552 islands, 25,000 km of shoreline, walleye fishing.
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Husky the MuskieGiant statue downtown Kenora, classic photo.
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Sioux Narrows BridgeCanada's longest wooden pedestrian bridge, 64 m.
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M.S. Kenora PaddlewheelPaddlewheel cruise on Lake of the Woods.
Protected areas along the route
🌿
Kenora-Keewatin
General Use Area
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SIOUX NARROWS PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Sioux Narrows
General Use Area
🌿
Dryden, Vermilion Bay and Area
General Use Area
🌿
Whitefish Bay
General Use Area
🌿
AIRPORT ROAD CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
PAINTED ROCK CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
BUTLER LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Northern Peninsula
General Use Area
🌿
AARON PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
LOLA LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Aulneau Peninsula
Enhanced Management Area
Take this route offline
Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Dryden. 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 Dryden
- Destination Kenora
- Distance 285 km
- Duration 3h30
- Category Long (250–500 km)
- Best season Summer
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