Lake of the Woods and Area
At 1,000,000 acres and with 14,522 islands, Lake of the Woods is one giant canoe route unto itself. You could paddle the lake the entire summer and only see parts of it - it really is that big! In addition to the lake itself, there are several adjoining routes up the Winnipeg River and east towards Dogtooth, Kilvert and other lakes. If your novice canoeists, this area while rugged, is probably a good choice. You can increase your confidence by using the services of a canoe outfitter of course. Just east of Lake of the Woods is Kakagi (Crow) Lake - one of the most picturesque and beautiful lakes in Sunset Country - with many options available for paddlers in Kakagi's crystal clear waters and its adjoining waterways.
Eagle Lake -Vermilion Bay/Dryden Area
There are lots of route choices here that are relatively short compared to some others so another good area for the more inexperienced canoeists. Some choices include an Eagle Lake, Hawkcliff Lake, Populus Lake, Dogpaw Lake route, a route that takes you through Upper Wabigoon Lake and the English River, and several others. The fishing opportunities are out of this world. Check for what's available here.
Wabakimi
As one of the largest Provincial Parks in Ontario, Wabakimi is another one of those bucket list destinations for any serious paddler. Because the Park is so large, you have a wide variety of routes you can choose from. Wabakimi is very rugged and remote so this is another area we recommend you use an outfitter for your trip. Several have established packages for you to consider. Areas with routes adjacent to Wabakimi include those in Kopka River, Albany River, and Brightsand River Provincial Parks. Canoeing.com has a guide about paddling in the park which you can read here.