The Sunset Country region in Ontario is made up mostly of the boreal forest, Canadian Shield, and lakes, making it perfect for all kinds of trail riding. Bring your legs, your bike, ATV, and in winter, your cross-country skis, snowshoes or snowmobile for a great experience.
Hiking Trails
There are both urban hiking trails as well as marked wilderness hiking trails. You can explore the backcountry from many of the lodges in the area. Experience the Boreal Forest right next to an urban environment - you may spot some wildlife and certainly, many songbirds along the trail so make sure you bring a camera. Here are some useful links for visitors looking to access our regional hiking trails.
- Kenora Urban Trail Network
- Fort Frances & Area
- Red Lake, Ontario Trails
- Atikokan - Quetico Park Trails
- Sioux Narrows Area Trails
- Dryden and Area Hiking Trails
- Vermilion Bay, Ontario Area Trails
- The Ontario Trails Network Page for Northwest Ontario
Here is a good article summarizing hiking trails in Ontario's Sunset Country
ATVing Trails
While there aren't many marked ATV trails up here like there are in Southern Ontario, many ATVers use old logging roads or sometimes the snowmobile trails. It's a great place to explore by ATV. Topographic maps and a handheld GPS are recommended if you plan on venturing into our backcountry areas on an ATV. You'll be awed by the number of lakes and streams you come across on these old abandoned logging roads. A major bonus of ATVing in Sunset Country is the wildlife you'll often see while riding. ATVing here is not only a lot of fun, it is unique to most other areas given where you ride. The Millenium Trail around Red Lake does allow ATVs as does the Charleson Recreation Area trails near Atikokan. Some other multi-use trails may as well - but you'll have to check before riding on them. In most cases, the abandoned road network is your best bet!
Mountain Biking
Bring your bike! There are many rugged areas to explore that are perfect for your mountain bike. Like ATV riders, many serious mountain biking enthusiasts seek out adventurous ridding on some of the old abandoned logging roads. These roads can take you into backcountry areas few people get to. Here's a link to a list of some good mountain biking trails in Northwestern Ontario.
Horseback Riding
Try horseback riding in the Charleson Recreation Area in Atikokan. The recreation area is shared by equestrians, bikers, ATVers and more.
Snowmobile Trails
Winter is not a time to hibernate, in Sunset Country, trail riding on snowmobiles and ATVs is better in many instances. Many snowmobile trails in Northwest Ontario are well-groomed and marked by OFSC-member Clubs. As many of the trails travel over the frozen lakes, sledding starts when the ice is nice and solid letting the groomers do their thing and of course, there's enough snow cover.
Cross-Country Ski Trails
If cross-country skiing is your forte, then many of our small towns and cities offer excellent ski trails. You can also head out on the ice for a remote ski! Here are links to some useful resources on cross-country ski trails in Sunset Country.
Kenora
- Mount Evergreen Trail System
- Mink Bay Trail
- Marsh Trail
- Vernon Nature Trails
- Fern Trail
- Rushing River Provincial Park Ski Trails