Nipigon

Nipigon is a small village on an isolated section of Trans-Canada Highway which follows the sparsely-populated north shore of Lake Superior between Thunder Bay and Sault Sainte Marie (Ontario). There is little population and few services outside the few villages on this lengthy stretch of highway. The local economy of Nipigon Township depends primarily on forest products, fishing, and tourism. Multiply Forest Products, a hundred-worker sawmill which was the largest employer in Nipigon, burned to the ground on February 6, 2007.
Nipigon's population declined by over 25% between 1991 and 2011.
Nipigon is a departure point for fishing excursions onto Lake Superior, the Nipigon River system and Lake Nipigon. Common fish varieties include Atlantic salmon, lake trout, speckled trout, rainbow trout, walleye, northern pike, bass, and perch.
In Jan 2016, the Nipigon River Bridge, the first cable-stayed bridge in Ontario, failed weeks after it opened. Traffic was rerouted through the United States, and road transportation between eastern and western Canada was not possible for a period of 17 hours. A pair of two-lane cable-stayed bridges opened in Nov 2018.

• Nipigon Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +1 807 887-3188
  address: 453 Trans-Canada Hwy
  Interactive historical displays about the area, clean washrooms.

• Nipigon is on the Trans-Canada Highway where Ontario Highways 11 and 17 run concurrently. This means that there is only one road connecting eastern and western Canada. The stretch between Nipigon and Thunder Bay is designated the Terry Fox Courage Highway.
• There is no passenger rail service in Nipigon-Thunder Bay.

• Kasper Bus bus service connects to White River and Thunder Bay.

• Spirit Taxi

  phone: +1 807 372-0013

• Nipigon Historical Museum

  phone: +1 807 887-0356
  address: 40 Front St
  History of Nipigon from the fur trade to development of the forest industry, displayed through literature and artefacts: tools that were used, products that were made, pictures of people there at that time.

• Nipigon River Recreational Trail8-km (5-mi) all-season riverside trail connecting the Nipigon and Red Rock Marinas. Several lookout points (the most dramatic of which is Eagle's Ridge); leaves and foliage take on their fall colours from mid August through October.

• Northshore Golf and Country Club

  phone: +1 807 887-2006
  address: Golf Course Rd
  Nine-hole golf course with licensed dining room and restaurant, open 7 days a week.

• Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

  phone: +1 807 977-2526
  Seasonal day-use park and nature reserve.

• Paddle to the Sea Park

  address: 52 Front Street
  A water park and interactive playground based on the book Paddle to the Sea, which was made into a film by the National Film Board of Canada.

Guides, charters and adventures

• Bowman Island Lodge and Charters

  phone: +1 807 886-2504
  address: RR#1 Nipigon
  Bowman Island is off the south shore of St Ignace Island in the Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area. A 30-ft water taxi and 45-ft trawler carry 8-10 passengers. Outfitter supplies fishing packages (fly rod, spin cast or troll), transportation for canoes or kayaks, outdoor adventure packages.

• By the Bay Adventures

  phone: +1 807 887-4614
  address: Nipigon Marina, 3 Brennen Drive
  Charter a boat+captain for $700-900/day or $350/half day.

• Epic Adventures

  phone: +1 807 887-1008
  Mountain bike festival, hiking, geocaching.

• Hardcore Fishing and Adventures

  phone: +1 807 886-2792
  address: RR#1 Nipigon
  Guided fishing trips, $300-500/day.

• McGuire Farm and Greenhouse

  phone: +1 807 886-1151
  address: 600 Hwy 17
  Eco guiding tours and moose hunt guide, fresh blueberries and vegetables in season.

• Nighthawk Charters

  phone: +1 807 885-3171
  Fishing and hunting packages, day excursions, dinner cruises, kayaking and sightseeing.

• Nipigon River Bear Hunts

  phone: +1 807 887-2813
  address: Hwy 17
  Local guide Bob Bearman leads (typically) six-day all-inclusive hunting expeditions for bear, wolf and moose.

Events

• Blueberry Blast FestivalGuided berry picking, local craft and food sales, live music, Active Circus Zone, juggling show, youth talent show, active-play children’s games, minnow races, crafts for kids, cards for seniors, face-painting and Teddy Bear’s Picnic.

• Canyon Country Birding Festival

  phone: +1 807 857-2265
  address: Dorion
  Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park, Eagle Canyon Adventures and the Dorion Fish Culture Station are on Trans-Canada 11/17 west of Nipigon/Red Rock.

• Nipigon Ice Fest

  address: 52 Front St.
  Winter camping and ice climbing, Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced/Mixed levels.

A limited selection is available in the village, including a grocer (Zechner's), hardware (Home Hardware and Canadian Tire), auto towing and repair; there is a discount store (the Bargain Shop) and a second-hand store for clothing and general merchandise.

• La Luna Café

  phone: +1 807 889-1537
  address: 46 Front St
  Freshly baked goods, homemade soups & sandwiches, pizza. Across the street from Paddle to the Sea Park.

• The Edgeview at Sunnyside

  phone: +1 807 887-5739
  address: 133 Railway St
  Home cooked meals, and Pub foods, patio and licensed dining room.

• Sue Chef

  phone: +1 807 887-3915
  address: 522 Highway 11/17
  Burgers, sandwiches, Indian dishes.

Beer and spirits are available for takeaway from the Beer Store and the LCBO.

Motels

• Beaver Motor Motel

  phone: +1 807 887-3132
  address: 412 Hwy 11/17
  Single/double rooms and 2-bed/1-bath apartment-house suites with LCD TVs, full kitchenette in some rooms.

• Birchville Motel

  phone: +1 807 887-3141
  address: 386 Highway 11/17
  Wi-Fi, 32" flat screen TV with movie channels, fridges, microwaves, phones, coffee, bottled water and ice. Smoke-free, kitchenettes in some rooms.

• Locking Horns Motel

  phone: +1 807 887-1750
  address: 461 Hwy 11/17

• Northland Motel

  phone: +1 807 887-2032
  address: Hwy 17
  In-room coffee and fridges, fax and copy service, automated wakeup calls, movie and VCR rentals.

• Pinecrest Motel

  phone: +1 807 887-2813
  address: 536 Hwy 11/17
  14 rooms, coffee, refrigerators, BBQ.

Bed and breakfast

• Skandia House

  phone: +1 807 887-3133
  address: 17 Second St
  Tea room, on-site reflexology/reiki practitioner, three guest rooms.

Camping

• Stillwater Tent & Trailer Park

  phone: +1 807 887-3701
  address: 358 Hwy 11/17
  More than 48 sites, some in wooded area, some along Stillwater Creek (a cool trout stream), some open and grassy. Wi-fi, power, water/sewer hookup at some sites.

• Nipigon Marina

  phone: +1 807 887-3040
  June 1-Sept 8. RV parking (30-50 amp electricity), camping, showers, water, ice, pump out, liquor store, laundry, groceries, free boat launch, transient docking, seasonal/monthly docking & storage, Diesel fuel. Deep water channel to Lake Superior.

• Nipigon Public Library

  phone: +1 807 887-3142
  address: 52 Front St
  Small local library with 15000 printed books, open Wi-Fi and community access computers. Closed Sun-Mon.

Bell and TBayTel provide limited 3G (UMTS/HSPA) coverage on the Trans-Canada Highway. There is no Rogers coverage and no GSM.

Lake Nipigon

The lake is approximately 40 km (25 mi) north of Nipigon village on Hwy 11.

• McCollum's Reflection Lake Resort

  phone: +1 807 885-3361
  address: Hwy 11