Atikokan is located in Ontario’s Superior Country Region. It is situated approximately 124 miles (200 km) west of Thunder Bay and 26 miles (43 km) west of Quetico Provincial Park. Atikokan is enjoyed by a population of 2,753 people. It was established in 1954 though the town’s very first residents arrived in 1899 by canoe.
Atikokan is known as the “Canoeing Capital of Canada” and it’s easy to see why. As the gateway to Quetico, there are over 2,000 lakes that offer endless backcountry paddling opportunities as well as the Atikokan River that winds through town as part of The Great Trail. Right in town there is a scenic waterfall called Little Falls but don’t let the name fool you, Little Falls is not so little at a cascading 50 feet (15.2 m) tall. Stay and enjoy lunch with a view by following crossing the bridge to the opposite side of the falls where there is a lookout, boardwalk, and picnic tables.
Atikokan is an all-season destination for outdoor recreation. With an extensive network of snowmobile, cross country skiing, hiking and biking trails through the wilderness and around the abandoned Steep Rock Mine site. For the golfer, there’s Little Falls Golf Course which is named for its picturesque views of Little Falls. This scenic 9-hole course is double tee’d for 18-holes of play on well-manicured fairways amid dense forest. The town is also the home of Mount Fairweather Ski Hill, a hill with 12 runs for skiers or snowboarders of all skill levels.
Atikokan is a community that’s easily accessible yet still offers a sense of remote tranquility in its connection to nature. Fishing, hunting, and exploring the outdoors is a way of life in Atikokan and this slight detour off the Lake Superior Circle Tour is well worth the trip.
