7 Travel Tips for the 51st Parallel

Red Lake, named after the color given off by underwater gold deposits, sits relatively untouched in northwestern Ontario within the Canadian Shield.

Geologically known as the Laurentian Plateau and created from the last Ice Age, the Canadian Shield is a pristine landscape of boreal forest, tundra, and exposed Precambrian bedrock and is broken by thousands of lakes as far as the eye can see.

Welcome to the 51st parallel.

Approximately 300 miles northeast of Winnipeg (the nearest large city), a far 1,300 miles northwest of Toronto, and almost 600 miles northeast of Minneapolis, the Red Lake district &mdash encompassing the communities of Red Lake, Balmertown, Cochenour, McKensie Island, Madsen and Staratt-Olsen &mdash offers numerous recreational and leisure activities for a relaxing summer getaway.

The only road to the area is Highway 105, passing 100 miles of coniferous evergreen trees beginning from the exit off Trans-Canada Highway 17 near the communities of Kenora, Dryden, and Vermillion Bay.

There is a travel agency in Red Lake which will work with you to secure a commercial flight with Bearskin Airlines &mdash serving communities throughout Ontario and eastern Manitoba &mdash or to combine a fly-fishing getaway with a charter plane. Several fly-in outfitters and outposts are scattered in the area, reachable only by plane or boat. During the summer months, the Red Lake Airport is very busy with solo tourists, couples, and families seeking an escape.

I visited Red Lake in 2001, as part of my Great American Road Trip and a few months after I got stuck in snow in Arizona.

Here are 7 travel tips the next time you find yourself in the area and with nothing to do:

While the northern Shield is predominantly undeveloped and uninhabited, nearly 5,000 people live year-round in the Red Lake district. Its major industries are three gold mines, forestry, and tourism.

1. Visit the gold mines.

Goldcorp’s Red Lake Mine (easily recognized by the tall, green shaft) is one of the most profitable gold mines in the world with over 503,000 gold ounces extracted in 2001 with a cash cost of $59 an ounce.

The neighboring Placer Dome-Campbell Mine offers a free tour once a week in the summer; remember to wear flat shoes and pants, as the mine—even on the surface—can get chilly.

2. Hunt and fish.

Hunters, fishers, boaters, campers, and wildlife enthusiasts will discover there is plenty to see and do in this remote part of Ontario.

Fly-fishing is a huge sport. The 16th annual Walleye Catch-and-Release Tournament is scheduled for the end of August.

Hunting is very popular if you wish to capture a prized moose or bear, both of which roam the rugged landscape frequently.

And, the community of Ear Falls, an hour south of Red Lake, is nicknamed the “Bald Eagle Capital of North America.” Just don’t hunt the eagles!

3. Learn about the airplanes which dominated Red Lake’s history.

Before the construction of Highway 105 in 1947, airplanes were the only means of transportation. By the mid-1930s, Red Lake’s Howey Bay was recognized as the world’s busiest airport with Junkers, Fokkers, Fairchilds and Norsemen landing up to 100 times daily from Ontario and Manitoba towns.

The Noorduyn Norsemen, the Swiss Army knives of airplanes, capable of flying in and out of tight areas, whether for lumber, fire rescue, or fly-fishing, were born here.

The first flight of the Norseman was November 14, 1935 and over 900 of the bright-yellow planes were built. The bushplanes, as they are more commonly referred, can be outfitted with land wheels, snow skis, or water floats, making them versatile and dependable.

The connection between Red Lake and the Norseman has earned the community the nickname “Norseman Capital of the World.”

You can view an authentic Norseman in Norseman Heritage Park next to Howey Bay. Look for the bright yellow plane seemingly suspended in air. The 17th annual Norseman Festival is scheduled later this month.

4. Enjoy area recreational opportunities.

In a land where the sun rises during the wee hours of the morning and sets after 10 p.m., there is plenty for families to see and do.

Cochenour is home to a playground and a sandy white beach.

Balmertown hosts the most northerly, 18-hole, golf course in Ontario; with a smaller, 9-hole municipal course in Ear Falls.

The Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, known for its free roaming caribou, is not connected by road, but can be reached by boat or plane.

Just north of Ear Falls, is the Pakwash Provincial Park with 69 campsites, 18 trailer sites, a one-mile sandy beach, and a boat launch.

5. See museums.

Red Lake Museum, highlighting the district’s economic development in the years subsequent to the 1926 gold rush, is located within two historic structures: a 1920s log cabin and a 1940s fire station. The museum displays First Nation toys and clothing.

In Balmertown. visit the Crull Mineral and Rock Collection, numbering over 2600 metallic minerals, rocks and gemstones; it is considered one of the finest collections in the world.

6. Sleep and eat in comfortable Canadian style.

Among the many lodging options in the area, you can be like me and reserve a room at the Red Lake Inn which is adjacent to the Lakeview Restaurant offering homemade meals and a licensed bar.

Righty’s Sports Bar & Grill, on Balmertown’s Main Street, is the area’s first sports bar. Serving a variety of pub foods, take a peek at the authentic football, hockey, and golf memorabilia on the walls and shelves.

The Balmer Motor Hotel and a grocery store are nearby.

7. Discover.

Ontario’s license plate is subtitled, “Yours to Discover,” and so it is fitting that the Red Lake district is a mecca to discover.

When it is time for you to drive the 100 miles back south, be sure to fill up on gas.

No related posts.

Comments: