Atikokan

Atikokan brings together insights into the region’s history, art, sports, and the distinctive natural experience of nearby Quetico Provincial Park. Canoe trips in the backcountry are among the park’s defining experiences: the wilderness park encompasses more than 2,000 lakes and 460,000 ha of remote wilderness. If you want to focus your trip primarily on water and nature, you’ll find a different emphasis here than on a stay centered on museums, local art, or activities in town.

Quetico and the Path of the Paddle

The Path of the Paddle is a 1,200 km water route for canoes and kayaks. It runs through the Heart of the Continent and Quetico Provincial Park to Atikokan. The Historical Park at the Museum of Atikokan is a landing point along this water route. This means you can find information about local history alongside a connection to an extensive canoe route. Permits for the entrances to Quetico Provincial Park controlled by the Atikokan Entry Station can be purchased at one of the designated entry points. The park office in Atikokan also has a park store that sells park souvenirs.

History, Art, and Insights into Atikokan

The Museum of Atikokan is set up for self-guided tours; interpretive labels explain the significance of the exhibits. The adjoining Historical Park features outdoor exhibits from the forestry and mining industries. The Atikokan Museum also collects and preserves records and artifacts relating to the history of Atikokan and the surrounding area, and makes them accessible to the public. This gives you the opportunity to explore different aspects of regional history: explained exhibits, outdoor objects, and historical records.

The Pictograph Gallery displays work by local and regional artists and craftspeople. It also holds an annual Christmas sale featuring work by local artists and craftspeople. The Downtown Atikokan Walking Tour offers another way to see murals and mining displays. If you want culture and local history to shape your trip, these attractions offer an alternative to days focused more on outdoor activities.

Stay Active in Every Season

At Little Falls Golf Course, you can play on a nine-hole course. The seventh hole offers a scenic view of the namesake falls; the entire course has views of the Atikokan River. Little Falls, a 50-foot-high waterfall, is located near Atikokan and has a picnic shelter, benches, and a wooden boardwalk. The waterfall and the golf course offer different reasons to spend time outdoors, without requiring you to plan for the same activity.

In winter, the Beaten Path Nordic Ski Club offers 35 km of groomed cross-country ski trails in and around Atikokan, for both skating and classic skiing. If you prefer to get around on two wheels, the Charleson Recreation Area has mountain biking trails for all skill levels. At the Little Falls Recreation Centre, the Atikokan Curling Club has a facility with four curling sheets. The club offers mixed doubles, league play, the Little Rockers Curling Program, and a Learn to Curl Program in partnership with local school sports. This selection lets you choose how to spend your days based on your interests—from cross-country skiing and mountain biking to curling.

Planning Your Stay

The Town of Atikokan’s Recreation & Wellness Centre includes a 14,580-square-foot ice surface, a 25 m swimming pool, and multipurpose rooms. Atikokan’s Travel Information Centre is open every summer and provides information about restaurants, accommodations, events, and things to do in the area. When planning a trip that combines different interests, you can treat nature, local history, and sports as separate elements rather than focusing your stay on a single activity.

If you’d like to explore another destination from the same overview in addition to Atikokan, you’ll also find Rainy River here.

For the broader travel overview: Rainy River District.