Kenora

Kenora's future site was in the territory of the Ojibway when the first European, Jacques de Noyon, sighted Lake of the Woods in 1688. Pierre de La Vérendrye established a secure French trading post, Fort St. Charles, to the south of present-day Kenora near the current Canada/U.S. border in 1732, and France maintained the post until 1763 when it lost the territory to the British in the Seven Years' War — until then, it was the most northwesterly settlement of New France. In 1836 the Hudson's Bay Company established a post on Old Fort Island, and in 1861, the company opened a post on the mainland at Kenora's current location.

Gold and the railway were both important in the community's early history: gold was discovered in the area in 1850, and by 1893, 20 mines were operating within 24 km (15 mi) of Rat Portage. The first Canadian ocean-to-ocean train passed through in 1886 on the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Later, a highway was built through Kenora in 1932, now a part of the Trans-Canada Highway, placing the community on both of Canada's major transcontinental transportation routes.

During the Prohibition era in the United States, the Lake of the Woods served as a smuggler's route for the transport of alcohol.

The importance of the logging industry declined in the second part of the 20th century, and the last log boom was towed into Kenora in 1985. The tourist and recreation industries have become more important.

Kenora has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold, dry winters. Winters are cold with a January high of −11 °C (12.2 °F) and a low of −21 °C (−5.8 °F). Temperatures below −20 °C (−4.0 °F) occur on 45 days. The average annual snowfall is 158 centimetres (62 in), which is lower than places to the east as it is influenced by the dry air of continental high pressure zones, resulting in relatively dry winters. Summers are warm with a July high of 24 °C (75.2 °F) and a low of 15 °C (59.0 °F) and temperatures above 30 °C (86.0 °F) occur on 5.3 days. The average annual precipitation is 662 millimetres (26 in), with most of it being concentrated in the summer months with June being the wettest month and February the driest.

During the winter Kenora will get precipitation mostly in the form of snow, other forms of winter precipitation include ice, sleet, and freezing rain. Snow cover usually lasts from November till March, about 154 days or 42% of the year. The city frequently gets thunderstorms during the summer, averaging 24 days a year with thunderstorms.

• Tourism Kenora
• 🌍 Tourism Information Centre, 931 Lakeview Dr (Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre). 9AM-4PM. (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Harbourfron Pavilion Information Centre (Winkler Harbourfront Park). Summer only. (updated Feb 2023)

• 🌍 Kenora Airport (YQK  ^IATA), ☏ +1 807-548-5377, fax: +1 807-548-1460, kairport@kmts.ca. Bearskin Airlines provides air service with multiple daily flights to Kenora from Dryden, Fort Frances, and Winnipeg with same-plane service from Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay. Kenora is seasonally an international airport for general aviation (customs: May 15-Oct 15, 8AM-8PM daily). Connections to points beyond are available; the closest hub for scheduled international service is Winnipeg (YWG ^IATA). 

Highway 17 (Trans-Canada Highway) - passes through Kenora continuing on to the Manitoba border. After crossing the Manitoba border, the highway called Provincial Trunk Highway 1. Highway 17A is the bypass route for Kenora for through traffic.

Via Rail provides service on the Canadian National mainline from Toronto through Northern Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba and westward. The closest stop to Kenora is in Redditt, Ontario, 25 minutes north of the city. The stop in Minaki, Ontario, 45 minutes north of Kenora is also easily accessible.

• Kasper Bus, ☏ +1-807-699-7200, toll-free: +1-855-566-2378. Operates bus service in Northern Ontario and Manitoba. (updated May 2022) Operates the following bus routes multiple days per week to Kenora:
  • Between Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout including stops in Kenora and Dryden. Travel time to Kenora from Winnipeg is 2.75 hours, from Dryden is 1.75 hours, and from Sioux Lookout is 3.25 hours.
  • Between Winnipeg and Balmertown including stops in Kenora and Red Lake. Travel time to Kenora from Winnipeg is 2.75 hours, from Red Lake is 3.25 hours, and from Balmertown is 3.5 hours.

• Ontario Northland, toll-free: +1-800-461-8558. Operates primarily in Northern Ontario. Routes travel as far west as Winnipeg, as far south as Toronto, and as far east as Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) Operates the following two routes multiple days per week between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay:
  • Via Kenora and Dryden. Travel time to Kenora from Winnipeg is 2.75 hours, from Dryden is 2 hours, and from Thunder Bay is 5.75 hours.
  • Via Kenora and Fort Frances. Travel time to Kenora from Winnipeg is 2.75 hours, from Fort Frances is 2.5 hours, and from Thunder Bay is 7 hours.

The Lake of the Woods is home to variety of fish species. For the seasoned professional, the majority of lodges are in the heart of fishing supremacy; some lakes in the area have even been designated as trophy waters. Accommodations offer a variety in bait and lures, as well as boat rentals complete with live wells, fish finders and navigational aids.

For those interested in guide services, the area has several.

There are some very challenging trails close to town. For the sensation of exposed rugged bedrock and a wonderful view of the town and the lake saddle up and ride to the top of the Little Amik Trail. The trail takes a small loop and is moderately challenging if only approximately one kilometre long. A good warm up.

From the parking lot you can choose to go a little more hardcore to the North or take a scenic ride to the beaches to the south and west. Taking a turn to the left and past the Paper Mill will bring you to Scramble Ave. Go to the end of the street and you will find an advanced level trail which leads to Garrow Park on Rabbit Lake. Be cautious. Many riders have been injured on the rocks, roots and rivulets.

Make your way to the east end of Rabbit Lake and you’ll find a trailhead which leads to the pipeline and hydroline (beside the school board storage building). From here turning left, to the West, will bring you back toward town but you will have to conquer a few hills and swampy sections. Turning right, to the east, is the beginning of the ‘epic’ ride. Big hills, big swamps and some endurance oriented excursion grinding will give you hours of sweat and enjoyment. Don’t worry about getting lost - you are never very far from a road or highway to head home on. If you know you're going to go hard, fill your water bottles and tell someone where you plan to go. Ask at a local bike shop for more information.

Just west of Casey’s Bar & Grill you’ll find scenic Sandy Nook and even further west (just past Keewatin) on Hwy 17, look for the Mackenzie Portage Road which leads to the moderately challenging Vernon Trails.

A 40-min drive north on Hwy 596 will lead you to the Minaki Yurt Adventures race trail. It is a well developed and maintained 25-km course featuring some moderate to advanced level riding. They offer bike rentals, lessons, great local hospitality and unique accommodation options.

For those with a pioneering spirit and explorers enthusiasm there is great potential for discovering old logging roads and all terrain vehicle trails in the forest areas. Adventure tourists can take pleasure in the wilderness, wildlife, landforms and the unique history of the Kenora area as one of the most rugged destinations they may ever ride a bike through.

• 🌍 Mount Evergreen, 120 Mt. Evergreen Rd (off the Airport Road), ☏ +1 807 548-5100, +1 807 468-5377 (off season). 11 downhill runs, 2 T-Bar lifts, a Terrain Park, a large & spacious, and 20 km of beginner to expert classic and skate technique cross-country skiing trails. 5 km of the classic and skate cross-country ski trails are lit in the evening hours for nighttime use. The Rollercoaster, Two Towers and Matoo's Trail are among the best Nordic ski trails in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. 

Vernon Nature Trails, down McKenzie Portage Roard, offers 5 km of groomed classic technique cross-country ski trails through different area ecosystems, ranging from oak ridges, to pine forests, to deciduous woodlands.

The Club Minaki trail system, approximately 45 minutes north of Kenora, offers 20 km of classic technique cross-country ski trails. The Grey Owl and Jackpine trails are highly recommended.

Rushing River Provincial Park, 25 km southeast of Kenora, offers 10 km of groomed classic technique cross-country ski trails along scenic terrain.

• Kenora Golf & Country Club, Golf Course Road, +1 807 468-7995
• Beauty Bay Golf Course, Essex Road, +1 807 548-4777
• Bergman Driving Range, +1 807 543-3562

Hunting on the Lake of the Woods provides a serene environment with a variety of species to hunt. Traditional bow hunting and other unique hunting experiences are available. Try timber wolf hunting or the fall bear hunt; grouse and duck hunts are always favourites; and of course there is deer and moose hunting available. Many resorts offer hunting packages for the experienced gamesman or the beginner.

The Kenora area features over 20 major canoe routes, as well as several businesses, which offer both rentals, and lessons developed to cater to everyone from beginners to experts.

The Hardwear Company, 160 Main St. South, offers anywhere from half day to week long rentals of kayaks and canoes and will provide two hour lessons, off of the Harbourfront, (there is a two person minimum for all lessons). This is a beginners’ course, which teaches the layout of a kayak, how to enter and exit, how to turn, proper stroke technique, as well as how to execute safety maneuvers. +1 807 468-1226.

Another avenue people may wish to pursue is Green Adventures, which rents all the equipment needed for a kayaking, as well as offers six different tours which range in difficulty from beginner to expert. They also offer more inclusive packages which include the required gear and transportation as well as meals.

• Houseboat Adventures, The Harbourfront, toll-free: +1-800-253-6672. Tour the Lake of the Woods in a 44- to 68-ft houseboat. 4 days/4 nights: $2575-6975, one week: $4100-5650. (updated Sep 2021)