Cottages For Sale in Kenora & Lake of the Woods

Buying a cottage in Kenora & Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods is the centrepiece. It covers about 4,350 square kilometres across Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota, with more than 14,500 islands. Kenora sits at its north end, where the water drains out through the Winnipeg River. East along Highway 17 the lakes get smaller: Eagle Lake at Vermilion Bay, Wabigoon Lake at Dryden, and Pelican Lake and Lac Seul around Sioux Lookout. This is Canadian Shield country, so expect granite shorelines, pine, deep bays and long stretches of open water.

Kenora is about 200 km from Winnipeg, roughly two hours east on the Trans-Canada. That short drive is a big reason so many Manitobans own cottages here. Highway 71 leaves Highway 17 east of Kenora and runs south past Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls toward Fort Frances. Dryden is about 340 km from Thunder Bay. Most visitors from farther away fly into Winnipeg. Kenora's airport handles charter and private flights, Dryden has a regional airport, and Sioux Lookout's airport is a hub for northern communities.

Summers are warm and short, and winters are long and cold. Kenora has snow on the ground for about five months a year, so check road maintenance and winter water supply before planning year-round use. Walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and muskie are found across the region, with lake trout in deeper, colder water. More than 95 per cent of Northern Ontario is Crown land, so public forest is never far away. On Lake of the Woods, many cottages sit on islands and are reached only by boat.

Getting there: About 2 hours from Winnipeg; 22+ hours from Toronto.

• Lake of the Woods
• 14,500+ islands
• Walleye and muskie
• 2 hours from Winnipeg
• Island cottages
• Canadian Shield granite