Cottages For Sale in Near North, Nipissing & Temagami

Buying a cottage in Near North, Nipissing & Temagami

Nipissing District lies between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River, with North Bay as its city and district seat about 330 km north of Toronto. Highway 11 comes up from the south and Highway 17 crosses from Sudbury to Mattawa and the Ottawa Valley. Most of the district is Canadian Shield forest. Algonquin Park fills much of the southern part, and the township of South Algonquin, around Whitney and Madawaska, sits on the south side of the park along Highway 60.

The lakes vary a great deal. Lake Nipissing is huge and shallow, known for walleye and long sunsets, with waterfront in North Bay and West Nipissing. Trout Lake is deep and clear and lies right beside the city. Lake Nosbonsing and Lake Talon are family cottage lakes east of North Bay, on the old voyageur route down the Mattawa River. Lake Temagami, to the north, has about 1,200 islands, and cottages there are built on islands only.

Winters are long and cold, so ask whether a property is insulated and whether the road is plowed. Lake Temagami cottages are reached by boat from mainland landings, and owners need a plan for freeze-up and break-up. Outside North Bay, most waterfront relies on septic systems and wells or lake intakes. Large parts of the district are unorganized territory or Crown land, so check zoning, road ownership and services with the municipality or the province before you buy.

Getting there: About 3.5 to 5 hours from Toronto.

• Lake Nipissing
• Trout Lake
• Lake Temagami islands
• Mattawa River
• Algonquin Park edge
• Walleye fishing