Relaxing resorts that keep you active during your stay in Algoma Country.
Your accommodations can be as adventurous as you are! Here are five relaxing resorts that can also keep you active during your stay in Algoma Country.
When on a road trip, how do you choose where you stay? While some people look for a place to achieve maximum peace and tranquillity in nature, I believe in finding the balance between relaxation and adventure!
For me, accommodations that offer endless outdoor activities with unique features appeal to me the most (especially when they are waterfront!) And in Algoma Country, Ontario, there is no shortage of cute and cozy cabins by the water! Here are some resort recommendations with notable amenities, relaxation ideas or adventures you can embark on during your stay, including tips for your visit:
1. Granary Lake Retreat, Blind River
A family-owned four-season cottage resort with mixed accommodations offering a quiet place to explore, unwind, and relax.
- Paddle over to the stunning cliff on the other end of Granary Lake! Borrow the resort’s canoe, kayak, or even pedal boat.
- In the summer, reserve an outdoor rock climbing excursion to the cliff and rappel alongside a mini waterfall!
- Watch the sunrise or sunset from your waterfront cabin or the sandy beach after spending some time in their wood-burning sauna.
🍽️Prep ahead and bring your own food and beverage, s or drive 20 minutes into Blind River and dine on the waterfront patio at The Pier Sports Bar.
✅Yes, you can see the Northern Lights here!
❄️Open in the winter months, which means ice fishing and all the fun snow activities like snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
Follow: www.instagram.com/GranaryLakeRetreat
2. Northern Skies Resort, Thessalon
A fourth-generation family-owned resort offering a variety of accommodations all year round.
- Choose a cabin that suits your needs and wants! From vintage cottages with waterfront access to rustic cabins with private beaches surrounded by towering conifers, there’s something for everyone, from solo guests to larger parties!
- Check out their scheduled retreats for a curated experience at Northern Skies Resort or plan your own group event. Their newly built gathering space for group events is ready for bookings!
- Paddle across Chub Lake and explore the rocky shorelines or find signs of “The Colony,” the home of Hydro workers who constructed the Wells and Aubrey Falls hydroelectric dams.
- While there are easy hikes within walking distance, the Rock Candy Mountain Trail (or Cummings Lake Lookout) is a moderately technical short hike (1.5km/0.9 mi) just 10 minutes away (a scenic drive!) I highly recommend visiting Aubrey Falls Provincial Park (also a scenic drive away, approximately 1 hour), where you can enjoy this hidden gem of a park, complete with a suspension bridge (and of course, a massive waterfall!)
- TIP – Read their guest book in the cabin for their story and more details on things to do in and around the resort.
🍽️Prep ahead and bring your own food and beverage, as the closest grocery store is 30+ minutes away in Thessalon.
✅As the name almost gives it away, Northern Lights have been spotted here!
❄️Open in the winter months.
Follow: www.instagram.com/northernskiesresort
3. Laurentian Lodge, Elliot Lake
Located on Flack Lake and Mikel Lake, Laurentian Lodge was originally built as a fly-in fishing and hunting lodge in 1929, and now offers charming chalets or luxury rooms.
- Enjoy different views of the water depending on where you stay on site. Choose from open lake views (balcony options available!) from two shorelines or stay alongside a gentle waterfall/stream.
- With its proximity to Mississagi Provincial Park, visiting this quiet park for a hike or paddle is a must! From easy to advanced trails (including the scenic Helenbar Lookout Trail) and paddling routes, there’s something for everyone at this remote provincial park, whether you prefer to explore on foot, on water, or both! Laurentian Lodge is an excellent option for those who don’t want to “rough it” by camping in a tent but still want to enjoy Mississagi Provincial Park.
- You can dine at their restaurant even if you don’t stay at Laurentian Lodge! Sit out on the patio by the lake or dine inside the lodge before or after your adventures at Mississagi Provincial Park. For campers staying at Mississagi Provincial Park, Laurentian Lodge is a great spot to enjoy a “real meal” (and not camp food 😊) just minutes from the park.
- Fish for trout while staying on-site or rent a boat and head to one of the 4,000+ lakes in the area for speckled and rainbow trout, bass and pike.
🍽️You can prep ahead and bring your own food and beverages when staying on-site or dine at the lodge’s restaurant. Another option is to drive 30 minutes into Elliot Lake and visit a restaurant in town.
✅Yes, you can see the Northern Lights here!
4. Ranger Lake Resort, Searchmont
This scenic, backcountry wilderness resort offers beautiful waterfront log cabin accommodations and a waterfront wood-burning sauna!
- With hot running water (yay for hot showers in a wilderness resort!), a full kitchen in your cabin, and a comfortable bed for a good night’s rest, this remote Northern Ontario backcountry lodge can still deliver comfort and serenity without needing to rough it to access it (or needing to hunt/fish!) Resorts like this are one of the reasons why I love Algoma Country. There’s no shortage of wilderness cabins or lodges with fishing or hunting roots that now warmly welcome visitors who simply love nature.
- If you want to get out on the water, the resort offers 14-foot aluminum fishing boats, a pontoon boat, canoes and kayaks for rent. Guided fishing tours on the lake are also available upon reservation.
- Go for a dip in the spring-fed lake and warm up in their wood-burning sauna.
- Enjoy lounging on the dock after a sunset paddle and watch a float plane land on the lake.
👉Read about 5 Unique Paddling Experiences in Algoma – www.algomacountry.com/5-unique-paddling-experiences-in-algoma/
🍽️Prep ahead and bring your own food and beverage, s as the closest grocery store is almost 1.5 hours away in Sault Ste. Marie.
✅Yes, you can see the Northern Lights here!
❄️Open in the winter months.
Follow: www.instagram.com/rangerlakeresort
5. Mar Mac Lodge, White River/Esnagi Lake
Located on Esnagi Lake, Mar Mac Lodge offers the ultimate remote Northern Ontario experience with different-styled cabins on site.
- For those who really want to escape the city, Mar Mac Lodge is for you! Hop on a floatplane with White River Air (for a fly-in adventure) or take the VIA Rail (for a train-in experience) and immerse yourself in the remote Northern Ontario wilderness.
- Take a ride on one of their iconic 18-foot cedar strip boats or hop in a canoe or kayak and explore the 45-km-long Esnagi Lake (with other nearby lakes you can portage to for those looking to really explore this area!)
- Never fished before, but want to try? Check out Mar Mac Lodge’s Discover Fishing Package, which will provide you with all the gear you need, including friendly and knowledgeable guides.
- Enjoy shoreline lunches with your catch of the day!
You do not need to be an angler or hunter, or even into fishing or hunting, to go on a fly-in adventure! The friendly owners, staff, and guides at Mar Mac Lodge warmly welcome all visitors.
👉Still need some more convincing to check out Northern Ontario? Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Go on a Fly-In Adventure – northernontario.travel/algoma-country/5-reasons-why-you-should-go-fly-adventure
🍽️ Before booking your trip, ask about food plans and options offered and coordinated by the Mar Mac Lodge team.
✅ Yes, you can see the Northern Lights and really enjoy a starry night here!
Follow: www.instagram.com/marmaclodge
Bonus Accommodation That’s Unique: Sunnd Nordic Eco Resort
Stay in a geodesic dome on the shores of a private lake.
Bonus Notable Mention: The Voyageur’s Lodge and Cookhouse
While this resort does not offer cabins, The Voyageur’s Lodge and Cookhouse is a family-run, three-season resort that deserves a special mention for three main reasons:
1. Fresh Apple Fritters 🍎🍏
Wake up to the delicious smell (and taste!) of freshly made warm apple fritters just steps away from the rooms!
2. Easy Access to Lake Superior 🌅
With the shores of Lake Superior just across from the front door of your room, it’s hard to decide whether to take a stroll on the beach with your apple fritter and fresh coffee in hand or get out onto the water for a dip or paddle!
3. Location, Location, Location 🛣
Conveniently located right along the Trans-Canada Highway, you can enjoy a good night’s rest, a tasty morning treat or meal for lunch or dinner, and an easy opportunity to spend some time on the beach or at the nearby Batchewana Bay Provincial Park, all before you hit the road to your next Algoma Country destination!
👉Read more about The Voyageur’s Lodge & Cookhouse here – www.algomacountry.com/voyageurs-lodge-cookhouse-a-must-stop-on-lake-superior/
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About the Author
Diana Lee lives for adventure, the great outdoors, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)! She is a certified ISA SUP Instructor, a librarian, and a reporter for Get Out There Magazine. Find out what she’SUP to @only1phoenixx on Instagram and Twitter.
