Photo: Paddling Ontario Alliance

Temagami, Ontario - The Temagami region of Ontario has the world's most connected canoe routes. Once the highways of traders and trappers, many of the waterways of the Temagami region cut through land that was so rugged loggers left it alone, so today the shorelines are are surrounded by fabulous old growth pine forests. This is a paddler's paradise. In total there's a network of more than 1500 miles of interconnected lakes and rivers that that can be used as canoe routes. And, Lake Temagami itself has more than 1200 islands for the curious canoer. Outfitters offer rental equipment and guided trips are available.

Where: Temagami is a 4.5 hour drive north of Toronto. You can stay in a lodge, rent a cottage or camp (there's even one ecolodge called Smoothwater), and while you are there you can also visit an aboriginal tipi village, climb 100 ft up the Temagami fire tower for a spectacular view, take a scenic bush plane flight, or take a boat tour of Lake Temagami. Quick Tip: Want to see the fall colours? Ontario Northland often offers a 'fall colour' train trip from North Bay called the Dream Catcher Express, which travels the 100 km to Temagami and returns the same day.

More Central and Northern Ontario 'Cool': Sudbury's Neutrino observatory 2 km beneath the ground I Shania Twain's Hometown I Killarney - the wilderness park that was saved by a group of artists I White River and Winnie the Pooh I Cochrane - swim with polar bears I Thunder Bay - Terry Fox Courage Hwy I Where Shania Twain got her start I World's first Dark Sky Reserve I Gravenhurst & Bethune - pioneer of first mobile blood transfusion units I World's longest freshwater beach

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