Whether you’re looking for a scenic destination for RV camping, a peaceful spot for tent camping, a wilderness camping escape, or a unique glamping experience, few places in North America can match the splendors of Lake of the Woods. The scenery surrounding the city of Kenora, located between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg in northwestern Ontario, is defined by Canadian Shield outcrops and tall pine, the merging of lake country and the prairies.
But mostly, Lake of the Woods camping is defined by access to pristine freshwater—lakes and rivers offering outstanding fishing opportunities and great canoeing, kayaking and standup paddleboarding for all levels of adventurers.
We’ve assembled a list of great Lake of the Woods campgrounds and backcountry camping destinations that includes something for everyone, including families, paddling enthusiasts and anglers. Now is the time to hit the road to discover Ontario’s Sunset Country.
[This article is part of the The Ultimate Lake Of The Woods Outdoor Adventure Guide. Find all the resources you need to plan an adventure-filled trip to the Kenora area.]
Lake of The Woods: best car and RV campgrounds
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Rushing River Provincial Park
Located a short drive south of Kenora on Highway 71 and barely 2.5 hours from Winnipeg, Rushing River Provincial Park offers some of the best tent and trailer camping near Lake of the Woods. The park boasts 290 drive-in campsites, many with electric hookups, along the shores of Dogtooth Lake. Group sites accommodating up to 50 people are also available. If you’re looking for an introduction to backcountry camping, check out several walk-in sites located a short distance from your vehicle.
Rushing River features four hiking trails, great children-friendly swimming beaches, and outstanding fishing for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout. The campground makes an excellent base camp for canoe trips on Dogtooth Lake.
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Tomahawk Resort
Your Lake of the Woods camping experience at Tomahawk Resort is all about embracing the great outdoors in Northwestern Ontario. Located in Sioux Narrows, ON, on the east shore of Lake of the Woods, Tomahawk Resort includes 75 campsites and 14 cabins, all within an easy walk of a private beach. The campground features a hiking trail and easy access to canoe and kayak adventures on the island-pocked waters of Lake of the Woods.
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Anicinabe RV Park and Campground
You’ll find great Lake of the Woods camping within Kenora city limits at Anicinabe RV Park and Campground, with 38 tent sites and 45 RV sites. The park is located on a traditional Indigenous gathering place by the water with a horseshoe-shaped sand beach. There’s plenty of greenspace, a playground, and access to Lake of the Woods for boaters and paddlers. The campground is located on Kenora’s Rat Portage Urban Trail, providing great options for walking and cycling along the waterfront.
Wild Woods Hideaway
Looking for a different Lake of the Woods camping experience? Check out Wild Woods Hideaway, located just west of Kenora on Highway 17, to get a taste of glamping in Sunset Country. Wild Woods rents cozy canvas prospector tents and log tiny homes set in the rugged boreal forest on the shores of Mink Bay. Canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards are available for guests. There’s also 4.5 km of hiking trails and a swimming beach, with access to legendary fishing on both Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River.
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Sioux Narrows Provincial Park
Reserve a Lake of the Woods campsite at Sioux Narrows Provincial Park—a great destination from which to explore the islands and hidden channels of one of Canada’s greatest lakes. Each of the more than 50 car camping sites, group sites and semi-wilderness walk-in campsites at Sioux Narrows Provincial Park is replete with the icons of the Canadian outdoors: granite outcrops, white pine trees and outstanding views of the shimmering waters of Lake of the Woods.
The park is an ideal starting place for day trips by canoe and kayak, and for fishing for Lake of the Woods’ renowned walleye and northern pike. Birders will encounter numerous species during the migration periods of spring and fall, as well as American white pelican throughout the summer.
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Redden’s Camp
Campers have plenty of options at Redden’s, located on Longbow Lake, on Highway 17 south of Kenora. Highlights include a full-service RV campground, rental cabins, boat slips and two swimming beaches.
If you’re looking for a unique Lake of the Woods camping and fishing experience, check out Redden’s outpost camps, with remote cabins available for rent on Lake of the Woods and Dryberry Lake. Both offer superlative wilderness fishing experiences, with world-class walleye and northern pike on Lake of the Woods and excellent musky action on Dryberry Lake.
Caliper Lake Provincial Park
Experience a more intimate Lake of the Woods camping experience at Caliper Lake, located on Highway 71 adjacent to Lake of the Woods’ eastern shore. The campground includes almost 100 campsites, with one-quarter offering electric hookups; one waterfront group site with space for up to 40 campers; and eight waterfront walk-in campsites located along short trails from roadside parking areas, giving you a more secluded feel.
The sheltered waters of Caliper Lake are ideal for paddling, with rental canoes and kayaks available at the park gatehouse. There’s also a 2- to 3-km hiking trail to explore.
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Blue Lake Provincial Park
Located between Dryden and Kenora, the 198-site campground at Blue Lake Provincial Park is a perfect place to discover crystal-clear waters, sand beaches and stunning rocky cliffs. The large campground features car camping, trailer and group sites, as well as six sites that come complete with a trailer.
Get a taste of canoeing the wilderness lakes of northwestern Ontario—the park is the starting point for a six-day, 97-km canoe route. The park also boasts four hiking trails, ranging from 1 km to 11 km in length. The Spruce Fen Boardwalk Trail offers barrier-free access to a unique wetland habitat. The fishing for lake trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye has to be experienced to be believed.
Lake of the Woods: best backcountry camping areas
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Bathgate’s Point on the Winnipeg River, Minaki
You’ll find numerous options for canoe camping on the Winnipeg River, north of Kenora, along the Kenora to Minaki canoe route. Perhaps the best backcountry campsite is located on the rocky east shore of a broad, wide stretch of river, opposite Big Island. This campsite has room for five tents and has great swimming. Try fishing for walleye and northern pike right off shore. Camping reservations are not required; non-Canadians must purchase a Crown Land camping permit.
Scotty’s Beach, Lake of the Woods
With over 14,000 islands, it’s easy for houseboaters to find their own private Lake of the Woods island campsite. The golden arc of sand on the northwestern tip of Scotty Island, located barely 6 miles south of Kenora, is a great spot to experience the backcountry of Sunset Country with all the comforts of a floating cottage. Book a rental from Houseboat Adventures in Kenora and set out in search of your own wilderness paradise.
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Kakagi Lake Backcountry
You’ll find no less than eight excellent paddle-in campsites on Kakagi Lake, a scenic backcountry canoe route accessed off Highway 71. Your Lake of the Woods wilderness camping experience includes stunning rock cliffs, pristine sand beaches and snug campsites beneath towering pine.
The best campsite on Kakagi Lake is on a south-facing headland, near the lake’s narrows. This large campsite has room for six canoes, good shelter for tenting, scenic views and excellent swimming, making it the perfect location for a base camp. Camping reservations are not required; non-Canadians must purchase a Crown Land camping permit.
Beaches of Winnage Lake Provincial Park
If you love backcountry beach camping, set your sights on Winnage Lake, located east of Kenora, on the three-day Stewart Lake canoe route. The broad sweep of sand on the lake’s northeastern shore boasts excellent swimming and plenty of room for tenting in a jack pine forest. Plan on camping on Winnage Lake on your second night, as you complete the canoe route in a counterclockwise manner.
Better pack an extra meal or two, just in case you find this Lake of the Woods campsite too idyllic to leave. Winnage Lake is a non-operating provincial park. Camping reservations are not required; non-Canadians must purchase a Crown Land camping permit.
Find the perfect campsite on Lake of the Woods. | Photo courtesy of: Destination Ontario
Great article Conor. I spent a lot of time canoeing and camping around Lake of the Woods in the 90’s whilst working at YM/YWCA Camp Stephens, which is on an island south of Kenora. We’d take kids and teenagers out anywhere from one-night introductory stay-overs to the famous 6-weeker trip. This brought back a lot of good memories from one of the best times in my life. It’s such a special place.