Atikokan offers regional history, art and outdoor activities. At the museum and on a historical walking tour, you can explore topics such as the lumber industry and mining; nearby options range from canoe trips in Quetico Provincial Park to golf and winter sports. Plan your stay around the interests that matter most to you.

Culture and History in Atikokan

The Museum of Atikokan is set up for self-guided tours. Contextual labels explain the significance of the exhibits and give your visit its own perspective. Outdoors, the museum’s Historical Park displays artifacts from the lumber industry and mining. If you’d like to explore these topics in town as well, the Downtown Atikokan Walking Tour features murals and mining exhibits and is designed as a self-guided tour.

Another cultural destination is the Pictograph Gallery, which exhibits works by local and regional artists and craftspeople. The gallery also holds an annual Christmas sale featuring works by local artists. Be sure to check the dates before your trip, as current dates are not provided.

Quetico, Waterfalls and Trails

Quetico Provincial Park, a wilderness park and destination for backcountry canoe trips, is near Atikokan. Its landscape includes more than 2,000 lakes and 460,000 hectares of remote wilderness. The Path of the Paddle is a 1,200-kilometre water route for canoes and kayaks. It passes through the Heart of the Continent and Quetico Provincial Park before reaching Atikokan. The Historical Park is also a landing point on the Path of the Paddle, creating a direct connection between the historic exhibit site and the water route.

Little Falls is another local nature attraction. The waterfall is 50 feet high, and the site has a picnic shelter, benches and a wooden boardwalk. Little Falls Golf Course is a nine-hole course. From the seventh hole, you can enjoy a scenic view of the namesake waterfalls, and views of the Atikokan River can be seen from across the course.

The Charleson Recreation Area has mountain biking trails for all skill levels. For cross-country skiing, the Beaten Path Nordic Ski Club maintains 35 kilometres of groomed trails for skating and classic styles in and around Atikokan. The options range from cycling trails to two different cross-country skiing styles, and the trails extend beyond the town itself.

Sports and Recreation

The Atikokan Curling Club has a facility with four curling sheets at the Little Falls Recreation Centre. Its program includes mixed doubles, league games, the Little Rockers Curling Program, and a Learn to Curl Program in partnership with local school sports. For more recreational options under one roof, the Town of Atikokan’s Recreation & Wellness Centre has a 14,580-square-foot ice surface, a 25-metre swimming pool and multipurpose rooms.

In the wider region, the Atikokan Snowmobile Club maintains more than 500 kilometres of wilderness snowmobile trails in Northwestern Ontario. Members of the Atikokan Sportsmen's Conservation Club offer a guided tour and explanation of the Atikokan Walleye Hatchery by appointment. Be sure to arrange a time in advance.

Practical Information

The Quetico Provincial Park Park Office in Atikokan has a Park Store that sells park souvenirs. Atikokan’s Travel Information Centre is located nearby. It is open every summer and provides information about restaurants, accommodations, events and things to do in the area.

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