North Bay: Nature, Culture and Adventure

North Bay brings together nature, cultural history and outdoor activities: highlights include a wetland in the city centre, a 12-kilometre trail along Lake Nipissing, a museum in a historic railway station and a ski hill with runs of varying difficulty. To plan your trip, you can start by considering whether you would like to focus on nature, history or sports activities.

Nature in the city and along Lake Nipissing

Laurier Woods is a 240-acre wetland of provincial significance in central North Bay. It is home to birds, flora, fauna and numerous wetland species year-round. Guided walks through Laurier Woods are offered in spring and summer. This gives you a choice between the area’s year-round natural diversity and its seasonal walks as two distinct ways to experience the same place.

The Kate Pace Way is a flat, paved, 12-kilometre multi-use trail along Lake Nipissing. It connects the waterfront with various green spaces around North Bay. The trail is suitable for walking, cycling and inline skating; its length, surface and gradient offer clear guidance for anyone who likes to spend their time being active.

History and culture

The North Bay Museum is housed in the historic Canadian Pacific Railway station. Its interactive, artefact-based exhibits are designed for visitors of all ages. Tours cover the history of the Nipissing, the railway, the local community and historical events. As the content may change, it is worth checking the current tour programme if you have a particular interest.

The Heritage Railway also explores the railway theme: its miniature train route runs along Memorial Drive, passing gardens, waterfront views and King’s Landing Pier. Another detailed attraction is the Heritage Carousel, with 33 handcrafted animals, each a unique work of art. The cultural offering thus ranges from the historic railway station and themed tours to an artfully designed collection of individual figures.

Get active on the trail and at the ski hill

Laurentian Ski Hill offers gentle slopes for beginners, challenging runs for experienced skiers and terrain parks for freestyle enthusiasts. A vertical drop of 300 feet adds a precise measurement to this overview. If you are planning to rent equipment or take beginner lessons at Laurentian Ski Hill, check their current availability in advance. The vertical drop is equivalent to around 91 metres.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can start with the mix you want for your days away: would you prefer to focus on North Bay’s history, nature and seasonal walks, or activities on the trail and at the ski hill?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: West Nipissing, Mattawa, Sturgeon Falls, South Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Fossmill, Corbeil, Temagami

Back to the main travel overview: Nipissing District.