Ontario’s golden outdoors
Explore a goldmine of outdoor activities, with flights from Thunder Bay to Timmins.
Gaining fame for its rich ore deposits during the 1909 gold rush, Timmins is now better known for its natural beauty than its natural resources. With so many exciting things to do in Timmins’ great outdoors, your prospects for adventure are always good.
Timmins is overflowing with waterfronts with sparkling shorelines inviting both strollers and swimmers. From Gillies Lake in the centre of the city, to the deep, distant lakes of Kettle Lakes Provincial Park, there are plenty of places to take a dip when you’re visiting Timmins.
After getting some sand between your toes in Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park, avoid the sand traps on the city’s challenging golf courses. Get on the green at nine-hole Sandy Falls Golf Course, or double up with Spruce Needles’ 18-hole course. For a truly sub-par round (in a good way), tee-off at the Hollinger Golf Club, founded in 1922 for the workers in Timmins Hollinger gold mine.
If you work up an appetite on the links, break for lunch at the Hollinger House Bakery and Deli. Named for the homes that once housed Timmins miners, this restaurant serves up homemade pies and sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, with a side of nostalgia. Siva’s Family Restaurant has been satisfying Timmins hunger for 20 years, with a mixed menu of pasta, roast beef, and seafood.
After sipping on a cappuccino in the 75-year-old McIntyre Coffee Shop, get a taste for more Timmins history. Peek into the city’s past inside the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre, before venturing outside to see Timmins history painted on the side of buildings with the Timmins Murals.
Before flying back to Thunder Bay, take some time to uncover the rich heritage of this “City with a Heart of Gold”.
Gillies Lake Conservation Area
Hike through the heart of Timmins
After your flight from Thunder Bay to Timmins lands, stretch your legs on the shore of Gillies Lake Conservation Area.
Centred around the 20 hectare Gillies Lake, the Gillies Lake Conservation Area is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. With a variety of amenities, ranging from a supervised swimming beach, to Wi-Fi hotspots, there’s a lot to do by the lake. Spend your time studying up on the area’s natural history through interpretive storyboards, or settle in for lunch at one of the picnic tables, to experience all this area has to offer.
Circle the lake along the 2.5 km trail that runs on the shoreline. With a beautiful boardwalk below, and bright lights above, this trail scenic route makes for a relaxing stroll at any time of day.
During the winters, the trail is well groomed, making the outdoors accessible in every temperature. As you hike, keep your eyes open for the park’s wildlife. Gillies Lake Conservation Area houses a variety of creatures, from feathered loons and geese, to furry muskrats.
If you’re not exhausted after exhausting Gillies Lakes’ hiking options, take the waterfront path onto one of the many Timmins trails. With links to the Golden Springs Trail, Scout Rock Trail, and Lion’s Walk Trail, Gillies Lake leads to some of the city’s best treks.
In the summer, Gillies Lake is wake central, with a wakeboarding park located on the lake. The Timmins Wake Park is your chance to make a splash during your trip from Thunder Bay, with rails and jumps along the course.
After a day on the trails or the waves, polish off your visit to Gillies Lake Conservation Area with a meal from Lanny’s Chili Hut and Fries. The poutine and deep fried mars bars from this Timmins classic will leave you with sweet memories to bring back to Thunder Bay.
Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Provincial Park
Smooth waters run deep
After arriving from Thunder Bay, set a course for smooth waters, with a trip to Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Provincial Park.
This provincial park gained its strange name from the main lake and river that run through the area. During your visit with the Lady, dip your paddle into both bodies of water as you canoe through the park.
Smoothwater Lake is the path to paddle if you want to reach the aurora trout lakes. Whirligig and Whitepine Lakes act as preserves for the rare aurora trout, giving visitors a glimpse into the conservation efforts of the park. Fishing for this rare species is prohibited, but the portaging and paddling are sure to have you hooked on this route.
As you cut across the surface of the Lady Evelyn River, keep an eye on the shores for a view of the remains left by a forest fire that ravaged the area in the 1990s. The charring changed the landscape, creating the shore’s distinct character. Lakes predating the blaze by thousands of years also dot this course, including Florence Lake and Katherine Lake.
Be sure to pack a bathing suit for the numerous swimming spots spread throughout this provincial park. Whether you’re looking to dive into deep lakes, or just to wade along shallow shorelines, you’ll find lakes to your liking in Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Provincial Park.
If you’re more of a walker than a wader, trek the trails that trace through the park. For a sweeping view over the whole of Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Provincial Park, brave the backcountry on the Maple Mountain Trail. At 640 metres above sea level, the summit of Maple Mountain provides stunning vistas of a vast area of the park.
From the top of Maple Mountain, you’ll see why this provincial park is worth flying from Thunder Bay for.
How to get to Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
Porter’s check-in desk is located in departures, near security checkpoint A.
Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) is about 5 km / 3 mi from downtown Thunder Bay.
Transportation to Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
Please allow sufficient time to drop off your car rental before your departing flight.
Taxis from downtown cost about $30 CAD. Car service costs about $85 CAD.
Several hotels offer complimentary shuttle bus service to the airport.
Take the Thunder Bay Transit 3 Memorial / Airport bus to the airport stop. The fare is $2.65 CAD.
Thunder Bay International Airport Parking
Driving to Thunder Bay International Airport? The airport provides 100 short term spaces at $3.25 per hour and 50 cents for each additional 10 minutes, and 400 long term spaces at $14 per day or $98 per week.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Landing in Timmins
Timmins Victor M. Power Airport (YTS) is about 13 km / 8 mi from downtown Timmins.
Transportation
Taxis to downtown cost about $25 CAD. Car service costs about $70 CAD.
Car rental pick-up is available from Timmins Victor M. Power Airport (YTS).
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Flights may be operated by Porter Airlines (Canada) Ltd or Porter Airlines Inc.
