Free
Duchesnay Falls
A 70-metre waterfall west of town, with a loop of about three kilometres that climbs one side of the creek and returns on the other. Free.
Near North, Ontario
North Bay
A lake city between Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake, with a free waterfall loop, a conservation woods downtown, a paved waterfront trail, and a boat to the Manitou Islands.
Photo: Lake Nipissing from a lookout in North Bay, Wiki.cullin, CC BY-SA 4.0
North Bay sits on a narrow height of land between Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake, long a meeting place and later a railway town. The Kate Pace Way runs along the Nipissing shore. Duchesnay Falls, a short drive west, is a 70-metre cascade with a loop trail up one side and down the other.
Laurier Woods is a 240-acre conservation area in the middle of the city, open year-round. In summer the Chief Commanda II leaves the waterfront for the Manitou Islands and for sunset cruises. Temagami's canoe country is about an hour north.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Laurier Woods
A 240-acre conservation area in the middle of the city, with more than 10 kilometres of trail through wetland, rock and woods, open year-round.
Season Open year-round (check before you go).
Free
Kate Pace Way
A paved multi-use trail along the Lake Nipissing shore, for a walk or a ride from the waterfront toward Callander.
Free
Kinsmen Trail
A paved path of about five kilometres along Chippewa Creek through the heart of the city.
Free
Lake Nipissing waterfront
A public waterfront of walkways, beaches and a marina on the lake, including Sunset Park, a classic place to watch the sun go down over the islands.
Free
Trout Lake
The city's other lake, on the northeast side of the height of land, with public shoreline and a quieter swimming shore than Nipissing.
Cheap
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
A park on the Mattawa River about an hour east, with forest trails and paddling. A vehicle permit is typically required.
Paid
Chief Commanda II
A seasonal cruise on Lake Nipissing from the North Bay waterfront, including trips to the Manitou Islands and sunset sails.
Season Seasonal; the official site was taking bookings for the 2026 season (check before you go).
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Downtown North Bay
Main Street shops and restaurants a short walk or ride up from the waterfront.
Cheap
North Bay Museum
The city museum in the historic Canadian Pacific station, with railway and local history. Hours change with the season.
Season Hours change with the season; in winter recently Wednesday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m., closed Sunday–Tuesday (check before you go).
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Waterfront shops and cafés
Cafés and a few shops along the Nipissing shore, near the marina and the cruise dock.
Free
Main Street shops
Independent shops and restaurants on the city's main street.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
North Bay Museum
Admission to the city museum in the historic Canadian Pacific station. Hours change with the season.
Season Hours change with the season; in winter recently Wednesday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m., closed Sunday–Tuesday (check before you go).
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
A vehicle permit for the Mattawa River park, about an hour east of town.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Chief Commanda II Tour
Part of our The Near North guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- A waterfall loop, a waterfront evening and a day in Temagami are not a single pass on the highway.
- The lake is better at the end of the day, when the path empties and the islands are still in the sun.
- A boat to the Manitou Islands is a half-day that does not fit on the way through.
Nearby and worth the drive
Temagamiabout 80 min · Guide ↗
Old-growth pine and canoe country, about an hour north.
Algonquin Park and Whitneyabout 2 h 30 · Guide ↗The East Gate and Highway 60, a longer but natural next stop south.
Ready-made trips with North Bay
Good to know
- Tourism: tourismnorthbay.com is the official visitor site.
- Trails: City trail information is at northbay.ca.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Lake Nipissing from a lookout in North Bay, Wiki.cullin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sunset over Lake Nipissing from Sunset Park, WabbitWanderer from London, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Trout Lake at North Bay, User:P199, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The Mattawa River in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, Angele Giroux, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The Manitou Islands in Lake Nipissing, from North Bay, Lenotchkamm, CC BY-SA 4.0