Discover Mattawa: Canoe Route, Hiking Trails and History

As a travel destination, Mattawa combines activities on and by the water with cycling, hiking and seasonal winter activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mattawa, consider the focus of your trip: the 65 km Mattawa River Canoe Route, historic river experiences and nearby hiking trails differ considerably in type and difficulty.

Waterways and history

The Mattawa River is recognized as a Canadian Heritage River, and the Mattawa River Canoe Route is designated as a Provincial Waterway Park. It is 65 km long and includes numerous portages past natural features such as Talon Chutes, Parasseux Falls and Descharges des Perche. The route begins at the end of MacPherson Drive, at the eastern end of Trout Lake. From there, it runs east toward Mattawa, where the Mattawa River and Ottawa River meet. The two designations refer to different features: the river and the canoe route.

The route was once travelled by Indigenous peoples and voyageurs. Guided tours about the history and ecology of the rivers, as well as historical reenactments, including voyageur canoe trips, are offered on Mattawa’s waterways. Check local schedules before planning a tour. The museum shop at the Mattawa Museum sells souvenirs, local crafts and books; the selection may change.

Cycling and snowmobile trails

The Voyageur Cycling Route offers multi-use trails for cyclists and connects Mattawa with surrounding areas. Current trail conditions may vary, so checking them before setting out is recommended. The Mattawa & Area Snowmobile Club Trails connect to Ontario’s extensive snowmobile trail network. Conditions and access on these trails vary seasonally. This gives you a choice between a cycling route connecting to surrounding areas and access to the snowmobile trail network for different activities.

Nearby hiking trails

Several nearby loop trails around Mattawa differ in length and character. The Wabashkiki Trail is an easy 1-km loop featuring a wetland, its resident wildlife and a boardwalk on a peninsula in Moore Lake. The Forestry Research Trail is also rated easy and is a 1–2-km loop through active forestry research plots; a trail guide is available at the Visitor Centre. Both trails are short and described as easy, but they offer different highlights: wetlands and a boardwalk on the Wabashkiki, and research plots on the Forestry Research Trail.

For challenging hikes, the Kag Trail and Etienne Trail differ in their listed details. The Kag Trail is a challenging 2.5-km loop with steep climbs through red pine forests, by Gem Lake and through oak uplands. The Etienne Trail, also described as challenging, has four loops ranging from 2.5 to 9 km. The Kag Trail is noted for its steep climbs and landscape features, while the Etienne Trail’s listed loop lengths go up to 9 km.

The Algonquin Trail offers scenic views of the Mattawa River and Ottawa River and is suitable for short or long hikes. The Mattawa Voyageur Lookout Trail leads on a short hike to panoramic views of the town and surrounding mountains. The viewpoints differ too: the Algonquin Trail looks out over the two rivers, while the Lookout Trail offers views of the town and mountains.

Winter trails and scenery

Nearby, Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park offers groomed winter trails for skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, hiking and kicksledding. Grooming is seasonal. The Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area offers a different natural setting: the area includes a gorge carved by the Amable du Fond River, hiking trails, remnants of a historic 19th-century log chute, waterfalls, forests and wildlife.

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

For the broader travel overview: Nipissing District.