When you hear Minnesota bragging about its 10,000 lakes, you have to agree that’s a lot of lakes. But it’s nothing compared to Manitoba’s 100,000 lakes or Ontario’s 250,000 lakes!
Much of Canada is covered by an old layer of eroded rocks, dotted with lakes and covered with forests. This is the “Canadian Shield” or, as it’s known locally, “the lake and bush country”. Lakes vary in size from tiny dots to the largest lake in the world (Lake Superior).
Today I’m going to feature one of the many lakes Ontario offers, but unlike most this one is easily accessible by road and not too remote, so it’s a fairly popular place for people to spend time in the summer. Hazelwood Lake is about a half hour drive north of Thunder Bay, a city my brother lives in; we went to Hazelwood Lake last summer when my father and I visited him.
Hazelwood Lake is surrounded by a Conservation area that covers 618 hectacres (1527 acres) of land. It’s a pretty lake created in part by a dam.
It offers access for boating (but no gas motors allowed — just electric or row boats), fishing and swimming. The lake is quiet, which makes it a good canoeing destination.
Fisherman will find tasty species like northern pike, walleye and perch in these waters. There are 7 kilometers of hiking trails; in the winter its trail system is used for snowshoeing.
There are picnic tables and an open space overlooking the lake where summer weddings are held. A modest $2.00 parking fee is charged.
Dogwoods were in bloom when we visited. They are one of my favorite wildflowers.
