Woodland Caribou Provincial Park

LOCATION

Red Lake is on Hwy 105 about 108 miles north of the Trans Canada Hwy 17. If you are approaching from the central US it is best to cross the Border at International Falls. From International Falls USA cross the border into Fort Frances Ontario.

Take Highway 11 east (right turn) toward Atikokan. Several miles outside of Fort Frances you will turn north (left) onto Highway 502 going to Dryden. Proceed along this highway to the end (approx. 2.5 hrs). At the T intersection turn right to the town of Dryden. You will pass by the paper mill and cross a bridge. Turn left at the 1st set of lights. Turn left at the 4 way stop. You will go through an underpass and come to another set of lights. Turn left at the lights onto Highway 17 west (if anyone needs a last junk food fix this would be the place. Turn right for McDonalds, Pizza Hut or A&W, turn left for Dairy Queen).

Stay on #17 west until you come to the village of Vermillion Bay (20-30 minutes). Here you will turn right (north) onto Highway 105. The highway terminates at the traffic lights in Red Lake. Here you turn right and proceed to the Lakeview Restaurant where you turn left onto Goldshore Road, proceed to the stop sign and turn right, you are now on Forestry Rd.

We are located at 75 Forestry Rd which is just below the crest of the second hill from the stop sign. Look to the right for the racks of canoes in the yard (no sign to watch for). If you cross a bridge you have gone too far. If you end up in the fire fighting base-camp you have really gone too far.

Access to Woodland Caribou Park is from Red Lake via a four-wheel drive logging road. There are five different points to access the Park the closest 20 miles from Red Lake and the furthest 55 miles. A ground shuttle is available.

Any length of circle trips can be taken through the lake country from these access points. Red Lake is where the highway ends and the wilderness begins. Red Lake is 540 miles or a 10 hour drive from Minneapolis, 16 hours from Chicago. The highways are good and the drive enjoyable. You can also fly from Minneapolis to Winnipeg and then into Red Lake if you would prefer.