Download GPX file for this article
49.783-92.833Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Dryden is Ontario's smallest incorporated city (population 7617), located 140km (90 mi) east of Kenora on the Trans-Canada Highway in northern Ontario.

Understand

Map

Dryden, located on the north shore of Wabigoon Lake, was established in 1895 as the site of an experimental farm and named for a minister of government of the era. At the time, access to the community was primarily by rail. From 1910-2008, the city's primary industry was paper manufacturing; the local population reached a peak of just under 8200 people before the mill closed.

An oversize Maximillian the Moose stands at the centre of town at the visitor’s centre.

Dryden and Kenora are the only incorporated Ontario cities to use the Central time zone (GMT-6), due to their location: geographically closer to Winnipeg than to southern Ontario.

Get in

Get around

  • Enterprise (+1 807 223-4004) and National (+1 807 223-4477) offer hire cars.

See

Max the moose towers 18 feet
  • 1 Dryden & District Museum, 15 Van Horne Avenue (at King Street), +1 807 223-4671. Museum in historic Hamble House with over ten thousand artefacts, including “Old Copper Culture“ cold-hammered tools dating back 4,000 years. History of Dryden and surrounding area, including “The Dryden Buck“, an Ontario-record whitetail deer shot by a poacher in 2003. By donation.

Do

  • 1 Aaron Provincial Park. On east end of Thunder Lake, 26 km (16 mi) east of Dryden on Hwy 11.
  • 2 Dryden Recreational Complex, 84 Whyte Ave, +1 807 223-1425. Indoor pool with waterslide, municipal fitness centre.
  • 3 Dryden Ski Club, +1 807 937-4265. Ski hill, equipment rental and lessons. $35/day (downhill), $8/day (cross-country).
  • 4 Eagle's Landing, 400 Sandy Beach Rd, +1 807 223-3433. Nine-hole golf course, banquet facility.
  • Hunting, fishing and windsurfing are popular locally; in winter, try snowmobiling, ice fishing, dogsledding and skiing.
  • 5 Blue Lake Provincial Park, Blue Lake Road, +1 807 227-2601. Hiking trails, camping, interpretive centre.
  • Sandy Beach Park, Sandy Beach Road. Playground, large sand beach, soccer field and baseball diamond, walking trails and picnic area.
  • Theatre 17. Amateur community theatre group.

Events

  • Moosefest. late June-early July. Summer festival, includes Canada Day weekend.
  • Dryden Winter Festival. Mid-February, on long weekend. Activities. Ice fishing derby.

Buy

Eat

  • 1 Ho Ho Chinese Restaurant, 64 Van Horne Ave, +1 807 223-2888. Asian buffet.
  • 5 Ristorante Pizzeria Italia, 53 Princess St, +1 807 223-8080. Italian.

Drink

  • 2 Central Saloon, 20 King St, +1 807 223-3735. Dated diner-style restaurant with bar.

Sleep

Hotels

  • 2 Riverview Lodge, 148 Earl Ave, +1 807 223-4320, fax: +1 807 223-5208. Riverside hotel in former paper mill building, restaurant located on the banks of the Wabigoon River.

Motels

  • 6 Hide Away Motel, 700 Government St, +1 807 223-5329, fax: +1 807 223-5519. Breakfast included, Internet, 32" HDTV with Netflix and Apple TV, fridge/microwave, kitchenettes in some rooms. $80+.

Bed and breakfast

  • 8 Pilot's Landing Bed & Breakfast, 110 Claybanks Rd., +1 807 223-6928. On Wabigoon Lake near water aerodrome, two rooms with private entrance and en-suite bath.

Camps and caravan parks

  • 9 Bonny Bay Camp, 222 Bonny Bay Rd, +1 807 938-6696, toll-free: +1-866-815-5971. Lodge, cabin camp and cottages on the shores of Wabigoon Lake, 15km (9 mi) east of Dryden. Fishing/hunting outfitter, boat rental.
  • 11 Spring Water Park, 1266 Hwy 594, +1 807 937-5454. Caravan park with restaurant.

Connect

Go next

Routes through Dryden
WinnipegKenora  W  E  Thunder BaySault Ste Marie


This city travel guide to Dryden is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.