The lodge is located directly in front of Temagami's White Bear Old Growth Red and White Pine Forest. Originally destined by the MNR to be a clear-cut logging operation, the community rallied together in the early '90's and had it preserved as a Conservation Reserve. This classification permanently prohibits any resource extraction (logging, mining and gravel pits) while still allowing traditional uses such as hunting, fishing, trapping and farming (picking nuts, fruits, berries, mushrooms, herbs, etc.). An extensive trail system now interconnects this 800 hectares (2,000 acres) of unspoiled ancient wilderness which contains many red pines over 1 Meter (3 Feet) and white pines up to 1 1/2 Meters (5 Feet) in diameter and is the sixth largest stand of old growth pine remaining in the world. Several species of plants, including rare northern orchids and fungi which are native to an undisturbed eco-system can be found here (described in more detail on the Orchid Page and the Mushroom Page).

Guided or self-guided tours are available all year either by hiking boots, cross-country skis or snowshoes. During the summer, a water taxi is available for a drop-off at one location and pick-up at another to eliminate walking the same path twice for people preferring a self-guided tour. Departure and arrival times can be arranged for your convenience. Guided tour departure/arrival times are also easily arranged to suit any schedule. In the winter months, shuttles by snowmobile can be arranged to the beginning of the trail system at several locations for people looking for quick access. Others prefer the scenic 2 km. excursion by snowshoes (rentals available) or their own XC skis, directly from the lodge.

Guided tours by a semi-professional free-lance photographer can be arranged by the half or whole day. Come as an individual or as a group to see nature through your own still format (film or digital) camera or VCR. Camouflaged stands are available for wildlife viewing opportunities. A user-friendly portable tree stand is available for photographers, painters or anyone just wanting to catch a glimpse of the forest from an elevated position. We can supply everything except cameras.

White Bear Forest Tours

Guided or self-guided tours are available all year through the White Bear Forest. Summer hiking boots and either winter snowshoes or XC skis are the preferred footwear for these informative and picturesque trips. Some of these ancient trails (the Nastawgan, pronounced na-STAW-gan, in the Ojibway language) through this forest have been documented to be 5 to 6,000 years old or approximately 2,000 years older than the Great Pyramids in Egypt. In simple laymen's terms, these portage trails were well used long before some kid called Tut was piling up square chunks of rocks out in the middle of a desert halfway around the world.

Countless pines (both reds and whites) and eastern white cedars are over 200 years old (note: Canada is almost 150 years old) while a few of the ancient white pines are in excess of 500 years of age. These massive specimens were mere saplings when Christopher Columbus first visited North America (but not Temagami) in 1492. Today, these pines are obviously very healthy and are still growing and producing hundreds of pine cones with thousands of seeds in them every year.

Our guided tours offer boat access directly into the center of this ancient forest and can then be custom made to accommodate various age groups and/or physical fitnesses. A typical guided tour last from 2 to 4 hours and explains the interactions that wind, weather and fire has played in the ongoing development of the forest. Along with the big trees, several varieties of wild native orchids and colorfull fungii and mushrooms will provide ample photo opportunities for all guests. At various times throughout the summer, various plants and berries can be collected for tasting. Animal sightings of large animals such as bear and moose or of small animals such as rabbits and grouse will be rare (we make too much noise in our travels) but foot prints and droppings will be proof enough that they do inhabit this undisturbed ecosystem.

These tours can usually be arranged on a short notice of a day or two and occasionally on the same day.

From time to time, some of our guests are looking to either buy or sell cameras and related items. When this happens, I try to help them with this by posting a note and picture on this website on the Items For Sale page which can be accessed from the top of this page. If you, or anyone you know, are interested in buying these items, please look here first.

Check-in times for weekly packages are after 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and check-out times are before 11:00 a.m. on the following Saturdays. For overnight packages, the same times apply for each day. Please inquire about any variations that can be made to these time schedules.

Responsible use of alcoholic beverages is allowed on lodge property. However, we are not a licensed outlet for the sale of these beverages.

Pets are always welcome.