Fort Frances

Fort Frances is a town of 7,700 people (2016) in Northern Ontario. Fort Frances is a popular fishing destination. It hosts the annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Understand

Fort Frances

Fort Frances sits on the international border with the United States where Rainy Lake narrows to become Rainy River. It is connected to International Falls, Minnesota, by the Fort Frances–International Falls International Bridge. The Fort Frances Mill was the main employer in the town until it closed in January 2014.

History

Fort Frances was the first European settlement west of Lake Superior and was established by French Canadian Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, first commander of the western district. In 1731 he built Fort Saint Pierre near this spot as support for the fur trade with native peoples. In 1732 his expedition built Fort Saint Charles on Magnuson Island on the west side of Lake of the Woods. After some time, Fort St. Pierre fell out of use.

In 1817, following the War of 1812 and redefinition of borders between Canada and the United States, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) built a fort here. In 1830 HBC Chief Factor John Dugald Cameron named the fur trading post after Frances Ramsay Simpson, the 18-year-old daughter of a London merchant, who had married earlier that year in London, George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, who would visit the fort many times.

Climate

Court House

In June, July and August, daytime temperatures range from 25-30 °C (77-86 °F), though nights may be cool, particularly in the north. In autumn, foliage takes on fall colours towards the end of September and reaches its height in October. Medium to heavy-weight clothing is necessary, especially in November when the weather is cold and frosty. Snowfall is usually experienced through December, January and February. The snow begins to recede in March before totally disappearing in April. This is followed by warm temperatures and spring flowers in May.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Fort Frances Municipal Airport (YAG  ^IATA) (4.1 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the town). Bearskin Airlines offers flights from Kenora, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay (Su-F, a 1-hr flight, up to $330), and Dryden. (updated Nov 2018)

By car

From elsewhere in Ontario

Ontario Highways 11 and 71 (both part of the Trans-Canada Highway) run through town. It is 435 km from Thunder Bay and 215 km from Kenora.

From the United States

The Fort Frances-International Falls Bridge (the start/end point of Ontario Highway 71) connects Fort Frances with International Falls, Minnesota, USA. U.S. Highways 53 and 71 lead up to the bridge on the U.S. side.

Tolls are collected northbound only (entering Canada); no tolls are collected southbound. As of August 2024, the toll for passenger vehicles is US$9 / C$11.

By bus

• Ontario Northland, toll-free: +1-800-461-8558. Operates primarily in Northern Ontario. Routes travel as far west as Winnipeg, as far south as Toronto, and as far east as Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) Operates a bus route multiple days per week between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay including stops in Kenora and Fort Frances.

Get around

• North Air Taxi, ☏ +1 807 274-5301. (updated Nov 2018)
• Gold Star Taxi & Services, ☏ +1 807 274-7638. (updated Nov 2018)

See

• 1 Fort Frances Museum, 259 Scott St, ☏ +1 807 274-7891. Mid May-Labour Day (includes museum, Logging Tug & Lookout Tower): 10AM-5PM daily; Sep-mid May (museum only; tug and tower closed for season): Tu-Sa 11AM-4PM. A collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs from Fort Frances and the surrounding area. Adults $4, seniors and children (5-12) $3, families $12; admission by donation Sep-mid May. (updated Nov 2018)
  • Lookout Tower, 1011 Front Street (on the lakefront). only open in summer. 120 steps to a panoramic view. included in museum admission. (updated Nov 2018)
  • Logging Tug Hallett, 1011 Front Street. only open in summer. Floating museum of Fort Frances' history as a logging town. included in museum admission. (updated Nov 2018)
• The Spry Farm, 3322 Highway 11, Devlin, ☏ +1 807 276-5466, thespryfarm@gmail.com. Call for an appointment. Farm visits, petting zoo: miniature donkeys, miniature horses, pygmy goats, potbelly and kune kune pigs, silkie chickens. (updated Nov 2018)
• Fort St. Pierre National Historic Site (in Pither’s Point municipal park on a point of land at the southwest end of Rainy Lake at the mouth of the Rainy River). A historical plaque marks an open grassed area. Constructed in 1731, there are no extant remains of the square fort, which measured 50 feet on each side. (updated Sep 2021)

Do

• 1 Sandpoint Island Provincial Park, Sandpoint Island (about 23 km east of Fort Frances, in Rainy Lake, close to the Minnesota border), ☏ +1 807 548-4351. 914 ha. No visitors’ facilities. Canoeing, hiking, and nature viewing are recommended activities. (updated Jan 2019)
• Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship. Third weekend in July. A 4-day event with over $80,000 in prizes. Music, car show & shine. (updated Nov 2018)

Licences are required for fishing or hunting in Ontario and may be purchased from sports stores, tourist outfitters, hunting and fishing lodges and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Eat

• Flint House, 232 Scott St, ☏ +1 807-274-1143. M Tu 11AM-10PM, W Th 11 AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. A rustic modern restaurant. Gluten-free options. Burgers and sandwiches $25-17, pastas $23-28, mains $23-44. (updated Nov 2018)
• 1 Lee Garden, 418 Scott St, ☏ +1 807 274-5021. Chinese. 
• Lighthouse Fish and Chips, 328 Scott St, ☏ +1 807 274-1084. M-F 11AM-6PM. (updated Nov 2018)

Drink

• Gartch's International Pub, 298 Scott St, ☏ +1 807-274-5538. Daily 11AM-midnight. Irish pub meets dive bar. Pool tables. (updated Nov 2018)

Sleep

• 1 La Place Rendez-Vous, 1201 Idylwild Dr, ☏ +1 807 274-9811, toll-free: +1-800-544-9435, fax: +1 807 274-9553. Resort hotel and convention centre on the shores of Rainy Lake. Free wireless internet in all rooms. Restaurant and bar on site. From $137. (updated Nov 2018)
• The Sleepy Owl Downtown, 325 Scott St, ☏ +1 807 274-5500. 24 rooms that include Wi-Fi, fridge, coffee maker, a free gym pass and a free continental breakfast. From $130. (updated Nov 2018)

Go next

Routes through Fort Frances

Kenora ← Sioux Narrows ← ←	N  E	→ → Atitokan → Thunder Bay
Baudette ← becomes ← Rainy River ←	W  E	→ Atitokan → Thunder Bay
Kenora ← Sioux Narrows ←	N  S	→ → becomes → International Falls → Bemidji / Duluth