Manitouwadge

Manitouwadge is a township in Northern Ontario. It has about 2000 people (2021).

Understand

"Manidoowaazh" means "Cave of the Great Spirit" in Ojibwe.

While mining was at the forefront of Manitouwadge's economic activity, forestry also plays a significant part in the town's economy. The town is also turning itself into a retirement community, offering some of the lowest housing prices in the country.

History

Manitouwadge (Manidoowaazh in Ojibwe, meaning "Cave of the Great Spirit") was part of the range of the nomadic Ojibwe indigenous people.

The town was founded by Noranda (now part of Xstrata) in the early 1950s to support the company's Geco copper mine. Other mine in Manitouwadge is the Willroy mine, named after two of the "Weekend Prospectors", William Dawidowich and Roy Barker.

In the early 1980s, gold was discovered at Hemlo, near the intersection of highways 614 and 17, about 50 km (31 mi) south of the town. Noranda acquired the mining rights to a significant portion of the ground in that area, and built the Golden Giant Mine. It offered housing in Manitouwadge to many of the employees of the new mine, and the town boomed.

When the Geco mine closed in 1995, Manitouwadge's population decreased significantly. After peaking at nearly 4000 people in the early 1990s, it decreased to less than 3000 by 2001. With the closing of the Golden Giant Mine in 2006, the population dropped to 2,100 by 2011.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Manitouwadge Airport (YMG  ^IATA), 1 Mississauga Drive, ☏ +1 807-826-4041. No scheduled traffic.  

By car

Manitouwadge is at the north end of Highway 614, 331 km (206 mi) east of Thunder Bay and 378 km (235 mi) north-west of Sault Ste. Marie. From the Highway 17 junction (east of Marathon, west of White River), take Highway 614 north 52 km to Manitouwadge.

For the adventurous, the town is also reachable via the Caramat Industrial Road, a logging road that is open to the public. While generally in excellent condition for a gravel road, it can be damaged or closed by fallen trees, washouts, or flooding. Moreover, travellers who choose this route need to be prepared to self-rescue in the event of a breakdown, because there is no cell service and traffic can be infrequent. It is maintained in winter, but best avoided during inclement weather; it may take contractors several days to clear a heavy snowfall.

The road connects to the tiny hamlet of Caramat, a distance of about 95 km. From there, Highway 625 continues north for 30 km until reaching Highway 11, just east of Longlac.

Get around

• Bob's Taxi & Delivery Service,, +1 807 826-1420

See

• Eco-tourism is promoted here; there are at least four small waterfalls in the immediate area.

Do

Hunting, fishing and golf are the main summer attractions open to vacationers and residents. There is a nine-hole golf course. There is a fully equipped gym, a large outside track, and a family pool.

Trails for hiking in the summer and trails for snowmobilers in the winter are also abundant. There are ten runs for downhill skiing and two locations with cross-country ski trails managed by the Northern Trails Ski Club. From the top of the ski hill, you can see the whole town. Whether or not you want to is up to you.

• 1 High Falls of the Pic River, Lemay Road. 30-m-high falls. Hike may be steep for those with mobilty difficulties. From Manitouwadge, drive about 60 km on the Industrial Road, a crushed gravel road, then leave the main road and get on a rough two-track and go a further 5.4 km to the falls - a 4WD is required for this part. Take the first left, and then keep to the left. There is a sign at the first branch directing you towards High Falls. (updated Dec 2018)
• Perry Lake Trail. (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

Despite the town's small size, there is usually one place where one can buy any kind of basic necessity; sometimes even more than one. There is one grocery store, one gas station, one auto parts store, and at least one mechanic.

Eat

• 1 Friends Bakery & Coffee Shop, 200 Manitou Rd W, ☏ +1 807 826-1376. M-F 5AM-10PM, Sa Su 6AM-10PM. Cafe and bakery with sandwiches, lunches. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Village Pizza & Subs, 26 Huron Walk, ☏ +1 807 826-2626. M-F 10AM-7PM, Sa-Su 9AM-6PM. 
• Audrey's Restaurant, 56 Huron Walk, ☏ +1 807 826-2891. M-Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 9AM-2PM. Pizzas, vegetarian dishes, pierogies.... (updated Dec 2018)

Drink

• 1 KG's Bar & Lounge, 6 Mississauga Dr, ☏ +1 807 826-4554. Bar with pool tables and patio. 

Sleep

• 1 Select Inn, 43 Manitou Rd East, ☏ +1 807 826-4949. Free continental breakfast, a fitness room and Wi-Fi. Rooms feature a microwave, a coffee maker, iron and mini fridge. From $95. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Turner's Northwoods Adventures, 371 Manitou Road, ☏ +1 807 826-1224, toll-free: +1 866-417-8687, turnersnorthwoods@gmail.com. Offers rooms, RV hookups, and camping. 

Connect

There is good 4G cellular coverage in Manitouwadge itself, and for a radius of about 8km around. However, once you leave town, you also leave cell signal behind, until you get close to either Highway 11 or 17.