Wilson Lake, Ontario, Canada

Also known as:  Wauquimakog Lake

Ontario visitors who think ‘cottage country’ is limited to the Muskoka Region will miss out on Wilson Lake! Located in Ontario’s ‘near north’, Wilson Lake is located in the Parry Sound District, immediately north of the Muskoka Region. Better known as Wilson Lake, some official maps call it Wauquimakog Lake. Wauquimakog is taken from the First Nations word meaning ‘laughing water’. Known for excellent fishing and boating,…
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    • All About Wilson Lake, ON

    Lake Locations: Canada - Ontario, Canada -

    Ontario visitors who think ‘cottage country’ is limited to the Muskoka Region will miss out on Wilson Lake! Located in Ontario’s ‘near north’, Wilson Lake is located in the Parry Sound District, immediately north of the Muskoka Region. Better known as Wilson Lake, some official maps call it Wauquimakog Lake. Wauquimakog is taken from the First Nations word meaning ‘laughing water’. Known for excellent fishing and boating, Wilson and other lakes along the Pickerel River host fishing camps, hunting lodges, summer homes, rental cabins and larger resorts.

    Wilson Lake, or Wauquimakog, is a special vacation memory-maker for vacationers of many years, one that is fondly passed down to new generations of ‘cottagers’. Wilson Lake is ideal for fishing, swimming, sailing, canoeing the many small bays, wildlife watching, sunbathing, water skiing and boating excursions up the Pickerel River, through Pigeon Bay and Duck Lake. Evenings are campfires, S’Mores and hot dogs or marshmallows on a stick over the coals. Occasional rainy days or chilly autumn nights are perfect for board games or reading the latest novel. At Wilson Lake, the cares of the busy world are left behind and time seems to stand still, at least for the length of your stay.

    Wilson Lake is the quintessential north-country lake: uncrowded, unaltered, unhurried. The lake remains unsurveyed, so estimates of its size range from 1200 acres to 6000 acres. Traffic is non-existent: many cottages are accessible only by boat, whether located along the wooded shoreline or on one of the small islands. Unspoiled by light pollution, both sunsets and sunrises are equally stunning. Some lucky visitors see the Northern Lights. It isn’t unusual to hear a loon’s eerie call in the morning mist, or experience wildlife venturing onto the porch. Here the lakelubber is – by choice and of necessity – one with the natural world and will come away refreshed and renewed.

    Unincorporated Port Loring maintains government-owned docks and a public parking area to accommodate cottage-goers making the occasional trip to town for groceries, home improvement needs or medical services. The town offers a small restaurant, hardware and library. There are few organized amusements near Port Loring, but movie theaters, major restaurants and shopping malls are left for North Bay about 60 miles away. Loring, a few miles to the north, or Arnstein to the east are a bit bigger than Port Loring but still very small towns. One of Ontario’s largest deer herds winters near Loring, kept healthy during heavy snows by supplemental feeding by area residents.

    Fishing is excellent at Wilson Lake. The waters support pickerel (walleye), largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, lake trout, channel catfish, lake herring, bluegill and perch. Wilson Lake connects to Pigeon Bay Lake, then Duck Lake, making for a large expanse of water for fishing and boat touring. A particularly beautiful spot on Duck Lake is the now-private Big Slide – a series of waterfalls where the Little River chain of lakes flows into the lake. Local resorts can arrange guided fishing trips or rent a boat and all necessities for the experienced fisherman. In winter, some resorts stay open to host ice fishermen and snowmobilers. Port Loring is on the Ontario Federation Snowmobile Trail System with 200 miles of pure winter enjoyment on groomed trails. In warmer weather, ATV trail riding is a favorite pastime. Autumn not only offers excellent fall colors but hunting for grouse, deer and rabbit. Resorts welcome each guest like an old friend; many quickly become annual visitors and return again and again. It is no wonder that many occasional visitors decide to become rear-round residents.

    The Pickerel River system is a favored destination for paddle-sport enthusiasts. With over 45 miles of navigable water, many start out in the Wilson Lake area and paddle with the current west toward French River, North Bay and Lake Huron. A small dam at Dollars Lake helps maintain the water level in the chain. Less river than interconnected lakes, the Pickerel Canoe Route provides campsites every few miles along the way, so canoe or kayak trips can be relaxing, leisurely and thoroughly enjoyable. The Pickerel River flows through the Grundy Lake Provincial Park, with several campsites reached only by canoe. Accommodating resort owners are willing to help paddlers plan their route and provide transportation to and from landing spots along the river. Although easily reached by car on Highway 522 – either west from Highway 11 or east from the Trans-Canadian Highway – the Port Loring Water Aerodrome can also accommodate float plane arrivals. Again, resort transportation can be arranged.

    Discerning cottagers have been coming to the Port Loring area since the early part of the last century. Even before that, loggers moved their families here to harvest the plentiful timber resources. Many of those families never left; their descendants still own cottages along the river system. Wilson Lake and the Pickerel River system provided excellent transportation for floating logs to the French River and out to saw mills. At one time, steam-powered boats were even built at Port Loring.

    All types of vacation lodgings are available at or near Wilson Lake. Resorts with housekeeping cabins, bed-and-breakfasts, a small motel, private cottages and homes for rent and even a resort specializing in large-group rentals can be found within five miles of the lake. For visitors who simply must remain ‘connected’, several of the resorts provide internet and satellite television. Reservations are a must in order to get the accommodations you desire. So start planning now for your vacation to Ontario’s ‘Near-North’ region. Wauquimakog is waiting . . .and laughing softly. Listen, and you will hear it whisper your name.

    Things to Do at Wilson Lake

    These are some activities in the Wilson Lake, ON area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Snowmobiling
    • Hunting
    • Waterfall
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Provincial Park
    • Movie Theater
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in Wilson Lake?

    Wilson Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Lake Trout
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Muskellunge
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Wilson Lake

    If you’re considering a Wilson Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Wilson Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Wilson Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Wilson Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

    Surface Area: 2,500 acres

    Shoreline Length: 8 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 741 feet

    Average Depth: 30 feet

    Maximum Depth: 106 feet

    Lake Area-Population: 350

    Wilson Lake Map

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