Clean-air getaways near North Bay

Mattawa

~55 min drive · AQI 33 · Good · PM2.5 3.1 µg/m³

▼ 6.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than North Bay right now

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Historic voyageur town where the Mattawa meets the Ottawa River, between two provincial parks.

Pembroke

~2 h 55 min drive · AQI 31 · Good · PM2.5 3.6 µg/m³

▼ 6.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than North Bay right now

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Ottawa Valley hub on the wide Ottawa River, the jumping-off point for Whitewater country.

Temagami

~1 h 20 min drive · AQI 34 · Good · PM2.5 4.2 µg/m³

▼ 5.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than North Bay right now

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Old-growth pine and deep-lake country on Lake Temagami, with classic Northern lodges.

Bancroft

~2 h 50 min drive · AQI 36 · Good · PM2.5 11.6 µg/m³

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Mineral-country town on the York River between Hastings highlands and lake country.

Whitney

~2 h drive · AQI 34 · Good · PM2.5 12.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Hamlet at Algonquin Park’s East Gate, with lodges and cabins on the park’s quieter side.

Haliburton

~2 h 25 min drive · AQI 36 · Good · PM2.5 16.9 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Highlands village surrounded by hundreds of lakes and a large cottage-rental market.

Huntsville

~1 h 40 min drive · AQI 37 · Good · PM2.5 27.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Muskoka’s biggest town, ringed by lakes and resorts on the edge of Algonquin Park.

Bracebridge

~2 h 10 min drive · AQI 37 · Good · PM2.5 27.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

AQHI 2 — Low risk (Dorset station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Waterfall town in the heart of Muskoka with a deep bench of cottages and resorts.

Orillia

~2 h 55 min drive · AQI 55 · Moderate · PM2.5 33.9 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

AQHI 8 — High risk (Barrie station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Sunshine City between Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe, with a full range of waterfront stays.

Gravenhurst

~2 h 20 min drive · AQI 45 · Good · PM2.5 34.7 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Gateway to Muskoka on Lake Muskoka’s steamship wharf, the closest cottage country to the GTA.

Little Current (Manitoulin Island)

~2 h 55 min drive · AQI 54 · Moderate · PM2.5 38.8 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Manitoulin’s main harbour town — the world’s largest freshwater island, surrounded by Huron’s North Channel.

Midland

~2 h 40 min drive · AQI 58 · Moderate · PM2.5 39.8 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Harbour town on Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands shore, with bay cruises and shoreline trails.

Killarney

~2 h 30 min drive · AQI 50 · Good · PM2.5 40.6 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Remote village beside Killarney Park’s white quartzite ridges, on the north channel of Georgian Bay.

Parry Sound

~1 h 45 min drive · AQI 45 · Good · PM2.5 41.2 µg/m³

▲ Air is currently worse here than in North Bay

AQHI 3 — Low risk (Parry Sound station)

Observed Jul 17, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Deep-water port on Georgian Bay’s island-studded coast, with open-bay air off the sound.