Dryden is Ontario's smallest incorporated city (population 7617), located 140km (90 mi) east of Kenora on the Trans-Canada Highway in northern Ontario.
Understand
Dryden, located on the north shore of Wabigoon Lake, was established in 1895 as the site of an experimental farm and named for a minister of government of the era. At the time, access to the community was primarily by rail. From 1910-2008, the city's primary industry was paper manufacturing; the local population reached a peak of just under 8200 people before the mill closed.
An oversize Maximillian the Moose stands at the centre of town at the visitor’s centre.
Dryden and Kenora are the only incorporated Ontario cities to use the Central time zone (GMT-6), due to their location: geographically closer to Winnipeg than to southern Ontario.
Get in
- Trans-Canada Highway 17 (Government Street) by car from Kenora or Thunder Bay
- Ontario Northland connects Winnipeg to Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and points east.
- Kasper Bus. Service to Kenora, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay.
- 1 Dryden Regional Airport (YHD IATA). Bearskin Airlines flies from Dryden to Thunder Bay (direct) and Winnipeg (through Red Lake) to connect with onward commercial flights.
Get around
- George's Taxi, ☏ 1 807 223-6565.
- Enterprise ( 1 807 223-4004) and National ( 1 807 223-4477) offer hire cars.
See
Max the moose towers 18 feet
- 1 Dryden & District Museum, 15 Van Horne Avenue (at King Street), ☏ 1 807 223-4671. Museum in historic Hamble House with over ten thousand artefacts, including “Old Copper Culture“ cold-hammered tools dating back 4,000 years. History of Dryden and surrounding area, including “The Dryden Buck“, an Ontario-record whitetail deer shot by a poacher in 2003. By donation.
Do
- 1 Aaron Provincial Park. On east end of Thunder Lake, 26 km (16 mi) east of Dryden on Hwy 11.
- 2 Dryden Recreational Complex, 84 Whyte Ave, ☏ 1 807 223-1425. Indoor pool with waterslide, municipal fitness centre.
- 3 Dryden Ski Club, ☏ 1 807 937-4265. Ski hill, equipment rental and lessons. $35/day (downhill), $8/day (cross-country).
- 4 Eagle's Landing, 400 Sandy Beach Rd, ☏ 1 807 223-3433. Nine-hole golf course, banquet facility.
- Hunting, fishing and windsurfing are popular locally; in winter, try snowmobiling, ice fishing, dogsledding and skiing.
- 5 Blue Lake Provincial Park, Blue Lake Road, ☏ 1 807 227-2601. Hiking trails, camping, interpretive centre.
- Sandy Beach Park, Sandy Beach Road. Playground, large sand beach, soccer field and baseball diamond, walking trails and picnic area.
- Theatre 17. Amateur community theatre group.
Events
- Moosefest. late June-early July. Summer festival, includes Canada Day weekend.
- Dryden Winter Festival. Mid-February, on long weekend. Activities. Ice fishing derby.
Buy
- 1 Egli's Sheep Farm, 20232 Hwy 17W, Minnitaki, ☏ 1 807 755-5231, toll-free: 1-800-465-2966, fax: 1 807 755-5246. M-Sa 8AM-5PM. Wide selection of woolen garments, 20 km (12 mi) west of Dryden on Trans-Canada Highway.
- 2 Railside Sports & Marine, 564 Government St., ☏ 1 807 223-3517, fax: 1 807 223-2388. Boats, campers, ATVs, snowmobiles.
Eat
- 1 Ho Ho Chinese Restaurant, 64 Van Horne Ave, ☏ 1 807 223-2888. Asian buffet.
- 2 Hong Kong House, 34F Whyte Ave, ☏ 1 807 223-7411. Asian.
- 3 [dead link]Kupper's Bakery and Restaurant, 5 Earl Ave, ☏ 1 807 223-2419. Licensed restaurant, bakery and deli.
- 4 Masala Restaurant, 205 Duke St, ☏ 1 807 223-8622. Indian.
- 5 Ristorante Pizzeria Italia, 53 Princess St, ☏ 1 807 223-8080. Italian.
Drink
- 1 [formerly dead link]B & B Roadhouse Bar & Grill, 349 Government St, ☏ 1 807 223-2000.
- 2 Central Saloon, 20 King St, ☏ 1 807 223-3735. Dated diner-style restaurant with bar.
Sleep
Hotels
- 1 Dryden Hotel & Conference Centre, 349 Government St, ☏ 1 807 223-3201, toll-free: 1-800-780-7234. Best Western Plus with restaurant, conference facilities and indoor pool.
- 2 Riverview Lodge, 148 Earl Ave, ☏ 1 807 223-4320, fax: 1 807 223-5208. Riverside hotel in former paper mill building, restaurant on the banks of the Wabigoon River.
- There are a 3 Comfort Inn and a 4 Holiday Inn Express on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Motels
- 5 Hide Away Motel, 700 Government St, ☏ 1 807 223-5329, fax: 1 807 223-5519. Breakfast included, Internet, 32" HDTV with Netflix and Apple TV, fridge/microwave, kitchenettes in some rooms. $80 .
- 6 Trans Canada Motel & Restaurant (The TC), 149 Third St (at Trans-Canada 17), ☏ 1 807 223-2251, fax: 1 807 223-6915. Sixteen-room motel, homestyle restaurant and catering.
Bed and breakfast
- 7 Pilot's Landing Bed & Breakfast, 110 Claybanks Rd., ☏ 1 807 223-6928. On Wabigoon Lake near water aerodrome, two rooms with private entrance and en suite bath.
Camps and caravan parks
- 8 Bonny Bay Camp, 222 Bonny Bay Rd, ☏ 1 807 938-6696, toll-free: 1-866-815-5971. Lodge, cabin camp and cottages on the shores of Wabigoon Lake, 15 km (9 mi) east of Dryden. Fishing/hunting outfitter, boat rental.
- 9 Merkel's Camp, 744 Muskie Merk Rd, Wabigoon, ☏ 1 807 938-6428, toll-free: 1-888-521-3872. Fishing camp 20 km (12 mi) E of Dryden
- 10 Spring Water Park, 1266 Hwy 594, ☏ 1 807 937-5454. Caravan park with restaurant.
Connect
- 1 Dryden Public Library, 36 Van Horne Ave, ☏ 1 807 223-1475, fax: 1 807 223-4312. M-Th 10AM-8PM, F Sa 10AM-5PM, closed summer Sundays.
Go next
| Routes through Dryden |
Winnipeg ← Kenora ← JCT  N ← | W   E | → JCT  N → Thunder Bay → Sault Ste Marie |