Thunder Bay offers welcoming, barrier-free experiences where everyone can enjoy the region’s nature, culture, dining, and attractions. This three-day accessible itinerary highlights scenic viewpoints, inclusive trails, accessible restaurants, and cultural venues that make it easy for visitors of all abilities to explore the city comfortably.
Accessible Adventures in Thunder Bay: Where Everyone Can Explore
Three days Barrier-free sights and bites to welcome everyone
| Day 1 |
| Start at the Terry Fox Monument and Visitor Centre to learn about this young Canadian’s heroic efforts to raise money to cure cancer, then head to Prince Arthur’s Landing at the waterfront. Both locations offer smooth trails, lake views, and public art.
For lunch, settle in at Bight Restaurant + Bar, where barrier-free entry and spacious seating let you enjoy local flavours with a view of the marina. In the afternoon, visit the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, designed with automatic doors, ramps, and accessible washrooms, and home to rotating exhibits by contemporary Indigenous and Canadian artists. Dinner at Caribou Restaurant + Wine Bar offers smooth ground-level access and generous spacing between tables, making it easy to relax over a memorable meal. Finish the evening at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, with accessible parking, seating, and washrooms. |
| Day 2 |
| Explore Fort William Historical Park, one of North America’s largest living history sites which brings the 19th century fur trade to life. You’ll find barrier-free facilities, transportation, and sensory-friendly experiences, guided tours amplified by headphones, ASL guided tours during special events, and a braille information sheet.
Stop for lunch at Bean and Olive before heading south to Pigeon River Provincial Park and Kakabeka Falls. Both feature accessible trails and boardwalks that reveal striking vistas and cascading falls. For an overnight stay, Whispering Hills Campground features barrier-free electrical campsites and a comfort station. Wrap up the day at Goods & Co. for drinks and local shopping, then cross the street to The Foundry for dinner and live music or karaoke. |
| Day 3 |
| Spend the morning at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park exploring the accessible Plantain Lane Nature Trail. The park also offers barrier-free cabins and campsites. Enjoy a delicious, fully accessible lunch at Dawson Trail Craft Brewery Inc., where great food meets welcoming, barrier-free spaces. Tour the fully accessible Thunder Bay Conservatory and enjoy its lush, peaceful indoor gardens. For dinner, head to Giorg Cucina é Barra (they’ll put out a ramp if you call ahead), then take in a local show at Magnus Theatre or a Border Cats baseball game. |
| Getting Here and Around |
| Both Porter Airlines and WestJet offer support person programs for eligible travelers with disabilities.
The Thunder Bay Airport has introduced the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which discreetly signals that a traveller may need extra assistance. |
Accessible Parks in the City
Thunder Bay’s parks are designed with inclusion in mind:
- Boulevard Lake Park: Five-and-a-half kilometre multi-use trail around the lake, accessible beach mat with lift capabilities, inclusive playground and adult fitness with rubber surface
- Vickers Park: Inclusive playground and adult fitness with rubber surface, granular 800-metre trail loop
- Soroptimist International Friendship Gardens: Cultural monuments connected by accessible pathways
- Chapples Park: Two-kilometre asphalt trail that connects to the Neebing River and Ford Street multi-use trail networks and the Centennial Botanical Conservatory
- Chippewa Park: Accessible campground and wildlife viewing, granular trails
- Hillcrest Park: Panoramic views of the harbour, inclusive playground, and floral display gardens
Thunder Bay strives to be an inclusive destination for visitors of all abilities. Beyond this three-day itinerary, you’ll find even more accessible ways to experience the outdoors—from barrier-free fishing, moose hunting, and scenic trails to winter activities like sit-skiing and sledge hockey—making it easy to keep exploring and enjoying all that Thunder Bay has to offer.
Wilderness Discovery Centre |
| Wilderness Discovery Centre is a fully accessible resort situated 80 kilometers west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. |
Sit-ski |
| Explore the wonder of winter like never before. Ski the trails at Kamview Nordic Centre using their Sit-Skis that allows you to ski using your arms from a seated position. Contact the Kamview Nordic Centre for more information at (807) 475-7081. |
Canada Games Complex |
| Stay fit, pump iron or go for a swim. The Canada Games Complex is a unique, accessible, multi-purpose fitness and recreational facility providing access to people of all abilities. |
Lakehead Regional Conservation Areas |
| Bird-watch, explore, snap away! Experience accessible conservation lands and explore networks of trails while viewing cascading falls and sparkling waters. Lakehead Region Conservation Areas include the Cascades Conservation Area, Mission Island Marsh and The Hazelwood Lake Nature Centre. |
Thunder Bay accessible sports |
| Get your sports on - Thunder Bay is where athletic-minded individuals of all abilities come to play. Experience goalball, wheelchair curling, blind curling, sledge hockey and other exciting activies. Learn more about Thunder Bay accessible sports. |
Silvercity Movie Theatre |
| Catch a flick at Silvercity in Thunder Bay. A multi-screen movie complex that is wheel-chair accessible and offers hearing impaired assistance. Bring your Access2Entertainment Card for discounts and savings. |
Thunder Bay Public Libraries |
| Stay connected to friends and family through Thunder Bay Public Libraries. All branches of the library are wheelchair accessible and offer free wireless service and computers with Internet access. The Waverley and Brodie locations offer accessible public work stations. |
Moose hunting |
| An early moose hunting season is available for people with disabilities. Apply to begin moose hunting in select Wildlife Management Units. Call: 1-866-344-4159. |
Fishing |
| Catch that big one! McKellar Island offers a barrier-free fishing dock with quick access within the City. |
Check out some of the Accessible Services available in Thunder Bay.
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