Hornepayne is a township of about a thousand people (2021) in the Algoma District of Northern Ontario, Canada. It's the closest settlement to the geographic center of Ontario, a point that lands in a remote bog to the north of the town.
Understand
[edit]Hornepayne serves as a railway divisional point on the main Canadian National Railway line. The forestry industry (by way of Hornepayne Lumber) is the major employer to the local economy. Hunting- and fishing-related tourism in the area (particularly just north of the town in nearby Nagagamisis Provincial Park) is served by several small companies.
History
[edit]The town was established in 1915, when the Canadian Northern Railway's transcontinental line was built through the area, as Fitzback. It was renamed Hornepayne in 1920, after British financier Robert Horne-Payne.
Visitor Information
[edit]Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Take Ontario Highway 631 either south from Highway 11 (between Longlac and Hearst) or north from Highway 17 (at White River). Highways 11 and 17 are both part of the Trans-Canada Highway.
By plane
[edit]- 1 Hornepayne Municipal Airport (YHN IATA), ☏ +1 807-868-2212. May-Sep: 7AM-3PM, Oct-Apr: 8AM-4PM. There is no scheduled service here; the field is used by private aircraft, including some that fly into private fishing lodges in the area.
By train
[edit]- See also: Rail travel in Canada
- 2 Hornepayne station. This is a "sign post" station with no local services. Trains that stop at this station stops long enough for passengers to stretch their legs and have a smoke. Train operator:
- VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates train routes across Canada. Operates The Canadian between Toronto and Vancouver with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops.
- VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates train routes across Canada.
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]Do
[edit]Fishing
[edit]Fishing expeditions are popular.
- Buck Lake Lodges and Outposts -- fly-in fishing lodge.
- Nagagamisis Provincial Park, some 30 km north of town, has excellent fishing for walleye, trout, pike, and perch.
Snowmobiling
[edit]Hornepayne is on the OFSC D108A Connector, comprising some 300 km of challenging snowmobile trail linking the OFSC "D" Trunk trail near Dubreuilville to the OFSC "A" Trunk trail near Hearst.
Buy
[edit]- 1 McKinnon's Freshmart, 44 Third Ave, ☏ +1 807 868-2705. Tu-Sa 8AM-6PM; F 8AM-7PM. Grocery store.
- 2 G & L Variety Store, 83 Front St, ☏ +1 807 868 2494. 9AM-9PM. A local convenience store. Sells minnows for fishing, beer.
- 3 Cindy's This & That, 39 Fifth Ave. 10AM-8PM. A small giftshop with a milkshake machine and liquor outlet.
- 4 Hornepayne Esso, Hwy 631 N Building 2001, ☏ +1 807-868-2638. 8AM-9PM. The local gas station and convenience store.
- 5 The Baggage Car, 36 Third Ave (church building beside Freshmart, downstairs). F Sa noon-5PM. Small clothing store.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Eats & Treats, 113 Front St (across from the park), ☏ +1 807-788-1481. 10AM-8PM. Straightforward menu with breakfast, lunch, pizza, hamburgers and wings.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Brewed Tales, 36 Third Ave (church building beside Freshmart), ☏ +1 204 509-5112, [email protected]. M-F 8AM - 4PM. Coffee shop and bookstore.
- 2 Royal Canadian Legion Br. 194 (The Legion), 48 Sixth Avenue, ☏ +1 807 868-2083. (Generally) Th 6PM-midnight, F Sa 6PM-2AM. RCL clubroom, bar.
Sleep
[edit]In Hornepayne
[edit]- 1 Studio 6 Hornepayne, 25 becker road (Off the highway), ☏ (807) 236-0111. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A motel in construction with some rooms already available. $170+.
- Rock's Hunt Camp, 1 Airport Road (4 km S of town), ☏ +1 807 868-2085, [email protected]. Fishing packages available from do it yourself, guided trips or fly into our remote wilderness island location. Ice fishing packages also available.
Camping
[edit]- 2 Nagagamisis Provincial Park (north of Hornepayne on Hwy 631), ☏ +1 807-868-2254. Check-in: 2PM. Over 100 campsites along the shores of Nagagamisis Lake provide car camping. Some sites provide direct boat access. $35 per night.
Fly-in camps
[edit]- Buck Lake Lodges and Outposts, Obakamiga Lake (accessible only by plane), ☏ +1 705 534 1991, toll-free: +1-888-366-0712. Fly-in fishing trips: walleye, northern pike, and perch. Cabins are equipped with full kitchens, bathrooms and 24-hr electricity. Flights and boat rentals are included. Free WiFi. Beachfront. Business centre with Internet access. Children's activities. Pets allowed.
- Kay Vee Lodge, Nagagami Lake (accessible only by plane), ☏ +1 613-982-1768 (Summer), toll-free: +1-800-756-3365. Cabins have a living room, kitchen, 2-, 3- or 4-bedrooms and bathroom. Pots, pans and dishes are supplied. Microwaves, coffee pot and toaster in each cabin. Per person: 7-day $1430, 4-day $1150, 3-day $1020, includes meals and flights from Hornepayne.
Stay safe
[edit]While there is mobile phone service in the town of Hornepayne, and for about a 15-km radius around it, the vast majority of the surrounding area has no coverage at all. This includes Highway 631, both north of town to Highway 11, and south of town to Highway 17. Plan your travels and wilderness adventures with this in mind.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- Head north to Highway 11, which can take you east to Hearst 130 km (81 mi) away, or west to Longlac (218 km (135 mi)).
- Head south to White River (101 km (63 mi)) at the junction with Highway 17, to explore Lake Superior's North Shore.
- The nearest cities are Timmins (396 km (246 mi)), Sault Ste. Marie (415 km (258 mi)) or Thunder Bay (490 km (300 mi)).
| Routes through Hornepayne |
Jct W   E ← Nagagamisis Provincial Park ←
|
N  S
|
→ White River → Ends at 
|
| Winnipeg ← Longlac ← | W  E
|
→ Sudbury → Toronto |