Description
The 1000km/600-mile-long all-season route is entirely paved and well ploughed. Freeway turns into fairly high-quality 2 lanes upon leaving Ottawa on the Trans'Canada Highway. Driving at night is fine. This trip allows for a return to James Bay - this time the south/west end - by rail. Moosonee / Moose Factory is located on the Moose River estuary, about 6 miles upstream from James Bay.
Passing through Montreal or the Thousands Islands, our gathering point will be Ottawa, Canada's national capital. Ottawa is known for great year-round recreation, including the 5-mile-long Rideau Canal, which becomes the world's longest skating rink in January and February. Our route takes us up the Ottawa and Mattawa rivers, the original route of the courieurs-du-bois, or fur traders, to North Bay and the upper Great Lakes. North Bay is home to NORAD's Canadian twin of Cheyenne Mountain, a 2-mile-deep installation that can be toured since its decommissioning. An hour further north is Temagami, where we can ascend a fire tower for a long-distance wintry view. Cochrane lies another 3 hours north, after crossing into the Arctic watershed. Bears and moose are often seen along the way.
Cochrane is the end of the road, and where the real adventure begins. The MINIs will be loaded on the Polar Bear Express, which bears its passengers along a 186-mile route, flag-stopping for snowmobilers and hunters. The 4.5 hour journey includes a number of bridges and dams to cross the Abitibi and Moose Rivers and their tributaries The end of the line is the mainland village of Moosonee and its island twin, Moose Factory. The latter is a Cree village and site of the first Hudson Bay Company trading post, reachable from Moosonee via a short trip via ice road. The Hudson Bay Company, the Company of Adventurers, was founded in 1673 and is the oldest corporation in the western hemisphere. A heritage site is found within the village.
In winter, a 315 km ice road is available from Moosonee to Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, and the new Victor diamond mine. Drive on the Ocean! Attawapiskat is also the southernmost range of polar bears, which can be seen via plane charter.
Getting There
The route is most easily accessed via I-81 and the Thousand Islands Bridge. Jogging eastward briefly on ON-401 and up ON-416 leads to Ottawa and the Trans-Canada Highway.
Alternatives / Spurs
Alternative routes include entering Canada at Detroit or Buffalo and joining the mainline at North Bay via Toronto. Alternatively, I-87 can be used through Montreal to Ottawa or using R-117 through Val D'Or, the route used to access JBR.
Sights / Attractions
Ottawa, Temagami, Polar Bear Habitat, Polar Bear Express train, Hudson Bay Company Outpost, drive on the ocean, plane charter, snowmobiling, Northern Lights.
Claims to Fame
The Polar Bear Express and Hudson Bay (Churchill, MB) are the only trains to the Arctic in North America.
Estimates
Total of 14 hours driving each way from NYC, or 1.5 - 2 days each way. Total trip is 6 days including 3 activity days on James Bay. Likely overnights: border area or Ottawa, Cochrane, Moosonee, Attawapiskat, Moosonee, Cochrane.
Minimum trip length is Thursday to Tuesday. Add one day for a more leisurely trip to or from Cochrane (e.g. an overnight in Ottawa).
Links
Polar Bear Express
Polar Bear Habitat & Heritage Village
Ottawa