Kirkland Lake

Kirkland Lake is a town and municipality in Timiskaming District in with a population of about 8,000 people in 2016.

Understand

Kirkland Lake was founded as a mining town, and there is still a gold mine in town with the rest of the town supporting the mine.

Get in

By car

Highway 66 passes going west and east through Kirkland Lake. The section of Highway 66 from Highway 11 (14 km west Kirkland Lake) and continuing on within Quebec as Highway 117 through to Montreal is a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway. The following are some routes to reach Kirkland Lake:

From the west, take the Highway 11 (another branch of the Trans-Canada Highway), then turn east on Highway 66 (just south of Kenogami Lake). You'll drive through Swastika before reaching downtown Kirkland Lake. (Yes, Swastika is a real town, it had the name before World War II, and jokes about the name are not appreciated.)
From the south, take the Highway 11, then turn north on Highway 112. That highway ends at Highway 66; turn east to get to downtown Kirkland Lake.
From the east, Quebec Highway 117 from Rouyn-Noranda becomes Ontario Highway 66 at the provincial border - keep driving west for a bit over a half-hour after crossing the border to reach Kirkland Lake. Although Highway 117 starts in Montreal, it is faster to start the trip on Autoroute 15, a freeway, which combines into Highway 117.

By bus

Ontario Northland. Operates primarily in Northern Ontario. 2022-04-23 A bus route operates between North Bay and Timmins including stops in Temagami, Cobalt, Temiskaming Shores (Haileybury, New Liskard, Dymond), Kirkland Lake, and Matheson. Timed connection is available at Matheson from Cochrane. Travel time to Kirkland Lake from North Bay is 3.75 hours, from Cobalt is 2 hours, from Matheson is 1 hour, from Timmins is 2 hours, and from Cochrane is 3.25 hours. In North Bay, there are connections available from Ottawa and Toronto.

Get around

See

Esker Lakes Provincial Park, Highway 672, 48.32°, -79.89°, +1 705-568-7677 (summer), +1 705-272-7107 (winter). Open Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day. 2017-08-02
Heritage North, 400 Government Rd W, 48.1467091°, -80.0540652°, +1 705-568-4420. M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM, evenings & weekends by appointment. A meeting venue with "an extensive collection of historical artifacts, photographs, literature and hockey memorabilia" on display 2018-02-06
Kirkland Lake Miners' Memorial, 175 Government Rd W, 48.1471869°, -80.0552386°. Roadside attraction. 2018-02-06
Museum of Northern History at the Sir Harry Oakes Chateau, 2 Chateau Dr, 48.148520°, -80.056772°. Winter: Tu-F noon-5PM, Sa noon-4PM; Summer: Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa noon-4PM. The museum's permanent exhibits highlight northeastern Ontario's geography, history, culture, and economy. Adult $6, senior (55+) or student (5-17) $4, under 5 free, family of 4 $15 2018-02-06

Do

Buy

Eat

The Dish Cafe, 77 Government Rd West Unit 2, 48.1483318°, -80.0410458°, +1 705-462-3200. Tu-Th 5PM-8PM, F Sa 5PM-9PM. The menu changes constantly, and features fresh seasonal ingredients. Reservations are recommended. Local art is on display in the restaurant's gallery. 2017-08-02
Plum Blossom Bakery Cafe, 59 Kirkland St W, 48.1490329°, -80.0398388°, +1 705-462-2246. 2018-02-06

Drink

The Franklin, 60 Government Rd W, 48.1496118°, -80.0377239°, +1 705-462-2424. M-Sa 4:30PM-2AM. Sports bar. 2018-02-06

Sleep

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kirkland Lake, 350 Government Rd W, 48.1472633°, -80.058887°, +1 705-462-2401. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 2018-02-06

Connect

Nearby

Kenogami Lake

Kenogami Lake is just north of the junction of Highways 11 and 66 - if you're approaching Kirkland Lake from the east, you're passing through Kenogami Lake.

MacPherson's General Store, 5411 Highway 11, Kenogami Lake, 48.1217°, -80.2220°, +1 705-642-3138. M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 9AM-8PM. A typical Northern Ontario general store, with a gift shop, a gas pump, and (from May to October) a restaurant.

Kirkland Lake - town and municipality in Timiskaming District in Ontario, Canada