page_title: Atikokan
section_title: Recreation
hierarchical_section_title: Atikokan / Recreation
caption_attribution_description: English: Little Falls Waterfall, located within Atikokan on the Eastern edge of town limits.
context_page_description: Atikokan is a town in the Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The population was 2,753 as of the 2016 census. The town is one of the main entry points into Quetico Provincial Park and promotes itself as the "Canoeing Capital of Canada". Atikokan was originally established as a rail stop for the Canadian Northern Railway.
  The town of Atikokan is an enclave within the Unorganized Rainy River District. It is officially located within the Central Time Zone, but uses UTC−05:00 year round, therefore in practice it is located in Eastern Standard Time Zone and does not observe daylight saving time.
context_section_description: Atikokan was selected as the host site for the 2003 edition of 'Raid the North Extreme', a televised 6 day multi-sport expedition race that visits wilderness locations across Canada.  A key factor in the selection was the proximity to Quetico Provincial Park. Quetico Park, located about 20 minutes south from the town of Atikokan, is a protected park with a route of lakes that was once traveled by the voyageurs.
  In 2018 the Town of Atikokan completed a project to connect and renovate the existing Atikokan Municipal Swimming Pool and Community Arena. The resulting modern facility was named the Atikokan Recreation & Wellness Centre which features a 14,580 square foot ice surface, 25 meter long pool, and multi-purpose room with adjoining kitchen available for private rentals.
  A large portion of recreation in Atikokan is at the town's Charleson Recreation Area. The area is named for the Canadian Charleson Iron Mine (a subsidiary of Charleson Iron Mining Co. of Minnesota), which was an iron ore mine operating there between 1958 and 1964. In 2005 the Charleson Recreation Area Committee formed to consolidate the various groups that use the area into a working committee that would develop the area for further recreation use by town residents and to enhance tourism potential. The committee continues to meet monthly to discuss and implement maintenance and improvements.
  Major Annual events in Atikokan include the Atikokan Bass Classic, a smallmouth bass tournament for teams of all kinds, the Poker Run and Annual Sno-Ho Rally held by the Atikokan Sno-Ho Snowmobiling Club and the Atikokan Mud Slingers 4x4 Races, where drivers can show off their trucks and skills to try and make it through a 300-foot mud track at Charleson Recreation Centre.
  Little Falls Recreation Centre is the home of Little Falls Golf Club and Little Falls Curling Club. Little Falls Golf Club is a 9-hole course that is double tee'd so players have the option of a 9 or 18 hole game. Little Falls Curling Club has a four sheet rink and hosts various bonspiels throughout the season.
  Just 9 km North of town, off of Highway 622, is Atikokan's Mount Fairweather Ski Hill. Mount Fairweather opened in 1967 for downhill skiing and snowboarding and continues to operate weekends and holidays from December to March (weather permitting). Mount Fairweather is a 106-meter drop with 12 name runs and operates both a rope tow lift and a T-bar lift. The chalet has helmets, boots, and skis available for use for free on a first come first served basis and also offers a canteen, washrooms, comfortable seating, and an outdoor sun deck.
  The Town of Atikokan also operates parks, playgrounds, three skating rinks, Bunnell Park Campground, the Pioneer Club (a drop in centre for seniors), toboggan hill (the previous location of the Mount Fairweather Ski Hill), and two baseball diamonds.
  Other clubs and activities in Atikokan include: Atikokan Minor Hockey Association, Atikokan Figure Skating Club, Beaten Path Nordic Trails, Mount Fairweather Alpine Skiing, Atikokan Sno-Ho Snowmobiling Club, Atikokan Bowling Association, Atikokan Public Library programs, Atikokan Native Friendship Centre (ANFC) and Quetico Provincial Park's Natural Heritage Education outreach programs.
  Fitness facilities exist at the Atikokan Native Friendship Centre (ANFC) and Ironworks Gym.
caption: Little Falls, a scenic water body within the town limits.
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