Most groups plan the fishing for months and sort out the travel in the last fortnight. The flight into camp is the part we handle, with our own aircraft and pilots. Getting to Hearst with your group and gear, and onto the dock on time, is the part worth planning.
Where the Base Is and What Time to Arrive
Our float plane base is on Carey Lake, 17 miles west of Hearst on Highway 11, about twenty minutes from town. Every fishing trip and moose hunt leaves from that dock.
The office opens at 6:45 AM and the first aircraft depart at 7:30. Unless we have given your group a specific time, be at the base for 6:45. That window is when we weigh your people and gear.
Plan your travel backwards from there. A 6:45 arrival means leaving town at about 6:20, which is not a morning to start after eleven hours of driving.
Getting to Hearst by Road on Highway 11
From Toronto it is roughly 925 kilometres and about eleven and a half hours on Highway 11, through North Bay, Cochrane and Kapuskasing. The road is good, but it is a full day of driving.
From the west, Highway 11 comes in through Geraldton and Longlac. From the Sault and the border crossings south of it, take Highway 17 north along Lake Superior and cut across. Fuel up when you can, because stations are further apart north of the main centres.
Watching for Moose on Northern Ontario Highways
Moose are a serious hazard on Highway 11 from dusk until well after dark, and again at first light. They are dark, tall enough that headlights often catch only their legs, and they do not clear the road like deer.
Slow down either side of sunset and watch the shoulders, not just the lane ahead. Stop for a break when your concentration starts to go.
Why We Ask You to Stay in Hearst the Night Before
Booking a room for the night before your flight is step three of our trip planning list. It turns a hard travel day into a manageable one, and a weather delay then does not land on top of eleven hours of driving.
Inn The North, The Villa and the Companion Hotel are all in town and used to early starts.
Order bait ahead from Typer’s Bait and Tackle at 705-362-4828 and ask what time you can pick it up, as the shop may not be open as early as you leave. Keep the receipt, because conservation officers will ask for proof of origin.
Flying to Timmins and Driving the Last Stretch
Hearst’s municipal airport has no scheduled service. The nearest airport with flights is Timmins Victor M. Power, served from Toronto by Air Canada, about 300 kilometres away or three and a half hours by road.
Book your rental vehicle when you book the flight. Fleets at northern airports are small and sell out in fishing and moose season. Ontario Northland also runs a bus from Sudbury through Timmins, Cochrane and Kapuskasing, though it leaves you without a vehicle here.
Longer Stays and Custom Trips: Sending Your Vehicle Ahead
For a week at an outpost camp, drive or fly in and rent. The maths only changes on longer trips.
Custom river trips into the James Bay and Hudson Bay lowlands, a stretch on the Sutton River, a moose hunt with a fishing week either side, or a group that decides to stay into the autumn. Several weeks without your own vehicle starts to cost you.
Guests coming from Alberta, British Columbia or the far side of the United States sometimes fly in and send the truck separately. Car shipping companies move vehicles between provinces every day, and Automoves covers the whole country if you want a figure to compare against.
Price it before you decide. Six days of driving, fuel both ways, four nights of motels and the holiday time add up, and on a long stay the two options often land close together.
Leaving Your Vehicle at the Base
Your vehicle stays with us at Carey Lake while you are at camp. Leave a key at the office if you want us to be able to move it, and take anything valuable with you.
If you are driving up in a vehicle that sat over the winter, or one you have just bought, have it checked before the trip. A breakdown in Hearst is an inconvenience. One between Kapuskasing and Longlac on a Sunday evening is not.
Weights, Overloads and the Check Flight
Our aircraft carry about 1,280 pounds for a group of four, bodies and gear together, or roughly 320 pounds each. Subtract your group’s body weight from 1,280 and the remainder is your gear allowance.
Weigh your gear at home, and check our preparation info for what to pack. If you arrive over the limit, load the essentials first. Anything left behind flies in when an aircraft is free, charged at charter rates by distance to your camp, and in poor weather it may not reach you until the next day.
Two medium coolers work better than one extra-large, soft bags load better than hard cases, and aerosols, batteries and bear spray must be packed where we can reach them, as they are regulated for carriage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to be at the Hearst Air base?
Be at the base for 6:45 AM, when the office opens, unless we have given your group a different time. The first aircraft leave at 7:30, and the time between is used to weigh everyone and their gear.
How far is Hearst, Ontario from Toronto?
About 925 kilometres, or eleven and a half hours on Highway 11 through North Bay, Cochrane and Kapuskasing. Most guests break the drive or arrive in Hearst the evening before.
What is the closest airport to Hearst?
Timmins Victor M. Power Airport, about 300 kilometres away and three and a half hours by road. It has scheduled service from Toronto. Hearst’s own airport handles charters and private aircraft only.
How much gear can I bring on the float plane?
About 1,280 pounds for a group of four, bodies and gear combined, averaging 320 pounds each. Subtract your group’s weight from 1,280 to find the gear allowance, and weigh it at home to avoid surprises on the dock.
Where do I buy bait and a fishing licence in Hearst?
Bait comes from Typer’s Bait and Tackle at 705-362-4828. Call ahead to have the order ready and confirm the pickup time, and keep the receipt. Licences are not sold at the base (see our fishing regulations page), so buy online, from a licence issuer or at a ServiceOntario centre.
Can I leave my vehicle at the base while I am at camp?
Yes. Vehicles stay at Carey Lake for the length of your trip, and you can leave a key at the office. Take valuables with you and tell us if someone in your group may need to move it.
Should I drive or ship my vehicle for a long trip north?
For a week, drive or rent. For a multi-week custom trip from Alberta or the western United States, work out what six days of driving costs in fuel, motels and holiday time before ruling out flying in and having the vehicle transported.
Plan Your Trip With Us
If you are working out how to get here, call before booking flights or rooms. We can usually tell you in a few minutes which route suits your group, your dates and your gear.
Reach Hearst Air Service at 1-866-844-5700 or email mel@hearstair.com.