The lake gives the town its name and its character. Wawa Lake stretches just east of downtown, ringed by the boreal forest and dotted with cottages. In summer it is a swimming, paddling, and fishing destination — locals catch pike, walleye, and lake trout, and the town beach is a pleasant spot to spend an afternoon.
In winter the lake freezes hard and becomes a snowmobile route. Ice fishing huts dot the surface from January through March. The light up here, especially in the long northern dusks of June, is something travellers remember.