Lakehead is in Thunderbay, Canoedogs. Nice place. Lots of wilderness!

University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Would it be germane to inquire as to what academic area would be of interest? All schools vary in the quality of their various departments, and that conceivably might be just as important as their proximity to wilderness.....

Point taken. I have the modest goal of making man and animal tracking a science. So, a university with active wildlife studies would seem the best venue. Suggestions welcome.

If you end up headed this way, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, while its not "next door" (20-60 min by car) to Great Smoky Mountain National Park also has in the eastern half of the state

more than nine lakes (one across the road from campus)
national recreation/parks (Big South Fork & Cumberland Gap)
state parks (Fall Creek Falls, Roan Mountain, Cumberland Mountain, Warrior's Path)
national forests (Nantahala & Cherokee)

These are just the ones that I can name off the top of my head.

Knoxville/Knox County is in the process of developing greenways in parts of town. There is also Ijams Nature Center (80acre park that started as a 20 acre bird sanctuary) 3 miles southeast of campus w/ some trails.

For wildlife studies, Oregon State University in Corvalis.

For Wilderness, The University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

The best,

Jerry