So far you've said nothing about what your daughter and wife want to do. That seems crucial, since if either of them is miserable (or even mildly frustrated, bored, or feeling disempowered), chances are you'll all feel similarly.

And you've said nothing about what "expensive" means to you. Hotels and motels are "expensive" in Canada, and during that season campgrounds can be, too--or full. A camper--preferably a small one, not a great big huge behemoth--can be cheaper and more comfortable. A camper with an added tent or two gives a lot of options. Renting a motorbike is far more expensive than renting a car, unless you favor Jaguars and Bentleys. A pickup has no advantages that I can see, unless it's towing a trailer or fitted with a camper. Even so, I'd rather have an SUV for towing and a small RV for the other. And a car (or SUV), properly-sized, can carry far more camping gear than a bike, in far more comfort--the rental car concept doesn't limit you to "hotel to hotel."

I've camped and hosteled by thumb, car, van and motorbike all over Western Canada. I prefer the bike as long as the weather is reasonable, but question my sanity when it turns bad...which it does. I like camping, but some people hate it, and I'm getting worse at getting down and back up again when sleeping at ground level. Riding two-up, especially with camping kit, is not at all like exploring by oneself. Etc.

Your question about "how desolate....?" is like asking the length of the proverbial ball of string. There is a lot more space--which some might call "desolate"--than you've seen in Ontario, including up around Algonquin or Killarney. There are places in the north where you can drive for hours, even in peak season, and see only a handful of other people. Of course, the absence of other tourists might suggest there's not too much for tourists to see or do there. There are other places where people much like yourselves vastly outnumber the locals, and it's difficult to find a hardware store for all the t-shirt shops and cute eateries. Hey, there are even a handful of relatively cosmopolitan cities, with city population densities, attractions, and prices.

As an aside, you might think about getting cross-border permission with your rental, whatever you end up doing. It usually costs little or nothing if arranged in advance, and it adds some interesting options.

Anyway, I think your first step is to get wife and daughter involved in the dreaming phase, then the planning itself.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

(Edit for clarity)