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Provincial park in Ontario, Canada
Photo: LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Algonquin Park is the oldest and most famous of all the provincial parks in Canada, and the largest park in the Ontario Provincial Parks system. The park protects an area of 7,600 km², twice the size of Rhode Island, and larger than every county in England except North Yorkshire. With few inhabitants, this park forms the boundary between Ontario's Northern, Eastern, and Central regions.
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An outdoor pathway and reception building details the history of logging in Algonquin Park, including outdoor exhibitions of historic and modern equipment. The buildings are open in late spring to early autumn, but the outdoor trail and some exhibits are accessible in winter.
The park has long been a destination for Canadian artists. The Algonquin Art Centre focuses on art that highlights Canadian wilderness, wildlife, and nature.
A large, busy lake along the Highway 60 corridor, connecting to several canoe routes and served park facilities along the highway. It's also an important location in Canada's artistic history. A ghost town toward the north-west shore of the lake, Mowat, was a company town for a sawmill that opened at the end of the 1800s with a population of 500. After the sawmill closed, the isolated town become a small tourist retreat, attracting Tom Thomson, an influential artist who worked with a group that would go on to form the Group of Seven. Before the founding of the group, Thomson drowned here in the summer of 1917 at the peak of his artistic career. A cairn stands on the lake, opposite from the Mowat town site, but his resting place is in Owen Sound.
In the northeast corner of the park, Grand Lake provides backcountry campsites on its southern shore. From Grand Lake, you can also access Carcajou Bay to see waterfalls flowing over granite, or portage to the Barron River and Barron Canyon. Achray Campground is located here, so visitors can combine daytime canoeing with car camping, in a more remote location than the Highway 60 corridor.
The park's largest lake, with rentals and access off Highway 60. The expanse of the lake and wild shorelines create a scenic route for canoeing, but also provide little shelter from strong summer winds. Some paddlers time their departure to avoid strong winds, or use a motorboat water taxi to skip Opeongo completely. Many backcountry campsites dot the shores of each arm of the lake.
Nature-based adventures for students and travelers from all over the world. All-inclusive guided canoe trips feature multilingual guides.
A short 1.5 km, but popular and challenging loop takes hikers up to the cliffs overlooking the Barron Canyon and River. Caution is required along cliff edges, which are not fenced from the trail.
An easy 3 km looping trail through an area that was logged in the 1880s. Today, the remaining white pines have matured, and the area is one of the best preserved old growth white pine forests in the park.
About 450 million years ago, a large meteorite created a "bowl" in the hard rock of the Canadian shield, 3.8 km wide and about 427 m deep. Evidence suggests that the area was submerged under water at the time; if not, the force of the impact would have likely knocked over nearly every tree in the park. In the millions of years since, erosion and glacial movement has filled most of the crater, so the forest and small lakes at the bottom are now only about 60 m below the road. An observation platform provides a panoramic view from a hill along the road. A self-guided interpretative walk explains interesting points along the Brent Crater Trail, a 2 km loop, or about 3.2 km if you include a detour to Tecumseh Lake.
A strenuous 10 km loop provides a good workout and scenic views nearly 100 m above Whitefish Lake and along several long ridges. A side trail from the south end of the loop connects to Racoon Lake Campground 1.2 km away.
An easy 1.5 km flat loop, with sections of wooden boardwalk, takes walkers and birdwatchers across Sunday Creek into the bog.
Large developed campground, with car camping, paddle-in, and walk-in sites. Electrical and radio-free sites are available. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, and laundry. Features a sandy beach and access to several hiking trails.
Provides canoeing and swimming opportunities on Kearney Lake. Campsites have access to flush toilets, showers and laundry. No electricity is available.
Large campground providing electrical connections and access to a large sandy beach. Comfort stations provide flush toilets, showers, and laundry. The Two Rivers Park Store sells basic supplies, groceries, and snacks, and rents bicycles.
Offers all-season camping. Some sites provide electrical connections, and several yurts and a cabin are available. Mew Lake is located along the Old Railway Bike Trail, in addition to several hiking trails. In the winter months, fatbiking is possible on the bike trail, with Mew Lake serving as a popular access point.
Located in a pine forest, this is the largest campground in Algonquin Park, and a stop on the Park Bus shuttle from Toronto. Many sites provide an electrical hookup.
Smaller campground, with only basic facilities. No electrical sites, showers, or laundry facilities onsite, but the amenities in the Rock Lake Campground 2 km away can be used.
Pet-friendly campground with site accommodating a range of equipment. Two beaches are within walking distance to the camp sites. Provides access to the Old Railway Bike Trail.
Small campground with showers, flush toilets, and a small beach. No electrical sites are available.
In the eastern periphery of the park, Achray campground provides 45 car camping sites, as well as a yurt. Several trails access the campground, and swimming is possible in Grand Lake. Flush toilets are available, but no showers or electricity. Radios and generators are not permitted.
In the northern periphery of the park, Brent campground offers 30 car camping sites and a small rustic cabin that accommodates two people. Some camp sites are lakeside. Trails through the campground can take hikers to the Brent meteorite crater.
The smallest peripheral campground, Kiosk has 17 car camping sites and one cabin. Kioshkokwi Lake provides a beach for swimming.
South corner, from Highway 648
Five walk-in sites are located at the southern end of the park; there are no developed amenities, other than the parking lot. The access point is also an entry to the backcountry by canoe.
Lodge with central log dining room. Little Joe Lake off Hwy 60, km 15. Off-season, phone +1 416-483-4393.
Or +1 705-633-5746. Solar power covered pontoon boat available upon request. Lakefront cottages, fine dining on an island, reached by lodge ferry. Early May-mid Oct.
33 km inside the West Gate of Algonquin Park off Hwy 60. Private lakeside cabins with fine country dining included. Open May-Oct. The Lodge was built in 1935. It consists of the original log dining room and 27 cabins all located on a private peninsula.
8 rooms are equipped with satellite TV, Wi-Fi, microwaves and small refrigerators. The motel provides a shared patio and BBQ area.
A subtle upgrade from the tent camping inside the park, Four Corners offers 'glamping' in 90 acres of private forest, with transparent domes, safari tents, or tiny cabins. Cooking spaces and washrooms are shared. Wi-Fi available in the common area. Open seasonally, June to October.
One of Algonquin Park's outfitters specializing in trip planning, canoe and gear rentals. Professional guiding available for groups of any size. They have another location near the east corner of the park, Algonquin Bound Outfitters - Barron Creek.
Remote outpost for limited supplies and canoe or kayak rentals, open by advance reservation only. No phone service is available in the area or at the store itself; arrangements should be made by phone well in advance.
At south end of Lake Opeongo, Algonquin Park’s largest body of water. Canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals, outfitter and guided wildlife viewing trips, store with fish tackle, camping supplies, outdoor clothing and footwear, souvenirs, groceries, live bait and ice. Water taxi is $30/person (one way), minimum $90/trip.
South of Highway 60 at km 31.4 between Mew Lake and Lake of Two Rivers campgrounds. Mountain bicycle and trailer rental (helmet included), store with camping, hiking and fishing gear, souvenirs, groceries (fresh produce and fruit, fresh and frozen meats, dairy, drinks and ice). Café & Grill with gourmet coffee, hamburgers, french fries, pulled pork poutine, wraps, salads, Kawartha Ice Cream and milkshakes.
By Bus
Other bus services will get you close to the park.
By Plane
A less common way to get into Algonquin is by aeroplane.
If you are exploring the Highway 60 corridor, the best way to get around is by vehicle. Some people use bicycles as well, and some even walk; but this is not recommended.
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