Algonquin Park: A Paddler's Guide to Ontario's Wilderness

Algonquin Provincial Park is Ontario's wilderness icon — 7,700 square kilometres of forest, 2,400 lakes, and the canoe country that defined the Canadian backcountry. Two and a half hours north of Toronto, it's the easiest way into real Canadian wilderness. Here's how to do it.

The drive in Highway 60 cuts 56 km through the southern corridor and is the only road most visitors use. Pull off at the trailheads and lookouts — the Visitors Centre, the Logging Museum, and the track-side trails are all easy half-day walks.

Canoe country Algonquin is built for the canoe. The classic trip is a backcountry paddle — portage between lakes, camp on a site reachable only by water, and wake to loons. Outfitters at the gates rent everything and plan routes by your skill and time. Never paddled? Book a guided day trip from the Cache Lake area.

Hiking For day hikers, the Centennial Ridges Trail and the Booth's Rock Trail are the two best lookout walks. The longer Highland Trail goes deeper. Wildlife is the highlight — moose are commonly seen along the highway at dawn and dusk, and the park is one of the best wolf-listening spots in Canada (try a howling night in August).

When to go September is peak — fall colours turn the park into a fire of red and orange, the bugs are gone, and the moose are rutting. May and June for spring wildflowers and fewer people. Summer is the busiest but still uncrowded compared to Rockies parks. Winter is silent and cross-country-skiable.

Good to know Backcountry permits are required and book up for summer weekends — reserve ahead. Black bears live here; store food properly and make noise on the trail. And bring the right map: Algonquin's lakes all look alike, and a Jeff's Map or the official park map is essential.