Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada

Kevinman

Has anyone ever been? I'm going to make a trip there the end of this month, and want to know some of the better trails to hike or places to go in the area, things to see. Any info. or suggestions would be welcomed.

Thanks.

Shorty

Kevinman wrote:

Has anyone ever been? I'm going to make a trip there the end of this month, and want to know some of the better trails to hike or places to go in the area, things to see. Any info. or suggestions would be welcomed.

Thanks.

I live about an hour from the northern part of the park - and sadly I have never been - which is strange 'cause I am a big time fishing enthusiast. I have had many opportunities - and - many friends go into the park (speckle fishing in the spring - NOW) - and they cannot say enough good things about it.

Enjoy - and in this same thread - post your post-vacay thoughts!

Cheers,

polaris_x

uhhhh ... in about a month!? ... go somewhere else man!

it'll be black fly season and the mozzies will eat your shorts for dessert ...

if you are into hiking - i would go somewhere else ... algonquin park is pretty much run down now ... it's full of cottagers ... there are still some decent canoe routes but a lot of the sites are way overused ... the best time to visit algonquin is in the fall or winter ... spring into early summer is almost a don't go unless you are really hard core ...

Kevinman

If not there, any suggestions on somewhere nearby?

Thanks for the response, I will update when I get back and let you know if I decided on somwhere else.

maynardsux

polaris_x wrote:

uhhhh ... in about a month!? ... go somewhere else man!

it'll be black fly season and the mozzies will eat your shorts for dessert ...

if you are into hiking - i would go somewhere else ... algonquin park is pretty much run down now ... it's full of cottagers ... there are still some decent canoe routes but a lot of the sites are way overused ... the best time to visit algonquin is in the fall or winter ... spring into early summer is almost a don't go unless you are really hard core ...

^agreed....if you are going to be in that area (roughly), I would prefer going white water rafting down the Ottawa River...good times!

polaris_x

Kevinman wrote:

If not there, any suggestions on somewhere nearby?

Thanks for the response, I will update when I get back and let you know if I decided on somwhere else.

what are your interests? ... why did you pick there to begin with? ... very happy to help but need more info ...

Kevinman

polaris_x wrote:

Kevinman wrote:

If not there, any suggestions on somewhere nearby?

Thanks for the response, I will update when I get back and let you know if I decided on somwhere else.

what are your interests? ... why did you pick there to begin with? ... very happy to help but need more info ...

Love nature and wanted to check out that area of Canada. Close enough for a 1 day drive from Chicago, and the park looked beautiful from everything I've seen. It's going to be my girlfriend, 9 month old daughter, and I. Rafting is out because of my daughter, but that would be fun, been a couple times before in other areas and loved it. We were looking for an area to hike with some good scenery and wildlife. This looked like an area to me that would be good, but if there are other parks in the area that are better, we are open for suggestions. That's what I'm looking for. Thanks for the help.

polaris_x

Kevinman wrote:

Love nature and wanted to check out that area of Canada. Close enough for a 1 day drive from Chicago, and the park looked beautiful from everything I've seen. It's going to be my girlfriend, 9 month old daughter, and I. Rafting is out because of my daughter, but that would be fun, been a couple times before in other areas and loved it. We were looking for an area to hike with some good scenery and wildlife. This looked like an area to me that would be good, but if there are other parks in the area that are better, we are open for suggestions. That's what I'm looking for. Thanks for the help.

ok ... definitely do not go there ... ... come back in the fall when the leaves are changing or if you are into winter stuff ... the park i would say used to be a bit of a jewel but it's not like a NP you get in the states ... there are very few vistas or spectacular spots ... no major waterfalls ... but it is great for hopping in a canoe and getting lost for 5-10 days ... the problem now is that it takes quite a bit of effort to get away from the cottagers and overrun areas ... and like i said ... the bugs are usually awful that time of year ...

i think that time of year bugs will be bad in most places like up in the UP or even the Adirondacks - unless you can get into some elevation maybe? ... have you considered badlands in the dakotas?

Kevinman

Ok, thanks for all the advice not to go, however I am going, and was looking for some of the better trails to hike. I will bring some bug repellent.

I appreciate the ideas of rafting, however that will not work for us. I'd rather go here during spring/summer than fall/winter. I'm sure it could be pretty cold. I'd rather take a chance and try to do some hiking and sightseeing than not go at all. If it's that bad, we will drive around the area and check it out.

I was just looking for some of the best things to do in the area.(besides rafting)

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

polaris_x

Kevinman wrote:

Ok, thanks for all the advice not to go, however I am going, and was looking for some of the better trails to hike. I will bring some bug repellent.

I appreciate the ideas of rafting, however that will not work for us. I'd rather go here during spring/summer than fall/winter. I'm sure it could be pretty cold. I'd rather take a chance and try to do some hiking and sightseeing than not go at all. If it's that bad, we will drive around the area and check it out.

I was just looking for some of the best things to do in the area.(besides rafting)

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

haha ... good luck!

if you're just doing the corridor hikes (highway 60) - i think i've done most of them ... track and tower is nice but again ... it's much nicer in the fall ...

if it gets really bad - hang out in toronto ... haha

Kevinman

Just got back last night. Had a great time. Hiked about 10 different trails. Favorites were Beaver Pond, and Peck lake. No black flies, a few mosquitos, but mainly at the trail heads and at the Park welcome center. Once you hit the trails, the bugs were not even noticeable, only at a few spots, but if you kept moving you would not even know they were there. Maybe we got lucky, or maybe it was because of the cold nights just before we were there, but there was no problem with bugs. I thought the park was absolutely beautiful. Some of the views were like postcards. I can't wait to go back, and hike some of the longer trails, and canoe the lakes. We saw a few moose along Hwy 60 in the park, but nothing while hiking. I can't wait to explore more of this park. I guess if we canoe I would go late summer to avoid any bugs. Maybe they are worse on the water? We really didn't have a problem, and I was so worried after all the posts here, I bought a mosquito net for my daughter but never used it.

Thanks for all the help, we really loved it and are looking forward to when we can return. For everyone that lives in that area, it is absolutely beautiful.