Located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River, camping at Algonquin Provincial Park is the best way to get completely immersed in natural beauty. Algonquin Park offers 7653 square kilometers — an area approximately the size of Delaware — of rich Canadian scenery. The park, which contains 2,400 lakes and 1,200 kilometers of streams and rivers, is one of Canada’s most popular camping destinations.
Scenic Wildlife
As a transition point between coniferous and deciduous forests, Algonquin Provincial Park offers a unique diversity of wildlife. It is because of the forest’s vast wildlife and its unique attributes that it is protected as a national site for wildlife research.
While camping in Algonquin Provincial Park it is not uncommon to come across a wide array of Canadian wildlife. Animals such as squirrels and loons are common to the area, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for deer, beavers, and moose. It is not uncommon to come across at least one of these animals while camping on one of the park’s many lakes.
Camping Options
Though drive in campgrounds are available, Algonquin is better known for its interior camping. Littered with more than a thousand offshore campsites accessible only by canoe and portage, Algonquin Park is considered one of the best places to travel by foot or canoe in the province.
The further away from the park’s access points one travels, the more remote their campsite becomes. One can spend several days in the interior of the park without seeing another living soul.
Most of the campsites include an area to dock a canoe, a fire pit, a flat area for tents, and some even include a picnic bench. Be sure to come prepared with a shovel and toilet paper, as most sights do not offer restroom facilities. Sites and trails are maintained year round by park’s staff.
Routes
With thousands of lakes and campsites the possibilities for planning a trip to Algonquin Provincial Park are endless. From an inexperienced family on their first camping trip to an experienced woodsman looking for a challenge, a trip can be planned to meet your comforts as a camper. One could go to Algonquin every week of their life and never travel the same route twice.
Less experienced travelers might want to plan small trips around the access points of the park. Even setting up camp and staying stationary is a great way to enjoy the scenery with minimal traveling.
More experienced campers might want to consider the challenge to diving into the thick of the forest. The further one travels towards the interior of the park, the longer and more complicated the trails become.
Experienced and inexperienced campers alike should be sure to purchase a map before entering the park and carefully plan your trip around portages and canoe excursions that match your experience level.
Reservations to stay at Algonquin Provincial Park can be made through ontarioparks.com
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Jared Lindzon - Jared Lindzon is a MA in Journalism Graduate from the University of Western Ontario. He has been published in The National Post, BlogTO, ...
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