Frequently Asked Questions

Algonquin Park is a huge expanse of wilderness. Covering 7,725 square kilometres (2,983 square miles, 765,345 ha) of rugged Canadian Shield country, the park is home to an abundant wildlife population, including moose, wolves and black bears. While many Algonquin visitors see moose, the latter two creatures are less common sights.

During late August and into the fall, people who try howling for wolves are often rewarded with a mournful response from a nearby pack. Smaller mammals like otters, fox, chipmunks, squirrels and raccoons are common sights. Over 250 bird species have been recorded in Algonquin Park and everyone’s favourite wilderness bird, the common loon, is found nesting on most lakes.

A canoe tripper could spend a lifetime exploring Algonquin Park! Over 1,500 km of canoe routes follow lakes, streams and portage trails through the vast forested interior. Campsites and portages are marked and maintained. Fly-ins are prohibited. Motorboats are restricted to a few lakes and road access into the park is limited to the Hwy. 60 “corridor” and a few peripheral access points. As a result, most of Algonquin Park is only accessible by canoe or on foot, using backpacking and day-hiking trails. In the winter, the park is also open to travel by ski and snowshoe.

If Algonquin Provincial Park was a country, it would be bigger than 152 nations around the world!

Algonquin Park is about:

• 1/80th the size of  France
• 1/64th the size of  Spain
• 1/57th the size of  Sweden
• 1/48th the size of  Japan
• 1/45th the size of  Germany
• 1/41st the size of  Norway
• 1/38th the size of  Italy
• 1/34th the size of  New Zealand
• 1/31st the size of  United Kingdom
• 1/17th the size of  Greece
• 1/12th the size of  Portugal
• 1/11th the size of  Austria
• 1/9th the size of  Ireland
• 1/6th the size of  Denmark
• 1/5th the size of  Netherlands or Switzerland
• 1/3rd the size of  Israel
• …. and just a little smaller than Jamaica, Lebanon, & Puerto Rico

There are many excellent mountain bike trails in Muskoka, Haliburton and Algonquin Park. Here are a few public trails:

1. Algonquin Park’s Old Railway Bike Trail is located right at our Lake of Two Rivers store, where bike rentals are available. This popular trail offers an excellent experience for families and those seeking an easier ride along 10 km of former railway bed.
2. Algonquin Park’s Minnesing Mountain Bike Trail provides a rugged challenge for mountain bike riders with loops from 4.7 to 23.4 km in length.
3. Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike in Haliburton offers both cross-country (10 km) and downhill (7 km) trails for all level of riders. You can enjoy riding the trails up and down or use a lift that transports you and your bike to the top of the hill.

There are black bears in Algonquin Park, although most people never see them, especially if they take a few simple precautions. For a good overview on bears, their behaviour and strategies for camping in areas they inhabit, check out the Algonquin Park bear page, the Black Bear page from The Science Behind Algonquin’s Animals and the Bear Wise Home Page.

Bears are very intelligent animals and can figure out most “bear-proofing” systems. In Algonquin Park, hanging food packs or barrels is probably the most popular method and has proven to be most reliable. However, it must be done properly and care should be taken to reduce food odours, which is what attracts animals in the first place.

Many people use so-called “barrel packs” for food storage on canoe trips. These are 30 or 60-litre industrial-grade plastic shipping containers with a custom backpack-style harness. We rent and sell these packs. Though some folks claim these are bear-proof, we guarantee they are NOT BEAR-PROOF! They keep most small critters out and are water-tight, so they do a very good job of protecting food and containing odours. However, a clever raccoon can open barrel pack and, as you can see from the picture to the right, bears can easily claw or chew through them.

Keeping your campsite clean and free of food scraps discourages unwanted wild visitors; even cute chipmunks and mice can become pests! Always hang your food pack in a tree (10-13 ft. off the ground and 6-7 ft. out from the trunk) to ensure that animals like bears and raccoons don’t get in.

This question comes up a lot because people assume it’s the same as booking hotels, but it’s not. A three-day canoe trip is best explained as spanning three days, including two nights. For example, this could be Friday-Saturday-Sunday, or any other combination of three days. All of our rental gear and packages are based on calendar days. Think about it this way: you generally use our canoes or other rental items during the day whereas, when you rent a hotel room, you use it for the night!

Our outfitting packages are also booked by the calendar day. On the first day, the packages provide lunch, supper and sometimes a continental breakfast, depending on the accommodation arrangements (i.e., if you’re staying in a tent cabin). On the last day of a trip, a package typically includes only breakfast and a travel lunch (no cooking required, so it’s easy to eat while travelling), since the assumption is you’ll be heading home.

Any of our Canoe Trip Packages include all necessary camping and paddling gear, lightweight quality-brand canoes (usually Swift products), food that is based on your own customized menu, and assistance with planning, as needed, for an Algonquin Park backcountry trip. The only extra expenses are your Ontario Parks backcountry pass and your transportation to Algonquin Outfitters and to/from your access point in Algonquin Park. Options like guide services and tent cabin accommodation may have added fees, depending on the package. Many other specialty items are available for purchase in our store, such as bug jackets and thermal mugs; we provide bug repellent and basic water bottles in our packages.

Some of the most searched-for items on the Algonquin Outfitters website would have to be “Used Canoes.” We typically publish a list in the fall, with updates being made as needed.  We encourage anyone looking for used canoes to keep checking our website or make the drive out to our Oxtongue Lake location. You may also want to visit the Swift Canoe & Kayak website to learn more about their products, or drop by one of their stores.

Every year, we sell off a number of our rental canoes. Most have seen several seasons of use and will usually have scratches and patches on their hulls. Our used canoes are restored to a “no-leak” condition and some may even have new paint jobs. All are a good value.

Most used Kevlar canoes sell for about $1600-$2400 (about half to a third of the original retail price). The most popular models are the Swift Algonquins, Prospectors and Kipawas. We also sell off some of our rental kayaks and SUPs each year with prices generally 20-50% off for “as-is” watercraft.

The best time to look for a used canoe or kayak from Algonquin Outfitters or Swift is in the late fall or the spring. It can be difficult to look at canoes in the winter but we don’t mind doing a bit of shovelling, if the canoe-buying urge strikes you!

YES! Algonquin Outfitters’ Lake Opeongo location now offers deliveries to several Algonquin Park campgrounds. This is ideal for customers taking the Park Bus or driving a vehicle that’s not capable of transporting a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. If you’re staying at a campground, why not have your preferred watercraft delivered right to the beach?

PLEASE NOTE: Both our Opeongo and Oxtongue Lake locations deliver canoes and kayaks to Algonquin Park interior access points along the Hwy. 60 corridor but only Opeongo delivers to campgrounds. For full details, pricing, schedules and more information, go to our Canoe Delivery Page.

A canoeist’s opinion on portaging typically falls into one of two categories:

1. It’s a nice walk in the woods that provides a pleasant break from paddling.
2. Someone would be nuts to actually think this is fun!

Bill Mason once said, “Anyone who says they like portaging is either a liar or crazy.”

The trick to making most portages fall into the first category is planning and practice, coupled with a few basic techniques.

To best “enjoy” portaging here are a few things to start with:

• pick a lightweight canoe; an extra 10 lbs. can make a big difference when you have to carry it for 2 km.
• pick a canoe with a comfortable yoke; all of our Kevlar rental canoes feature a dee- dish yoke designed for portaging.
• for extra comfort, try one of our yoke pads; padding can make a big difference!
• learn the two-person lift to elevate the canoe for a one-person carry; this is easier than flipping it into position.
• wear supportive footwear, carry a properly fitted pack and don’t try to take too much at once.

Many people feel that portages must be done in “one trip.” To accomplish this safely requires experience, careful packing and good fitness levels. If you can handle the weight, then you will save a lot of time. Taking short, frequent breaks will help compensate for the extra effort.

Most people take multiple trips across portages. There are ways to make this method more efficient, such as the “trip-and-a-half” portage. This requires at least two people and the trippers split into two groups. One group takes their first load, goes to the halfway mark on the portage (or roughly) and sets the load down. They then return to the beginning, pick up the remainder of the gear and cross the entire portage. The second group takes their initial load to the conclusion of the portage, then returns to the halfway point to pick up the gear the first group dropped off. For safety, it’s a good idea to wait for each other at the mid-point then finish the portage together.

Instead of all members walking the portage three times (over-back-over), everyone walks the portage twice (once over, plus two half trips) when using the trip-and-a-half method. This technique is best used on longer portages; those under a few hundred metres are not as tough to slug through in two trips. The time savings on portages over a kilometre can be substantial, plus the walk back to/from the halfway point provides for a nice break and an opportunity to enjoy the forest scenery. You may also want to have a snack along the way!

I’d like to do an interior camping trip in Algonquin Park using a kayak. Is this a good idea?

Kayak touring is a great way to explore large expanses of open water with little or no portaging. Some of Algonquin Park’s larger lakes, like Lake Opeongo, Rock Lake or Galeairy, are well suited to this type of travel. While kayaks are certainly fast and fun to paddle, we generally discourage people from using them on trips with numerous or lengthy portages.

Although paddling a kayak may be faster than canoeing, portaging is tricky and time consuming. A good compromise might be one of our new “pack canoes.” These are equipped with kayak-style seats and one typically uses a kayak paddle with these slim canoes. This offers individual travel with close to the speed of kayaking but the carrying capacity and portaging ease of a canoe.

We rent Swift Pack Boats and a variety of other one-person canoes, including Swift solo models like the Shearwater and Keewaydin 15. Our solo rentals are 13-16 feet long, weigh 26-39 lbs. and come with detachable carrying yokes, since the seat is in the centre of the canoe. Gear space varies with the model; solo canoes are generally narrower than tandems. We often recommend the Shearwater for your first solo trip, since it is the most roomy and very stable.

For more information on Solo Canoe or Kayak trip packages visit our Solo Trip page or Canoe Rental page.

It is difficult to give specific route advice without knowing your preferences and if you have previous experience in Algonquin Park or similar areas. It’s also a good idea for you to have a park map to look at while discussing options.

We often suggest routes starting from Canoe Lake (access point #5 – we have an outfitting store there), Lake Opeongo (access point #11 – we have an outfitting store there), Cedar Lake (access point #27 – we have a store there too), Rock Lake (access point #9), or Smoke Lake (access point #6). If you’re approaching from the west, our outfitting store at Oxtongue Lake is the most convenient option for the last two access points, which are just inside the park’s west gate. If you would like more detailed descriptions, please call us, at 1.800.469.4948, with a map handy.

You can order most of the Algonquin Park maps on our online store and have them shipped directly to you.

A digital version of the Algonquin Park Map is available at mapsbyjeff.com

You can order the Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map (along with guidebooks and many other useful park publications) online at www.store.algonquinpark.on.ca

For the most comprehensive unofficial site, lots of trip planning information, route ideas, trip logs and other related links, check out ‘Algonquin Adventures’ at www.algonquinadventures.com

Descriptions of many Algonquin routes can also be found at the Canadian Canoe Routes website’s Algonquin page www.myccr.com

There are guidebooks available that can help you with your canoe trip planning. A Paddler’s Guide to Algonquin, by Kevin Callan, has some excellent route descriptions and canoe trip tales. Don Lloyd’s fine book, Canoeing Algonquin Park, is another very useful resource for trip planning. Different sections of the park are described and mapped so that you can put your own trip together. A great deal of historical information and natural history is also presented. You can order these books on-line at www.store.algonquinpark.on.ca

We suggest that you make camping permit reservations before making equipment reservations. The park permit reservation system has been centralized for all provincial parks in Ontario. You can make reservation up to five months ahead of your trip. Reservations for Algonquin Park interior trips can be made by calling toll free: 1-888-668-7275 (outside of North America: 1-519-826-5290), or by visiting the Ontario Parks website at www.reservations.ontarioparks.com. They will want to know where you intend to camp each night of your trip. To check campsite availability in advance of making a reservation or get route advice, call the Algonquin Park information line at 1-705-633-5572.

The answer to this popular question depends on the route, group, season and many other factors, including personal preferences! The easiest way to make sure you have what you need is to book one of our complete outfitting packages. In that scenario, all you just take your personal items, such as clothing, toiletries and a camera. On our canoe trip planning page, scroll down and you’ll find a full list of items you may want to have on a completely outfitted canoe trip, in addition to what we provide.

If you’re planning your own canoe trip instead of  booking an outfitting package with us, here’s a list of basic items to include:

• Lightweight Kevlar canoe(s) equipped with comfortable yokes
• Properly fitting PFDs for everyone
• At least one paddle per person
• Bailing bucket or bilge pump
• Signaling devices (whistle and flashlight)
• 15-metre (or more) throw rope that floats
• Additional ropes – “painter” rope (tied to the end of the canoe), food-hanging rope (50′ or longer), tarp-hanging rope (50-100′ long, approx. 3-5 mm thick)
• Canoe route map and waterproof case – topographical maps can also be useful
• Canoe packs*, barrel packs* and/or dry packs* as required – typically one pack per person for small groups
• Tarp (10’×10′ is handy size) –  useful as a secondary shelter in camp; essential in spring and fall
• Additional small tarp or ground sheet for under tent or to cover gear in canoe when paddling in the rain
• Rain gear (jacket AND pants, keep accessible)
• Lightweight (<10 lbs.) free-standing tent with full fly
• Inflatable/foam sleeping pad
• Lightweight, compact sleeping bag
• Stuff sacks/smaller dry bags/compression bags
• Single-burner camp stove(s)
• Fuel for stove in leak-proof container
• Lighter and/or matches in waterproof container
• Pot/pan set – many people travel with just one pot and a lid that doubles as a frying pan
• Bowl, plate, cup, water bottle and utensils for each person
• Kitchen set that includes basic cooking utensils, knife, spices, bio-degradable soap, etc.
• Water treatment system – purifier (tablets) or filter
• Leather work gloves for handling things around the fire
• Anti-bacterial wet wipes – great for general cleaning
• Toilet paper in waterproof bag
• Wilderness first-aid kit
• Compass and/or GPS with extra batteries
• Folding camp saw
• Repair kit that includes duct tape, multi-tool, parts for stove/water filter, etc.
• Bug jacket/hat and repellent
• Headlamp/flashlight with extra batteries
• Pocket knife or multi-tool

Essential personal items:

• T-shirt(s) – two for longer trips
• Quick-drying shorts and/or swim suit
• Small towel – quick-dry, micro-fibre type works well
• Lightweight, long-sleeved shirt – cotton/polyester blends are good
• Sunscreen and hat – one with a full wide brim is better than a ball cap
• Sunglasses
• Quick-drying long pants – some styles convert to shorts by zipping off the legs
• Good-quality rain gear (jacket and pants)
• Wool sweater or fleece jacket
• Socks – wool, bamboo or synthetic
• Extra pair of socks for around the campsite – always keep theses dry!
• Sturdy footwear for portages – preferably well broken in
• Campsite footwear – sport sandals, running shoes or duck shoes are great
• Toilet articles – toothbrush/paste, shampoo/soap, etc.
• Spare prescription glasses or contacts
• Personal medications in waterproof  bag or container

Highly recommended items:

• Camera with extra batteries and memory cards (or film!)
• Binoculars and field guides
• Notebook or journal and pencils
• Day pack or fanny pack for frequently used items
• Fishing rod and tackle – fishing licenses can be purchased in the park
• Rainy day entertainment – book, cards, portable board game, etc.

Spring or fall extras

• Wool or fleece hat, gloves/mitts
• Lightweight synthetic or wool long underwear (top and bottom)
• Extra insulating layers, such as fleece pants and jacket
• Waterproof footwear – insulated boots are a good idea

This list covers the basic requirements for an Algonquin Park canoe trip. Many people pack more items than what we have listed here but keep in mind that everything you take is extra weight to portage. So, do your best to keep it light and pack just the essentials!

*What are barrel packs, canoe packs and dry packs?

Barrel packs are plastic shipping barrels re-purposed for canoe tripping. They’re waterproof, airtight, crush-proof and somewhat critter-proof, so are ideal for containing food. We offer them in two sizes (30 or 60 litres), equipped with backpack harnesses to make portaging easier. Don’t let anyone convince you these barrels are “bear proof.” They are certainly bear-resistant and do a very good job of protecting food and containing odors (which is what attracts animals) but, if they want to, bears can rip them open.

Canoe packs are “must-have” items for canoe trips with portages. Shorter and wider than backpacks for hiking, they’re specifically designed to fit inside canoes. More heavy-duty than most hiking packs, the shorter height of a canoe pack makes it easier to carry a canoe and a pack at the same time. They’re usually 90-120 litres in size, made of water resistant material (not waterproof), and have adjustable shoulder harnesses, waist belts and side cinch straps. Many also have side pockets and straps to hold paddles upright when portaging. When using packs like this, the goal is to get as much gear as possible inside the pack, so portaging will go more smoothly.

Dry packs, also known by common brand names like Boundary, SealLine or Baja Bags, are completely waterproof packs that come in a wide range of sizes. The drawback is that these packs are generally smaller than most canoe packs and not as comfortable to carry. We recommend using the smaller stuff-sack sized versions of the dry packs as personal clothing bags, then packing those inside a traditional canoe pack. As well, many people use small dry bags for items they want to keep handy while paddling (sunglasses, camera, snacks, etc.) but also need to protect from water or other potential damage.

Algonquin Provincial Park hiking trails fall into two categories: day hiking or backpacking.

• Day Hiking Trails: Algonquin Park features 18 trails for day hiking that range in length from less than a kilometre to over 10 km. (See the Day Hiking Trails Map)
• Backpacking Trails: If you’re looking for more than just a day excursion, you may want to try one of the three different backpacking trail systems in Algonquin Park. These trails offer loops from 6-88 km in length, have designated camping areas and are the only way to access some remote regions of the park’s interior. (See the Backpacking Trails Map)

The Friends of Algonquin Park publishes an excellent and inexpensive map with contour lines for the Western Uplands, Highland and Eastern Pines backpacking trails. You can order the Algonquin Park Backpacking Trails Map (along with guide books and many other useful park publications) online from the Algonquin Park Book Store.

Algonquin Park is a winter wonderland from December through March. With frozen lakes, snow-covered ground and frosted trees, it can be one of the most beautiful and peaceful sights to be seen! A great way to get out there and enjoy winter in Algonquin Park is on cross-country skis, touring one the three Nordic ski trail systems.

1. Leaf Lake Ski Trail
2. Fen Lake Ski Trail
3. Minnesing Wilderness Ski Trail

Outside of the park there are several more ski trail systems to explore.

1. Arrowhead Ski Trails
2. Frost Centre Ski Trails

The Original Outdoor Adventure Store

Established in 1961, Algonquin Outfitters has grown to include a family of stores in and around Algonquin Park, including Muskoka and the Haliburton Highlands. While the core of the business has always been Algonquin Park wilderness canoe trips, our product lines and services have grown significantly. We now have canoes, kayaks, mountain and road bikes available to rent or buy, as well as wakeboards and waterskis for sale. Our line of winter sports equipment includes snowshoes, snowboards, alpine (downhill) and Nordic (cross-country) skis. Our retail locations in Oxtongue Lake, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Port Carling, Minden and Haliburton carry a wide variety of gear, clothing and other interesting items.

Our four locations within Algonquin Park (at Canoe Lake, Lake Opeongo, Lake of Two Rivers and Brent) operate seasonally and offer rental and retail services for park visitors from late April through Canadian Thanksgiving (October). Locations at the Hidden Valley Highlands (Huntsville) and Sir Sam’s (Haliburton) ski areas operate only in the winter months, providing ski and snowboard rentals and demo programs, as well as clothing and accessories.

Each Algonquin Outfitters location has a unique personality, catering to the particular needs of the community it serves. All stores have a retail presence, with the exception of Port Carling, offer outdoor equipment rentals, to varying degrees. To see a full, searchable list, just click the “Store Locator” link in the top banner of our website. Store phone numbers, addresses and other information can also be found on our Store Locations page, along with a map and GPS coordinates.

A few seasons ago, our intrepid reporters unearthed a secret document revealing the results of a 33-year study of ice-out dates on Lake Opeongo. This is usually the last lake to open up in Algonquin Park during the spring. “Ice-out” refers to the day when boat travel from end to end is unimpeded by ice.

Over 33 years of record-keeping, the average ice-out date was April 30. The earliest was April 12, 1981, and the latest was, May 15, 1972. A new ice-out record was set in 2012, when Lake Opeongo became ice-free on March 29. With such a wide range of potential dates, you now know why our staff have such difficulty answering that popular question, “When will the ice go out this year?”

The best strategy for trip planning is to have a flexible schedule and route plan. You can phone us closer to your trip dates to get a better prediction. We also post current conditions, pictures and reports as we get them (starting in early April – check the archives for previous reports) www.algonquinoutfitters.com/news.

For an informative and up-to-date report on Canoe Lake ice conditions in the spring, visit www.canoelake.ca/iceout/.

For the official word from Algonquin Park staff, visit www.algonquinpark.on.ca and look under “news bulletins.”

Algonquin Park is home to many different types of animals, birds, reptiles, insects and fish.

• Moose – approximately 3,500 moose live in Algonquin Park
• White-tailed deer are often seen along Hwy. #60 on spring mornings
• Beaver – you may want to hike the Beaver Pond Trail
• Black Bear – about 2,000 black bears live in Algonquin Park
• Wolves – about 35 wolf packs reside in Algonquin Park
• Chipmunks & red squirrels are common small mammals in the park
• Loons – Algonquin Park’s most popular bird is seen on many lakes
• 272 recorded bird species have been identified in Algonquin Park
• 31 different species of reptiles and amphibians live in Algonquin Park
• 7,000 species of insects are buzzing around, including many butterflies, blackflies and mosquitoes

For more information on Algonquin Park’s wildlife visit The Science Behind Algonquin’s Animals website.