Algonquin Park Maps
Algonquin Park Maps & Guide Books
There are various maps and several excellent guidebooks available for the Algonquin Park area. Each map has certain advantages. For preliminary route planning and general information, for example, we recommend the Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map as a starting point, with the Backroad Mapbook map for additional detail.
When it comes time for detailed route plans and navigating during your trip, the best choice is the Chrismar Adventure Map for the specific area of the park you’ve chosen to travel in. Algonquin Outfitters stores carry maps and guidebooks from the suppliers described below.
The Friends of Algonquin Park organization publishes the colourful and informative Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map, with a scale of 1:126,720 (two miles to the inch). This map shows the entire park and is an excellent tool for basic route planning. Campsites, portages and canoe route possibilities throughout the park are shown. The backside of the map is full of important and useful park information. This map is printed on paper and is not waterproof. You can order the Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map by visiting our online store.
Chrismar Mapping creates and publishes 1:80,000 scale Adventure Maps for Algonquin Park and other areas. We highly recommend these wonderfully detailed, waterproof maps for in-depth route planning and for navigational purposes on a canoe trip. Each map is GPS compatible, shows contours, navigational aids, campsites, portages, historic and geographic features and other useful information. The most popular maps in this series are Algonquin 1 and Algonquin 3, which feature the popular areas north and south of Highway #60. Algonquin 2 shows the northwest corner of the park, including routes accessed from our Brent Store. Algonquin 4 shows the areas east of Cedar Lake and includes both the popular Petawawa River and Lavielle-Dickson routes. Algonquin 5 covers the area accessed through access point #17, Shall Lake. Daytripper maps for both Canoe Lake and Lake Opeongo are available, as are detailed maps of the scenic Achray/Barron Canyon area on the east side of the park and the popular Oxtongue River trip on the west side.
Like the Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map, this waterproof planning map shows the entire park but also has contour lines and coloured relief shading. It is a richly detailed and visually stunning map and a great resource for general route planning. Along with campsites and portages, hiking trails, canoe routes and points of interest are marked. The scale is 1:125,000 and the map is GPS compatible. For more details on this map and the entire Backroad Mapbook series, visit backroadmapbooks.com.
Saved from government extinction by public outcry, these maps offer extra geographic detail and are the traditional choice for many paddlers. Topographical maps do not show campsites, only a few portages are marked and the maps offer no background information. You can view and purchase 1:50,000 scale topographic maps online. It takes 17 of these maps to completely cover Algonquin Park!
The Friends of Algonquin Park also publishes an excellent and inexpensive map, with contours, for the Western Uplands, Highland and Eastern Pines backpacking trails in Algonquin Park. You can order the Backpacking Trails Map (along with guide books and many other useful park publications) online from our online store.
Kevin Callan’s book, A Paddler’s Guide to Algonquin Park (formerly titled Brook Trout and Blackflies), is an excellent resource for planning canoe routes. Kevin describes a number of routes, both popular and obscure, in an entertaining and informative style.
The late Don Lloyd’s fine book, Canoeing Algonquin Park, is now out of print but remains a very useful resource for trip planning; it's well worth picking up a copy if you can find one!
Don has described and mapped different parts of the park, making it easy for you to put your own trip together. He has also filled the book with interesting background information on the cultural and natural history of the park, along with charming illustrations.
For whitewater paddlers, The Friends of Algonquin Park produces two detailed river guides by George Drought. One covers the Petawawa River, a stunning multi-day whitewater trip. The other features the Opeongo and Madawaska Rivers, which are generally run as day trips. All of these guide books can be ordered online from the Algonquin Park Book Store.
Many of the maps and guide books described above can be ordered online from the mapmakers themselves, from the Algonquin Park Book Store or from the Algonquin Outfitters online store.
Algonquin Adventures
The Algonquin Adventures website and discussion forum is a popular and useful source of information, trip ideas and second opinions. We consider Algonquin Adventures to be the most comprehensive unofficial Algonquin Park site. This active online community is sure to not only provide you with a wealth of first-hand, experience-based knowledge about Algonquin Park but you'll find their users friendly and enthusiastic to share their experiences with you. Be sure to visit Algonquin Adventures.
Canadian Canoe Routes
Canadian Canoe Routes has a broader scope than “AA” site above and a very active set of discussion forums. It provides a variety of useful resources for canoe trippers and descriptions of many Algonquin Park canoe routes can be found at the Canadian Canoe Routes Algonquin page.
Google Earth
According to Google, “Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world’s geographic information at your fingertips.” It is an unbelievable resource for canoe trip planning (or reminiscing), as well as a great way to spend time online. A large part of Algonquin Park is shown in a very good resolution. Altitude, latitude and longitude are all available anywhere the mouse points, and the tilt feature enables some very interesting views. If you are not familiar with the park, some practice and referencing to a canoe routes map to figure out lake names may be required. If you are not hooked up already, consider joining the Google Earth community.
If you already have Google Earth running on your computer, then you’ll want to install the Algonquin Park Boundary and Access Points overlay KLM File to see it properly on Google Earth.
Our Positions On The Globe
| Bracebridge Store | N 45.0412° | W -79.3108° |
| Brent (Cedar Lake) Store | N 46.0304° | W -78.3603° |
| Gull River | N 44.9680° | W -78.6820° |
| Haliburton | N 45.0460° | W -78.5088° |
| Huntsville | N 45.3278° | W -79.2159° |
| Lake of Two Rivers | N 45.5798° | W -78.5069° |
| Minden | N 44.9314° | W -78.7153° |
| Opeongo Store | N 45.6356° | W -78.9250° |
| Oxtongue Lake Store | N 45.3812° | W -78.9250° |
| Port Carling | N 45.1209 | W -79.5791° |
| Sir Sam’s Ski Area | N 45.1266° | W -78.4867° |
| Valley Shop | N 45.3553° | W -79.1338° |