Algonquin 3-4 Day Trip?

I realized that after I drive to the Western Pennsylvania Solo Canoe Rendezvous from South Carolina, a rather long drive for a couple of days of mucking around in boats, I would be around 60% of the way to Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario. I last planned a trip there in 2020 and got my permits but Covid closed the borders; I went to the Boundary Waters instead. I am now in the planning stages of a 3-4 day canoe trip with hopes of getting permits at this late date, if not I will stay at one of the Algonquin campgrounds and do day trips. It is a bit earlier in the year than I would like with blackflies at their peak and a greater chance of rain than later in the season, but the opportunity is here. I still have my guidebooks and 2020 maps on hand and have listed several potential routes. After the paddling trip I also hope to get to Peterborough and see the Canadian Canoe Museum before driving home.

My question is: Does anyone have any recommendations or a favorite route for a fairly laid-back 3-4 day Algonquin paddle?

Hiya!

I can probably offer up a number of suggestions...but you didn't indicate when you are planning your trip.
The Park is incredibly popular- even the interior- so dates will make a difference.
A few other things: what does fairly laid back mean? What kind of a trip are you looking for- ie paddling or more of a paddle in and camp for a few days, what is your experience level and most importantly, what is your appetite for portages?

if you can answer a few of those questions to give me a better idea, i'll give you a few suggestions.
And as a Peterborough resident, i can make some recommendations about the canoe museum and nearby Trent Severn Waterway and Liftlock...

Cheers! Bruce

Bog standard and leisurely: Rock, Pen, Clydegale, there and back with a rest/explore day on Clydegale. Uplevel to the Louisa loop if you need to burn some energy.

scratchypants said:

Bog standard and leisurely: Rock, Pen, Clydegale, there and back with a rest/explore day on Clydegale. Uplevel to the Louisa loop if you need to burn some energy.

Click to expand...

Hi Pook; I will be arriving at Algonquin the morning of June 2nd. I may do this one as a paddle-in and base camp then explore other lakes from there as day trips or continue to another lake, depending on the permit situation at this late date. In 2020 I had planned a 7 day solo trip from Canoe Lake up to Big Trout Lake, over to McIntosh Lake, and back to Canoe. Covid reared it's ugly head and shot that idea down. I have also paddled some in the BWCA and a trip in the Adirondacks, which was cut short due to a major weather system moving in. I would like to have this trip, my introduction to Algonquin, as a fairly relaxed one, 10-12 mile a day with a max of a couple hours portaging. I will be soloing and doing double portages.

Information on the Canoe Museum and waterways will be well appreciated. Any hometown restaurants that you could recommend? I currently only have one day planned for Peterborough, but nothing is yet carved in stone.

Scratchypants; Potter Rock and Pen to Clydegale was my first pick too. It sounds like a bit less traffic than the Canoe to Burnt Island loop. I wonder how the fishing is?

First rule of fish club...

I don't think @Algonquin lakes has been on for awhile but Drew's put together a pretty extensive site for helping to plan trips. Campsite reviews, portage notes, etc.

His website is https://allofalgonquin.com/ if that helps.

Thanks Gamma, I have not seen that site and it looks very interesting.

You're welcome. He's an good writer, does a very nice job of documenting campsite reviews, etc. and I especially enjoy his newsletter "The Thunderbox"

When I take people to Algonquin for the first time I usually Access via Opeongo, get a water taxi up to the Proulx Lake portage, then spend about 3 hours paddling Proulx > Crow River > Little Crow > Big Crow and try and find a campsite on the east side of the lake.

The east side of the lake is a bunch of moraines so nice sandy beaches that catch the breeze and keep the flies at bay.

Then I spend a few days hiking the old growth trail, checking out the old logging ruins and hanging out at the lookout. If people want to fish we usually day trip down the Crow River for Brook Trout. I'm generally more happy walking the moraine slopes looking for minerals or interesting rocks.

If the group wants to do a trip where they are travelling every day, I like doing a loop off Smoke Lake.

Day 1) Smoke > Ragged > Big Porcupine (lots of nice campsites)
Day 2) Bonnechere > Cradle > Phillips > Kirkwood > Head Creek > Pardee > Harness
Day 3) Head > Cache > Tanamakoon
Day 4) Sheriff Pond > Little Island > Kootchie > Smoke

Thank you for your suggestions, petit.conan. On my "possibles list" I had listed the Smoke > Ragged (I've read that the Parkside Bay area is very nice)> Big Porcupine and possibly continuing or day tripping on to McGarvy > North Grace > Louisa and returning by the same route. I will look closer at your recommendation. Thank you.

I hope to make my plans by Monday and call to check on campsite reservations.

SouthernKevlar!

Looks like you have lots of options and suggestions. I'd second the Rock Lake to Pen suggestion that you were already thinking I like that part of the Park, less travelled than the Smoke Lake loop PC suggested.
Keep in mind you are camping prime bug season! Not to deter, bur rather to prepare.

Personally I'm a big fan of Jeff's Maps for planning:

Re Canoe Museum? Peterborough.
The museum exhibits in the gallery are about a 2-3 hour visit, but there are workshops and other things going on- take a look at their website! Also note the hours- 10-5 except on Thursdays! There is a canoe dock, launching facilities- if you want an adventure paddle the 200metres to Lock 20 then paddle up the Trent Severn canal to the worlds highest Lift Lock and either watch it in operation or take the ride up and down with other boats.
There are decent restaurant facilities right in the museum run by Silver Bean cafe- excellent selection of homemade light meals 9and local craft beers!) If you have time and the interest, a little further away is the Publican House Restaurant and Brewery (Charlotte Street at Rubridge). They supply many of the craft beers at the Canoe Museum including Paddlers Ale!

Regardless of your choices, you can't go wrong with any route in Algonquin or time spent at the Canoe Museum!

Cheers!
Bruce

Bruce,

Thank you for all your information. I had gathered my maps in 2019-2020 when Jeff's maps (which was in a change-over from "Unlostify") was unavailable so I have been using "Maps by Jeff" online to supplement my "Official Algonquin Provincial Park Map" and "The Adventure Map, Algonquin 1 &2". If I had more time before this last minute trip I would definitely order from Jeff. Tomorrow I will start my attempt for the camping permits. I already have my Outdoor Card and 8-day Fishing license for the period that I will be in Ontario, at least in electronic format; I hope that my physical card gets here before I go. As for bug season, I am preparing to inspect my head net, my Permethrin infused shirt and get some new DEET type repellent since my last may be out of date.

I have been looking at the Canoe Museum website but could not get a good feel for how much time to allow for the Gallery, and I may end up doing a Collection Hall tour if time and schedule allows. I am also looking forward to seeing the new facility.

An especially big thanks for the information on the locks. I did not realize that the Lift Lock was the world's highest. Riding up that could be very interesting and good bucket-list bragging point for a Southern boy. The info on the restaurants will also come in handy as I am still unsure as to my time and schedule on my Peterborough and that will give me a couple of suggested options.

Thank you again,
David