Ontario's classic canoe-tripping wilderness — paddle-in sites on 2,400 lakes.
Algonquin is the original Canadian wilderness destination — 2,955 square miles of boreal forest and 2,400 lakes designed for canoe tripping. Backcountry permits give you a lake all to yourself.
Why it's special
Paddle-in camping at this scale doesn't exist in many other places. Wolves howling at night, moose in the bogs, loons on every lake.
Best time to go
Late May through September. Fall color in late September is spectacular.
Getting there
Highway 60 corridor from Huntsville. Backcountry access through Canoe Lake and many other access points.
Know before you go
- Backcountry permits required, book through Ontario Parks.
- Bear bagging required at all sites.
- Black flies late May/early June can be brutal.
- Frontcountry sites along Highway 60 are also great if you don't paddle.
Pro tips from boondockers
- Canoe Lake to Burnt Island Lake is a classic 2-night route.
- Wolf howls happen on guided summer walks — magical.
- Spruce Bog and Mizzy Lake trails for moose.
- Huntsville for resupply.
Combine with
Killarney PP, Georgian Bay, Toronto (3 hours).