Lost in Ontario: Autumn in Algonquin Park
If you’re looking for the perfect place to experience the fall at its finest, Algonquin Park is the place to go. Every year, at the end of September/early October a phenomenon happens. All of the trees begin to blush in a delicious assortment or reds, oranges and yellows. The crisp autumn air fills up your lungs, simultaneously recharging your internal battery. Nature’s detox. With the cool breeze, each leaf is plucked away from its former home, forming a large canvas of colour on the damp forest floors. The entire park becomes the most beautiful landscape painting. It’s mesmerizing and therapeutic all at the same time.
This past weekend, I made my way up to Algonquin Park and here are my highlights on hikes, activities and accommodation.
Getting there: Algonquin Park is about 300 km (3.5 hours) north of Toronto. The park has both a ‘West Gate’ and an ‘East Gate’ entrance. The most popular way to get there is through the West Gate entrance. From the GTA area, you can take highway 400, then highway 11 North towards Huntsville. From here, you can travel East along Algonquin’s main highway (highway 60) to West Gate.
Park Permits: Be sure to purchase a park permit which can be purchased at several locations including the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre. Park permits are required when visiting the park. You can purchase daily vehicle permits or seasonal day use permits.
My Hike Recommendations: After a lot of research on hiking trail options in the area, I settled on two trails and they did not disappoint. One trail was well known its scenic views which I knew I wanted to experience as the fall foliage is a huge draw this time of year. The other trail was recommended for wildlife viewing. Both were fantastic.
Tip: Pack food and lots of water to stay hydrated. These hikes are long!
Centennial Ridges Trail
Best for: The BEST views and lookout points
Centennial Ridges Trail is an incredible 10.4 km hike with breathtaking views. I had no clue that views like this even existed only a few hours away from the city. It’s stunning. Large rocky ridges jut out into the sky, towering over the valleys of rivers and lakes. There are several great lookout points, each offering something different. I can’t imagine a better way to view the fall foliage. Algonquin Park rates the trail as ‘difficult’ and while it is certainly doable, it definitely requires a little strength and endurance. There are many steep parts and in the fall it can get quite muddy from the rain. While 10.4 km may not seem that long for some, when you account for the different levels of terrain and elevation, it definitely adds to the time. The views are 100% worth it.
Mizzy Lake Trail
Best for: Wildlife viewing and beautiful lakes
I chose Mizzy Lake Trail as my second hike because it’s meant to be a great trail to spot wildlife and there’s no better place to see amazing wildlife than Algonquin Park. The hike is also demanding at 13km, but it’s a beautiful hike nonetheless and a true nature lover’s paradise. Several chat rooms I stumbled across when researching trails (along with a tour guide I met in Algonquin) have mentioned that if you start the hike very early (think 6:00 AM), you have great opportunities to see moose in the murky swampy areas that can be seen throughout the trail. I didn’t think the hike was as demanding as Centennial Ridges as it is less steep. With that said, it is a long hike and deserving of a full day to really appreciate and enjoy it.
Accommodation: Madawaska Lodge-Camping Cabins
Madawaska Lodge Camping Cabins are located about 40 minutes from the park entrance. If you are looking for a cheap, inexpensive stay, then look no further. The cabin cost me less than $100 (taxes in!!!) which I think is a steal, especially considering I went during peak fall season. The lodge has 3 small cabins separated with trees in between, each with its own fire pit and BBQ. It was the perfect cozy little cabin after a long day of hiking. The foliage surrounding the cabin was vibrant orange and yellow and the leaves flooded the floors surrounding it. I will be back to this little gem for sure.
Activity: Algonquin Adventure Tours
Initially, my entire trip to Algonquin Park was based around a 3-day camping trip with Algonquin Park Adventure Tours. Due to an unexpected injury from one of the tour guides, the tour was cancelled. We settled for a privately guided 3-hour VIP electric canoe tour instead. It was a pleasant afternoon canoe ride, taking in the fall scenery. We learned about Canoe Lake and how the 304 cottages in Algonquin Park came to be. There are two major summer camps (one who Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to as a young boy), and the other an all girls camp. Both are quintessential summer camps you would see in an 80’s movie. We learned about one of Canada’s famous painters: Tom Thomson and his unfortunate death in the lake. The highlight was paddling down the marshy areas in search of beaver and moose. We saw several beaver dams and lodges, but unfortunately not a moose. I’m looking forward to booking one of their 3-day camping trips in the Spring as they have a 90% success rate in spotting moose. Overall, it was an incredible way to end our trip to Algonquin Park.
Algonquin Park is a magical place to get lost in. I’ve only really scratched the surface of what this park has to offer but I look forward to making many more memories here in the years to come. Perhaps a few portage and camping adventures down the road!
What are your favourite trails to hike in Algonquin Park?
