Algonquin Travel Guide

Algonquin is surrounded with beautiful and amazing sights to see. This is one of nature’s more beautiful settings and is truly a pristine wilderness. It is nestled in between Muskoka and Lake Ontario about an hour west of Ottawa and located in the central section of Ontario, Canada.

Tourists enjoy visiting here in the summer months after the ice melts but there are also many great fall and winter activities to enjoy for those who don’t mind the cold. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are two of the most popular winter sports.

The most challenging thing about traveling to a region this beautiful is in deciding exactly what to focus on during your vacation. Unless you have a full month, you’ll never see it all. The Algonquin Provincial Park area is loaded with things to do and see so narrowing it down to just a few things will be any tourist’s biggest dilemma.

Your Algonquin vacation might include canoeing at any one of the unspoiled lakes or rivers in the region. Oxtongue Lake is a favorite tourist destination all by itself and is located next to Muskoka on the Algonquin Provincial Park border. It is known as the “Gateway to Algonquin Park”. Fishermen of all ages will enjoy traveling to this area for the amazing fishing experience. You can go out on your own or choose a guided fishing tour.

Another challenge when visiting Algonquin is in deciding which entrance to use. Many tourists choose the Highway 60 entrance because it goes right into the park but this is often the most congested entrance. If you are visiting the park to go canoeing, then the Rock Lake entrance is a good choice. It’s located off highway 60 at kilometer 40.3 and is a favorite day trip put-in point for canoers. This entrance is also a great way to reach the Booth Rock hiking trail and historic Barclay Estate, an excellent lunch spot.

The magnificent landscape you’ll find in all of Algonquin will leave you breathless. From tall rock cliffs to lush green woods, the view is always incredible. There’s quite a wide variety of wild life in and around Algonquin. Visitors often see wolves, foxes, and black bears, not to mention tall blue herons, eagles and beavers. This area is a haven for photographers due to its paradise-like scenery.

For those tourists who are looking for a close encounter with some of the animals found in this area, springtime is a good time to go for your Algonquin vacation. All of the animals who disappeared over the winter and went into hibernation, are now coming out of hiding. Many tourists enjoy catching glimpses of the Moose and Loons. The best time to view them is either early in the morning or at dusk. In the springtime, these animals shed their winter coat and many prepare for motherhood.

Summer is everyone’s favorite time to visit a Algonquin cottage rental. The snow and ice have melted and many of the wild animals have had their babies. A lazy canoe trip on Oxtongue Lake to nearby Ragged Falls will often reward you with incredible newborn deer, fox and elk sightings. Or you might enjoy hiking on one of the many themed hiking trails. Some of the best are found by entering the Algonquin Park East Gate entrance. There is also an interesting Logging Museum at this entrance.

Algonquin Park is well-known as a wildlife sanctuary. With over 50 species of mammals, 270 species of birds, 54 species of fish and over 1,000 different species of plants, tourists will enjoy this memorable wilderness experience.

Should you become exhausted from tramping around the wood, fishing or canoeing, tourists will also enjoy some of the upscale amenities found in the Algonquin area. There are five golf courses in the area for golfers of every skill level.

As far as accommodations go, you’ll discover a wide spectrum of excellent lodging selections to meet every taste. The Algonquin area offers rustic cabins and bungalows. Many of these types of accommodations will be found around Lake Oxtongue and a rustic cabin right on the lake is a nature-lover’s dream.