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Algonquin Park Travel Guide: Iconic Canada

Algonquin Park Travel Guide: Iconic Canada

algonquin park iconic canada ontario parks

25/06/2025

Algonquin Provincial Park is one of Canada’s most spectacular wilderness regions. The park, which is Ontario’s oldest and largest provincial park, is filled with rocky ridges, fragrant maples and thousands of lakes. This is a wild and special location, undisturbed by roads or man. In fact, the only way to explore the park properly is on foot or by canoe.

Here at Canadian Affair, we are the Canada travel experts, so get in touch today to start planning your trip. Read this in-depth guide to learn more.

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Where is Algonquin Park?

Algonquin Provincial Park is located in south-central Ontario. It's 250 km north of Toronto and 260 km west of Ottawa.

What is the weather like in Algonquin Park?

The weather in Algonquin Park varies from season to season, and here we give you a rundown of what to expect in each one.

Summer (June to August): Summer temperatures can range from 20°C to highs of 30°C, and this is a very popular season to visit the park.
Autumn (September to November): Autumn is a spectacular time to visit as you can see the vibrant colours of the leaves on the trees as they change from green to brown, red and yellow. The average temperatures during this time of the year are -3°C to 20°C.
Winter (December to February): During this period, the park experiences freezing temperatures, which on average range from -3°C to a low of -14°C.
Spring (March to May): During Spring, temperatures begin to rise, but it can still get very cold as they range from -11°C to 18°C.

When is the best time to visit Algonquin Park?

Late May to mid-June is one of the best times to go to Algonquin Provincial Park because there is the perfect balance of fewer crowds, pleasant temperatures, and great opportunities to see the wildlife living in the park, especially moose.

Thousands of visitors from around the world are attracted to the park by the outstanding autumnal colours that you can see, especially from the maple trees. There are fewer crowds in the autumn compared to the peak summer periods, which is another reason it is one of the best times to visit.

The summer, especially the months of July and August, is the busiest as the weather is hot and there are lots of activities that you can enjoy, such as canoeing, swimming, fishing, and hiking.

The park is open year-round, and during the winter months, it is perfect if you want to try winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

What is Algonquin Park known for?

Algonquin Park is known for its natural beauty, with over 7,600 square kilometres of lakes, forests and rivers as well as being home to an abundance of wildlife, including bears, moose, wolves, and a variety of birds.

The stunning natural landscapes of the park attract many hikers, whilst the lakes and rivers are perfect for kayakers and canoeists. The landscapes have also influenced famous Canadian artists.

Key facts about Algonquin Park

Established in 1893, Algonquin was the first provincial park in Canada.
Algonquin Park is one of Canada's largest provincial parks (more than 7,600 square kilometres).
There are over 2,000 lakes in the park.
The landscapes of Algonquin influenced the Group of Seven artists, who were a famous group of Canadian landscape painters active from 1920 to 1933. These paintings now hang in galleries around the world.
In 1992, Algonquin Park became a designated National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a special place recognised for its important history and heritage.

What are the best things to do in Algonquin Park?

A red canoe next to a lake in Algonquin Park

Hiking
Canoeing and kayaking
Fishing
Wildlife viewing
Stargazing
Visiting the Algonquin Logging Museum
Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and dog sledding (in winter)

One of the reasons why Algonquin is one of the best Ontario parks is due to all the different things that you can do here.

The fact that you can access the park no matter what time of year you are planning to visit is great, as you can do activities year-round.

Algonquin Park is famous for its abundance of hiking trails, ranging from easy trails that will take a couple of hours to longer hikes that will take most of the day. Some popular hikes include the Track and Tower Trail and the Lookout Trail, which offer stunning views of the park.

With more than 2,000 lakes, it isn’t a surprise that one of the best things to do is kayaking or canoeing, as it offers a great way to see the park from a different angle. Another popular activity over the summer period is fishing, as it attracts many visitors who head to the likes of Tea Lake and Mew Lake.

There is so much wildlife living in the park that it is a great place to visit to see wolves, bears, moose, and a variety of birds, and no matter what time of the year you visit, stargazing is an activity that is perfect all year round.

The Algonquin Logging Museum offers a fascinating insight into the industry's history as it brings to life the story of logging from the early square timber days to modern forestry management.

If you visit the park during the winter, there are trails that you can go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and dog sledding on. The Minnesing Ski Trail and the non-trackset portion of the Old Railway Trail are ungroomed trails where you can go skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking, and use toboggans and sleighs.

Are there any good places to eat in Algonquin Park?

There are plenty of places to eat that are in or near this iconic natural attraction. Some of the best restaurants in or near Algonquin Park are:

Killarney Lodge Dining Room: The restaurant serves fine country dining for lunch and dinner, but you will need to book ahead due to its popularity.
The Mad Musher: A casual dining establishment that offers lunch & dinner, homemade food, packed lunches, craft beer, a variety of wines, coolers and mixed drinks.
Bent Anchor Bar: Located on Madawaska River, the bar serves up in-house smoked chicken and pork, cold beer, and you can listen to great music during your meal.
Bartlett Lodge Restaurant: You can enjoy fine dining under the stars at this restaurant. The menu has dishes that use local ingredients, and what makes the experience even better is that you take an antique freighter canoe or a solar-powered pontoon boat to and from the restaurant.

Can I stay in Algonquin Park?

To stay in Algonquin Park overnight, you have to get a permit, and you can find out more about these permits and the fees involved here.

You can stay in one of the hotels in Toronto and travel to Algonquin Park for a day trip, which means that in one day, you can experience a vibrant city and then the peacefulness and natural beauty of the park.

Hotels in Toronto

How do I get to Algonquin Park during a Canada holiday?

The most common way to get to Algonquin Park is to rent a car in Canada and drive along Highway 60, which is the most accessible route to get to the park. The Parkbus also provides transportation from Toronto.

Toronto Pearson International Airport is the nearest major airport to Algonquin Park, and this is around two and a half hours away.

Book flights to Toronto

What is the best way to experience Algonquin Park on a Canada holiday?

The best way to explore Algonquin Park is on foot while walking along scenic trails that take in the park’s stunning natural beauty. Another great way to experience the park is on a kayak or canoe, as you can travel along fantastic rivers and beautiful lakes.

If you want to explore more of Ontario, we’d highly recommend hiring a car, as this will be the easiest way to travel around the province. You can also stop off at whatever attractions, towns and cities that you like.

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Enquire about Algonquin Park today with Canadian Affair

Are you interested in visiting Algonquin Park during your Canada holiday? We are the Canada travel experts and can tailor-make a holiday to include all you want to see and do. Contact us today to start your dream Canadian adventure.