I want to do 3-4 day interior trip with my 10 yr. old son. This is our first time interior camping. There are so many experienced people on this site I thought you could give me some ideas of places to go.

Hi JT

I'm in a similar situation as this year will be my kids first interior trip(s) also. I'm also relatively new to AA, and have found that the people hear are fantastic, and full of great ideas, and words of wisdom to share.

To get them started I'm planning a 3 night starting from access point 9 (Rock Lake) to Pen Lake (I hear the P375 has great falls) to a central site on Pen Lake for the 1st night, on to Clydegale Lake vie P275 for a second night, then back up to Rose Island on Rock Lake (back tracking through Pen Lake) for the final night. The two portages being 375 and 275M should be easy for my boys (and me), but also a good way of getting our feet wet. The other reason for this selection is because we have a site at Pog lake for a week in July, and could actually extend our trip after the camp permit ends by getting an interior permit for a few extra days, but also allowing us to get to Rock Lake via Whitefish Lake, which is directly accessible from Pog Lake.

My kids boys are 7 & 9 and until this summer have camped at Pog Lake, Canisbay & Tea Lake.

Another thought might be to try a Paddle in site at Canisbay; the 2nd most southern site on the west side is FANTASTIC, with a good swimming area for the kids. I was there last fall, and will likely bring the kids there if I feel the need for a mini "one nighter" get away. Its a very light paddle, but fairly private.

While I have camped the interior several times in groups, this will be my first time with my kids along (and with me alone for that matter), so I am playing it safe. In fact I will be on Rose Island in the next few weeks, and am planning on checking out the route to Pen lake just to get a feel for it. My kids are great, strong, energetic and eager, but also kids, so I want to test them lightly at first.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide. I have some photos of Pog Lake & Canisbay on my blog http://algonquincanoeing.blogspot.com/ if you are interested.

Jeff

I really like the Canoe->Tom Thompson->Sunbeam->Burnt Island->Out loop. It must be for nostalgia reasons though, because the sites on Tom Thompson are terrible and the ones on Burnt Island are worn out.

It does have one redeeming quality though: It's easy. It's a great loop for beginners.

Jeff/JT - I would suggest looking at some of the trip reports found on the Algonquin Adventures homepage. Second button on the top of the screen.

For a quick trip I would go to Access point 17, Farm Lake to Booth. Booth has several sites on the right side with a sandy bottom for swimming.

It also offers some nice quick day trips.

Also from 17, Farm lake to Ryan. Nice quick trip east portages. Ryan is a nice smallish lake.

Access point 3, Magnatawan offers trips to Ralph Brice and Daisy lakes.

Another quick trip is Access point 7, Source Lake to Owl. Some manly portages (for boys).

Carl

If you are alone with a 10 year old, I would suggest to travel on small lakes, try to avoid long portages as you will already have to triple portage, bring only the necessary equipment and if possible, choose a campsite that offers a good fishing spot as I have often caught fish from shore. Have fun.

my first trip in algonquin was to booth when i was 9 years old and absolutely loved it.

JT,

This will sound redundant for most regulars on this board but....

Algonquin is a big place with lots (hundreds) of tripping options. You'll get more useful information if you can be more specific about your trip expectations:

Approximately how much canoeing (distance/hours of travel per day) and portaging (Number and longest length) do you want to do.

What to you want to do while you are there (primary goals)? (Fish, hike, visit historic sites, view wildlife, paddle mainly large lakes, paddle mainly small lakes, something else) Obviously a trip can incorporate any and all of these but knowing what's important to you may help to steer your trip towards a preferred activity without dedicating time pursuing something you and your 10 year old are less interested in (like making a better fishing destination for example).

What portion of the park are you looking to visit / enter via? (North - Cedar Lake area, West, East, Corridor, South of the corridor).

Some estimate of your groups canoeing, portaging, and camping experience level (both in general and in Algonquin) might also be helpful. This way you won't get as many suggestion to make laps around Cannisbay when you're looking to do 75 miles in 4 days or vis-versa.

The more information you provide, the more valuable suggestions you'll receive. You might liken it to asking someone what you should have for lunch. A suggestion of McDonald's might meet your need's and expectations, but then again your particular circumstances might result in this being the last place you'd want to have lunch.

Both of my sons did their first trip at about that age. My oldest did his first trip with us from Smoke Lake down thru Ragged to Big Porcupine. It is a great trip but does require some paddling and a short but steep portage.
I agree with a previous poster that Rock - Penn is a great first trip. Easy and nice sites.

To both the parents bringing kids, I've brought my kids along with neighbours' and friends' kids over many trips over many years.

A few pointers:
1) Kids are much more temperature sensitive, particulalrly if it rains. Make sure you have lots of warm dry clothes, which they will get immediately wet.
2) Don't overdo the itinerary. Focus on making it fun for them, so put your own interests to the side a bit and try to see what would be fun for them. They can get tired in a flash, so be careful of what's left to do.
3) Bring comfort food that's familiar. When my kids were small Froot Loops was a big incentive. I still don't dare do a trip without marshmallows and some are now in their 20's!
4) Murphy's law is strongly at play with little ones, what can go wrong will go wrong, e.g. falling in the lake with pyjamas on, losing shoes in a stream, sunburns, bug bites....I could go on. A sense of humour is definitely needed, along with ointments and colourful bandages.
5) Be safe and have fun. Especially be safe, especially have fun. Their joy will be your biggest accomplishment.

JT - I'd agree with the Booth Lake suggestion - there's been more then a few threads recently on this route as a good beginner run:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/352882/message/1206055300/scenery
http://www.network54.com/Forum/352882/message/1207246050/Booth+Lake
http://www.network54.com/Forum/352882/message/1205248220/last-1205293332/Booth

I spent just shy of a week @ Booth last year with my 2 kids (they were 5/7 then, Boy/G), and they had a ball.

Blair's points are very good ones. To that I'd add:

For those lay around camp or sit in the tent and wait for the t-Storm to stop days:
- Have you kids pick a few of their favorite toys (e.g. boys: hot wheels/soldiers, girls: barbies)
- Bring a frisbee, deck of cards and some travel game(s)- e.g. magnetic hang-man

Gear:
----
- Get your kids each their own backpacks, fitted to size. They can personalize and be responsible for them.
- Get each child their own headlamp
- Get each child their own snorkel/mask
- Bring a rod for each child (sharing is futile, generally leads to fighting, at least with mine it does)

I took my ten year old daughter fishing on Opeongo last summer and it was a great experience for her..........strange new world in her eyes. Even though we stayed in a motel in Whitney, she still got a bit homesick. If you have boat and motor I'd camp Opeongo. Lots of nice sites, great swimming, minimal hassle and has that interior feel to it. You'll probably catch a couple lakers as well if you have the right eqpt.