I'm not familiar with too many lakes in AP - I've only seen the ones I can hike into on a day trip, and, of course, I've seen Whitefish lake and Rock lake. Rock lake Rocks, so it's my favourite so far.
My father, a big AP camper back in his day, wants me to go to North Tea Lake (do I have that right?) which apparently you can access through Mattawa.
North Tea Lake is in the NorthWest corner of Algonquin Park.
It is east of the town of South River...Just drive east along Ottawa Ave. off of hwy.11
I suppose you could paddle to North Tea Lake from Mattawa, via the Mattawa, and Amable du Fond rivers, although I think you'd have a hell of a trek going up the Amable du Fond. OR you could go the long way around thru Lake Nipissing.
North Tea is very big though, broken up into two arms, can be a very tiring lake to paddle. There are also motorboats allowed on this lake as well.
Gorgeous lake though, North tea is. I like Manitoua little more -- usually ppl going in from Kawawaymog get so tired on North Tea that they leave the treasure of solitude for me on Manitou
My favourite lake to date has got to be Big Trout. Nice and deep and spacious.
Many years ago McIntosh Lake left an impression on me. The classic rock beaches are great for swimming and the many windswept islands, would love to make a return trip there for the beautiful scenery. It may also have been because it was such a challenge getting there up Potter Creek and through Brule because of low water that year. I also love Grand Lake. A very majestic place and 'grand' for sure. Have never been to NTL or Manitou though they definitely look like they have potential on a map.
Up until this year I'd have said that Happy Isle blew away anything else the park had to offer, but now I'd say it shares company with Whiskeyjack/Robinson. Happy Isle's scenery and views from the campsites rate slightly better than the other two, but the solitude, peace and quiet you get on Whiskeyjack or Robinson brings them to a draw with Happy Isle.
Lemme know if you decide to go to Whiskeyjack Racoon, I wouldn't mind going again! Tough sledding to get there, but terrific place once you're there.
Welcome Lake. After the 2170m portage, a sandy beach awaits for a swim. Most of the campsites have sandy beach landings. I did really enjoy Big Trout last week. It was my first time there.
There are leeches in every lake. The squeemish may not like hearing this, but it's a true. You're not likely to come out of the water looking like Bogart in African Queen.
I've got a soft spot in my heart for Lavieille. It's the lake I was taken to as a 10 or 11 year old boy with my dad as my first introduction to Algonquin (wanted me to be a tough little bugger, eh?). Like a lady, she can be sweet and mellow and can have a mean streak a mile wide when the wind blows. Beautiful blue water and many bays, bogs, nooks and crannies to explore.
Although, I've only paddled:
Opeongo, Proulx, Big Crow, Crow Bay, Lavieille, Dickson, Bonfield, Wright, Happy Isle, Merchant, Big Trout, Longer, Red Pine Bay, Burntroot, LaMuir, Deeryard, Hemlock, Blowdown, Canoe, Joe, Little Joe, Lost Joe, Baby Joe and Burnt Island.
So I've got a long way to go to explore more lakes before making up my mind!
My current favourite is Greenleaf, maybe because it is a relief to arrive there after a tough portage from Grand.
Previous favourites (good memories and weather has alot to do with it)have been Grand, Big Trout, Clydegale, Booth and Brule(I think it was Brule...with the cliffs)
1. Barron River Campsite on river, no good swimming, some good fishing. Close to exit at squirrel rapids
2. Big Porcupine Lake (3 different years same site) Best site we have ever been on. The westernmost site on big pork
3. Booth Lake - Got hit by lightning here
4. Crotch Lake 5 nights on a nice campsite great beach
5. Daisy Lake on the way to White Trout Lake, quick stop
6. Dividing Lake Nice site, tough portage to get there
7. Farm Lake on the way to Booth Lake
8. Grand Lake First stop out of Achray on the way to Opalescent, moderate site
9. Kingscote Lake very bad site, on the way to Scorch. See trip log algonquinadventures.com
10. Little Trout Lake nice site nice lake
11. Misty Lake on the way to White Trout Lake
12. Opalescent Lake good site, big snapping turtle kept us from swimming. Site is right on the portage.
13. Oxtounge River (2 sites) High falls site is very good, room for a dozen tents and a fabulous waterfall
14. Park Lake worst site possible, in view of traffic on hwy 60, exposed, confined, do not go here!
15. Pen Lake nice lake, lots of good sites and one great one that we havent been able to get on
16. Rockaway Lake best fishing ever! Not in the park, on the way to Dividing
17. Scorch Lake take the trail UP to the best view in the park
18. St Andrews Lake on the way to Opalescent
19. Sunbeam Lake Very good island site (easternmost), very nice Lake
20. Timberwolf Lake on the way out from White Trout, quick stop in bad weather
21. Tom Thomson Lake (2 sites) great Lake, site on island has great cliff jumping
22. Welcome Lake very pretty Lake with huge SAND beaches, well worth the trip.
23. White Trout Lake nice site, next to the farm on the map
24. York River at high falls, no thunder box, lots of people with pop and chips, but still nice
Traversed
1. Aster Pond
2. Bartlett Lake
3. Bear Lake
4. Big Rock Lake
5. Brigham Lake
6. Byers Lake
7. Canoe Lake
8. Cradle Lake
9. Dagger Lake
10. Fawn Lake
11. Galipo River
12. Godda Lake
13. Grand Lake
14. Grassy Bay
15. Hambone Lake
16. High Falls Lake
17. High Falls Pond
18. Joe Lake
19. Kimball Lake
20. Kitty Lake
21. Littledoe Lake
22. Livingstone Lake
23. Magnetawan Lake
24. McCarthy Creek
25. McIntosh Creek
26. McIntosh Lake
27. Minkey Lake
28. Mole Lake
29. Ooze Lake
30. Oram Lake
31. Petawawa River
32. Queer Lake
33. Ragged Lake
34. Ralph Bice Lake (Butt Lake)
35. Rock Lake
36. Rumley Lake
37. Ryegrass Lake
38. Shall Lake
39. Smoke Lake
40. Stratton Lake
41. Tattler Lake
42. Tepee Lake
43. Willow Lake
Visited
1. Bonnechere Lake
2. Branch Lake
3. Cork Lake
4. Depot Lake
5. Harry Lake
6. Hollow River
7. Opeongo River
8. Shirley Lake
9. Snow Lake
10. Tim River
Wow ESther, your 2 favs are the same as MINE! I love Booth even though a 60 lake, beautiful place for sunsets, but Travers is majestic and has lots of diff fish species, bonus for me its only 72 kms away there in 1 hr.
Travers is my fav. High Falls Lake is very beautiful as well. I'd like to go back to Lavielle especially around the Crow. I haven't been to Eustache yet but i'm thinking i'm gonna love once someone brings me there
That's definitely a tough question. I do have great memories of Ralph Bice lake - one of my favourite sites on the island is perfect in every way.
A childhood fabvourite was Ragged though.
For me - Happy isle is head and shoulders above the rest. Clear water, good fishing, nice beaches, caves and trails to explore, no road access (not even logging roads), great camp sites and lots of terrific memories(some funny ones too).
The portage is just long enough to work up a good sweat and prepare for the great swim at the beach that greets you at the end.
Like the 'Paddlin, Lavieille is my favourite. I have just returned from a summer trip and it was awesome. It is so nice to travel the lake when the wind and waves are up and you do not have to worry about +5 Celsius water. I loved swimming at the top and loved the summer greenery and the fact that we caught fish at the end of July.
Before last week, I could have easily said that Hogan was my favourite lake because it has by favourite campsite and it's deep in the Park away from most access points, but after visiting Lavieille recently, I have to say it is a very very close second. The vistas on that lake are superb. You could spend a month exploring that lake and only scratch the surface of it's magnificence. I guess my ideal trip would include both!
