http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/spring_accessICEsafety.html
A flight to review ice conditions took place on Tuesday, April 21st.
As of Tuesday afternoon, April 21st, all lakes in Algonquin Park have some ice cover, including a large number with more than 90% ice cover. Nowhere is the ice strong enough for ice fishing.
This is the most unusual lake ice break-up in the past 20 years. Usually ice break-up extends up to a 2- to 5-week period. This year it will be compressed to as little as 5 days and include an abnormal sequence of ice-outs.
There is limited shoreline moat development with many lakes melting out to open water in the centre of the sheet, while the ice cover is still often shorefast on southern shaded shores.
A large section of open water exists in Lake Opeongo from Bates Island to Sunnyside, with approximately 30% open water in the East Arm and 10% in the North Arm. The East Arm should be open by Saturday (April 25th) and the North Arm by Sunday (April 26th).
Dickson Lake is already almost ice-free. Happy Isle and Merchant are still strongly ice covered. White Partridge, Clemow, Stratton and Travers are nearly open. Grand Lake is open (as of April 23rd).
As of April 23rd, Ralph Bice Lake is ice-covered.
As of April 23rd, North Tea Lake and Kioshkokwi Lake are open.
As of April 22nd, Wendigo Lake is ice-covered with dark grey ice on whole lake.
As of April 19th, Cedar Lake is ice-covered with dark patches; large crack across the middle of the lake.
All Highway 60 Corridor lakes should be open by Saturday (April 25th) and all interior lakes by Monday (April 27th).
Most portages, especially in swampy evergreen areas, have patches of snow. Off-trail under thick evergreen cover, the snow can be wet and knee deep. South-facing, open hardwood forests are snow-free, but north-facing slopes on the higher ridges in the central interior are still fully snow covered.
Flows from snow melt and spring run-off are receding in the Madawaska and Oxtongue Rivers and both the Highland and Western Uplands Backpacking Trails have been re-opened.
Access Roads:
Road washouts can be a danger in spring. Park visitors may drive in on a road but find, on driving out, that the road has become impassable.
Kawawaymog Lake (Access Point #1): As of April 20th, the access road is open.
Tim River/Magnetawan Lake Road (Access Points #2 and 3): As of April 23rd, the road is snow-covered with some trees down. A 4x4 is a minimal requirement.
Rain Lake Road (Access Point #4): As of April 23rd, the Rain Lake Road is passable using a 4x4 truck to the Park boundary. The 2 kilometres of road from the Park boundary in to the access point is snow-covered, with approximately one foot of snow (no vehicular access beyond the Park boundary).
Basin Lake Road (Access Point #19): As of April 21st, driveable with 4x4. A public road from Highway #58 to the Hydro Line in Algonquin. Road is clear of trees and debris. Frost still in roadbed and surface is good but will become soft as warmer weather approaches. Snow cover and ice patches cover approximately 20% of total length though the south half of these areas are beginning to melt. There are 3 small flooded areas that can be driven through/around (marker 10, 28, and 32) and one washout at marker 19 that can also be driven through with CAUTION.
Barron Canyon Road (Access Points #20, 21, 22, 23 and Achray Campground): Provides access to Algonquin's East Side via the Sand Lake Gate; as of April 23rd, the Barron Canyon Road (known as the Lake Travers Road beyond the turn-off into Achray Campground) has sections of washboard and generally rough sections but is passable by car to Lake Travers.
Mallard (Sec) Lake Access Road (Access Point #20): Road is open and passable by car.
McManus Lake Access Road (Access Point #21): This road has some snow-covered sections which may require a 4x4 truck to pass.
Achray Road (Access Point #22 and Achray Campground): This 4.8-kilometre road is 19.2 kilometres beyond the Sand Lake Gate on the Barron Canyon Road; as of April 19th, road is open and passable by car.
Brent Road (Access Points #25, 26, 27, and Brent Campground): As of April 22nd, the Brent Road has deep patches of snow (over the gravel base). Travel by car is not recommended; recommend trucks only. Trees are down on the Brent Road, but passable, with CAUTION.
Wendigo Lake Access Road (Access Point #25): As of April 22nd, road has snow patches (over the gravel base). "Creek" across road, approximately 6" deep, with a solid bottom. Recommend travel by truck only.
Brain Lake (Access Point #28): As of April 20th, the access road is ice-covered.
Kioshkokwi Lake (Access Point #29 and Kiosk Campground): As of April 20th, the access road is open.
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