Hello:
Our family, 2 adults 4 kids (12-5), are avid tent campers. However I'm a little overwhelmed by the options provided by Algonquin Park. I want to enjoy the park in all it's beauty but, the girls need flush toilets. I'm looking to the experienced park attenders on this forum to help suggest what the best campground may be. Here's a little more info:
Hiking is pretty much a must.
Beach is nice
Probably no canoeing (i know, but i have to be patient)
Definitely Geocaching.
We may fish for enjoyment but not for food.
Taking Photographs
Electricity not needed
Flush toilets are a must.

Coming in from Illinois (USA)

Any suggestions are really appreciated. My Wife visited here 25+ years ago and her father suggested the location. After a little bit of research i am completely excited.

- Micah

Depending on the type of experience you're looking for.. Lake of Two Rivers has a very nice beach, flush toilets and showers. You are near the store and on Hwy 60 which will allow you to day trip to at least a half dozen day trip trail heads. The sites vary greatly in quality so when you are consulting the www.ontarioparks.com website, you can review the ratings on the various sites in terms of privacy. When it is indicated that the site lacks privacy that means you are in a wide open space with other tenters. L2R also has electrical sites. I have also heard that Pog Lake is quite nice but have not stayed there personally, my wife spent many summers there as a child. For more privacy and more rustic, Grand Lake or Achray would be my choice but the amenities are fewer. The beach there is gorgeous and you can hike to High Falls which is a lovely natural water slide. You can also do the Barron Canyon from there. There's a couple of ideas for you though most of the campgrounds along Hwy 60 are comparable. Some are closer to the hwy.. others a bit further from the road. If you are near a decent library there are also lots of books that might help you decide.

Hi Micah,

Don't know if you did allready but have a look at www.algonquin.on.ca

Go to the camping and canoeing section and click on parkway corridor.

Here you will find all kind of info.

You probably want to look at Canisbay or Pog lake camp grounds.

Under the Ontario Park reservation link you can check availablility.

Have fun,

LeoV

Oops!

correct web-site: www.algonquinpark.on.ca

LeoV

You'll have to stick to the HWY 60 corridor campgrounds if you need flush toilets.
I would suggest looking at Rock, Pog, Canisbay, and Kearney- In that order

Stainless

I would recommend Mew lake due to it's privacy from other sites, central location, and access to the bike trail and the Track and Tower Trail. Been there many times, enjoyed them all.

Trainman
Take everything as it comes; the wave passes, deal with the next one. -Tom Thomson

If traffic noise from the highway would bother you, then I suggest Rock Lake or Canisbay.
Excellent hiking can be had right from Rock Lake, Pog Lake, Mew Lake, and Lake of Two Rivers.
Catching fish on Pog Lake or Mew Lake is iffy at best.

Stainless

LeoV:
Thanks for the link, i had been on the site, but didn't drill that far down. it's pretty fantastic.

Micah,

Glad I could help. After you have made up your mind dont wait to long with booking. Algonquin Park is pretty popular!!

LeoV

I have had excellent experiences at both Pog and Canisbay.

Canisbay Lake has paddle-in sites if you want a taste of the back country while still being within reach of the showers.

Pog Lake has a little less privacy, but the beach at "campground C" is really nice for children.

My favorite is Rock Lake ... not so good for privacy, but there are some nice non-reserveable sites available if your timing is good. Easy access to a great lake. Far enough from the highway that you cannot hear highway noise. Close access to several trails.

Enjoy!

As for geocaching, use the Park's postal code K0J 2M0 to start your search for caches.

Search results using that postal code and a radius of 50 miles:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?lat=45.5527575&lng=-78.6088365&dist=50

Of course, it's not allowed to place new caches in Ontario Provincial Parks without an amazing amount of work to obtain permission, but there are a number of grandfathered ones, and a recent earthcache on the Bog Boardwalk trail.



Barbara

I forgot to mention that there is a section here on Algonquin Adventures about the Highway 60 hiking trails:
http://www.algonquinadventures.com/
then click on the "Trails" tab under the word Algonquin.



Barbara

I have a question about the Hwy 60 campgrounds, do any of them have canoes that could be rented for a day or just a few hours?

I'm looking at doing a weekend trip with my daughter sometime in July, and I'd like to introduce her to the canoeing experience. But likely this won't be longer than a couple of hours tops.

Thanks,
Aaron

Mew Lake would be my first choice... one of the sites between 85 and 95. I'm picky - lol.

Laurie
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