We are considering spending a week on Rock Lake,using it as a base camp and taking various day trips. Looking to spend some good leisure time and swimming and fishing. We will be 4 persons ( 2 tents), with dogs. Any campsite recommendations? Also advice on day trip options and of course,where the fish are? Thanks

Hello Esther, if you are camping at Rock in the summer months,you may need a reservation as it fills up very fast. If you don't have a res., call the park at 613-633-5572 and see if any non-reservable sites are available for your stay.The sites further away from the lake are larger, (sites 1 to 30), you may want to look at these because of the dogs, as most sites are close together and offer poor privacy. Rock does have a nice beach for swimming, ask at the park office for a copy of the fish stocking sheets, there are quite a few lakes around Rock Lake that have been stocked with splake and speckled trout that are very easy to find and fish. The park is busy in the summer months, for hiking, try some of the longer portages along highway 60, they are a lot quieter for a leisurly hike without the crowds.

The fish stocking list is on the Algonquin website. (It includes the numbers for 2009.) In fact, it's now posted on the homepage...no more clicking, clicking, clicking to find it.

And so is the link to the voluntary trout survey.

Now that summer seems to be in full swing, there's lots of activities planned for each day. The schedules are posted at the Gates and campground bulletin boards, and of course, on the website.

The Park's website is now being kept up-to-date way better than it was in the past.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/




Barbara

The Barclay Estate is an easy hike from the Rock L. parking lot and I would recommend it as an interesting and fun hike/picnic. There are a couple of big docks there at the estate and a waterfront and grounds worth exploring. Any of the designated day trips/hikes along the corridor are worth exploring though they can be pretty busy at the height of the season. I have not camped at Rock L but have toured through there for future reference. A nice area but I agree, check on availability.

Esther, will you be camping at the campground or on one of the interior sites on the Lake? So far I think we've all assumed you will be car camping at the campground. If on the other hand you are interior camping and have access to canoes, the possibilities in that area are endless.

Sorry for my lack of clarity,posted too early in the morning. Anyway,I would plan to go to an interior campsite by canoe. Shade, swimming and privacy would be some issues of interest.Island sites make it easier with the dogs. The fishing could even be a day trip into a nearby lake.

I have another question. I understand that boat&motors are allowed on Rock Lake, not sure on the hp as my App map is very old and colors are faded.Will certainly check on that. Anyway, my husband has knee problems and is awaiting consult on possible knee surgery. All that to say he finds canoeing a bit difficult. Is it feasible or allowed to take a boat&motor to an interior campsite? We would also bring canoes to paddle on daytrips with.

The boat motor restrictions info is also on the Algonquin Park website...

Under "Park Management & Regulations"
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/managreg.html

scroll down to the link that takes you to this page:
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/managreg/motors.html

And, yes, you most certainly can take a boat with a motor to an interior site. That's how I started out interior camping in Algonquin, on Rain Lake.



Barbara

I'm pretty sure you're allowed boats with up to 20hp motors on Rock and Whitefish lakes. There's 2 islands with campsites on Rock and one island with a campsite on Whitefish.

Thanks everyone for the info.