Algonquin Provincial Park was established in 1893. Ontario Parks describes a second Algonquin along the 56 km stretch of Highway 60, with eight campgrounds and 14 interpretive trails. This guide covers camping dates, day-use areas, trails, canoe rentals, fishing and the rules that catch visitors out, from Ontario Parks’ own pages.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Established | 1893 |
| Size | 772,300 ha on Ontario Parks’ facts table (its text says 7,635 square kilometres; the two figures do not match) |
| Phone | 705-633-5572 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 219, Highway 60, Whitney, ON K0J 2M0 |
| Campsites | 3,474 in total: 1,312 car camping, 2,123 backcountry, 500 electrical, 18 group, 21 walk-in |
| Dog-free and radio-free sites | 140 dog-free, 118 radio-free |
| Access points | 34 backcountry access points; 9 boat launches; 16 docks |
| Gate offices | East Gate and West Gate: daily, 8 am to 6 pm |
Day use, camping or a nearby cottage
Day-use areas run all year. Brent, Achray and Basin Lake run April 24 to November 15, 2026, Shall Lake runs April 24 to November 4, and Kingscote and Tim River run April 24 to December 13. Backcountry camping runs all year.
A cottage in the Haliburton Highlands or Dwight gives you a kitchen and a private dock, and the park becomes a day trip along Highway 60. Camping suits you if you want to wake up in the park.
Campground dates, 2026
| Campground | Use | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Achray | Camping and roofed accommodation | Apr 24 to Oct 25 |
| Brent | Camping | Apr 24 to Oct 25 |
| Canisbay Lake | Camping | May 8 to Oct 18 |
| Kearney Lake | Camping | May 8 to Oct 12 |
| Kiosk | Camping and roofed accommodation | Apr 25 to Oct 25 |
| Lake of Two Rivers | Camping | May 8 to Oct 25 |
| Mew Lake | Camping and roofed accommodation | Jan 1 to Dec 31 |
| Pog Lake | Camping | May 14 to Oct 13 |
| Raccoon Lake | Camping | May 8 to Oct 18 |
| Rock Lake | Camping | May 8 to Oct 18 |
| Tea Lake | Camping | Apr 24 to Sep 7 |
| Whitefish Lake | Camping | May 9 to Oct 12 |
Ontario Parks says there are eight campgrounds along Highway 60 but does not say which of these twelve they are, so we do not label them. Fee schedules are on the park page, and we do not copy amounts.
Permits and reservations
Each vehicle in the park needs a valid provincial park permit, digital or physical. Display a physical permit on the parked vehicle. For winter, a valid permit is also required, and Highway 60 is plowed and sanded all winter.
Trails along Highway 60
| Trail | Km marker | Length | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whiskey Rapids | 7.2 | 2.1 km | Moderate |
| Hardwood Lookout | 13.8 | 1 km | Moderate |
| Mizzy Lake | 15.4 | 10.8 km | Difficult |
| Peck Lake | 19.2 | 2.3 km | Moderate |
| Track and Tower | 25 | 7.5 km | Moderate |
| Hemlock Bluff | 27.2 | 3.5 km | Moderate |
| Bat Lake | 30 | 5.8 km | Moderate |
| Two Rivers | 31 | 2.1 km | Difficult |
| Centennial Ridges | 37.6 | 10 km | Strenuous |
| Lookout | 39.7 | 1.9 km | Moderate |
| Big Pines | 40.3 | 2.9 km | Moderate |
| Spruce Bog Boardwalk | 42.5 | 1.5 km | Easy |
| Fork Lake | 43 | 2.4 km | Difficult |
| Beaver Pond | 45.2 | 2 km | Moderate |
| Algonquin Logging Museum | 54.5 | 1.3 km | Not stated |
Dogs are not permitted on the Mizzy Lake Trail.
Canoeing and fishing
The park has a canoe route network of over 2,000 km. Canoe rentals are at the Opeongo Store, 6 km north of km 46.3 on Highway 60, and the Portage Store at Canoe Lake, km 14.1. Trip questions go to the Information Line at 705-633-5572.
More than 230 lakes have native brook trout, and 149 have lake trout. Possessing live bait fish is illegal anywhere in the park. Fishing in winter is not permitted: the park is a fish sanctuary from December 1 to the last Saturday in April. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence.
Motorboats are not permitted on most lakes in the park. Motors of 20 horsepower or less are allowed on a listed set of lakes, including Cache, Canoe, Rock, Smoke, Tea and Two Rivers, and waterskiing, tubing and jet-skiing are not permitted anywhere in the park.
Park rules that catch visitors out
- Alcohol: permitted in provincial parks, with marked alcohol-free areas. Open containers in vehicles are an offence.
- Pets: on a leash no longer than 2 metres at all times. Not in swimming areas or on beaches.
- Fires: fireplaces are designated by park staff. No fires during a fire ban unless the superintendent says otherwise.
- Wildlife: do not store wildlife attractants, including food or beverages.
- Quiet: no set quiet hours, but you may not disturb others at any time of day or night.
- Drones: the rules page does not mention drones. Ask the park.
- Interior camping: maximum 16 consecutive nights and nine people per site.
FAQ
How many campsites does Algonquin have?
3,474 in total, per Ontario Parks, including 2,123 backcountry sites. Checked November 3 2026.
Which campground is open all year?
Mew Lake, January 1 to December 31 in 2026. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I fish in winter?
No. Winter fishing is not permitted. Checked November 3 2026.
Where do I rent a canoe?
At the Opeongo Store and the Portage Store at Canoe Lake. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages near the park
Browse cottages in the Algonquin Park gateway or the Haliburton and Algonquin region. See also Algonquin Visitor Centre.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the municipalities around Algonquin Park. Our dataset has no confirmed short-term rental rule for this municipality yet, so confirm with its clerk before you list.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Established 1893; 772,300 ha; text says 7,635 sq km; phone 705-633-5572; PO Box 219 Highway 60 Whitney; 34 access points; 9 launches; 16 docks; East/West Gate 8 am-6 pm; campsite counts 3,474/1,312/2,123/500/18/21; 140 dog-free; 118 radio-free | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/algonquin | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | 2026 campground dates (Achray, Brent, Canisbay, Kearney, Kiosk, Lake of Two Rivers, Mew Lake, Pog Lake, Raccoon, Rock, Tea, Whitefish); day-use dates (Brent, Achray, Basin Lake Apr 24-Nov 15; Shall Lake Apr 24-Nov 4; Kingscote, Tim River Apr 24-Dec 13); backcountry all year; eight Hwy 60 campgrounds not identified; fee schedules linked without amounts | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/algonquin | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Trail table (15 Hwy 60 trails with km markers, lengths, difficulty); dogs not permitted on Mizzy Lake; canoe routes 2,000+ km; Opeongo Store (6 km north of km 46.3) and Portage Store (km 14.1) rentals; 230+ brook trout lakes; 149 lake trout; live bait illegal; no winter fishing, fish sanctuary December 1 to last Saturday in April; motorboats not permitted on most lakes, 20 hp or less on listed lakes; no waterskiing, tubing, jetskiing; winter permit required, Hwy 60 plowed and sanded; 56 km Hwy 60 stretch with eight campgrounds and 14 interpretive trails (‘oldest provincial park’ not on page: removed) | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/algonquin/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Rules: permit per vehicle, physical permit displayed; alcohol permitted with marked alcohol-free areas; open container offence; leash max 2 m; no pets in swimming area/beach; fireplaces designated; fire ban; no wildlife attractants; no quiet hours but no disturbing others; drones not mentioned; interior camping 16 nights and nine persons | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/algonquin/rules | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licences | 2026-11-03 |