Exploring the Algonquin Backcountry

Algonquin Provincial Park, especially the Algonquin backcountry is a Canadian classic. A four-season destination that draws in adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. With its more than 7,600 square kilometers of protected land, Algonquin is not only the oldest, but also one of the largest provincial parks in Ontario.

Because of Algonquin’s size, there is guaranteed to be an outdoor activity that will pique every interest and satisfy every skill level. For me, it is the Western Uplands Backpacking trail. With loops ranging from 32 – 88 km, it is the most difficult backpacking trail in the Algonquin backcountry.

Off The Beaten Path – Algonquin Backcountry

The plan was to spend 5 days hiking the 88 km loop, averaging around 20 km a day. My friend and I packed our gear and after somewhat of a late start, we set off, ready for a refreshing adventure in the deep wilderness.

The first leg of the trail is fairly popular. Although there’s rough terrain and some steep climbs, the trail is well maintained and is a fairly easy path for an avid hiker. The deeper you go into the forest, the less populated and more rugged the trail becomes. It was this remoteness that we were after. Leaving behind human contact and becoming one with nature is something we both find calms our souls.

As we walked, I was overcome with awe by all the beauty that surrounded me. The bright blue sky with not a single cloud in sight, the crystal clear lakes and running rivers that crossed our path, the autumnal colours fading to grey and the crunching of leaves beneath our feet that signaled the end of my favourite season. It was truly heaven on Earth.

The sun was nearing the horizon as we came upon our camp site for the night. Gold hues were sparkling across the water and long shadows were cast across the forest floor as we dropped our packs and began to set up camp. We put up the tent, filtered our water, made a fire and cooked our dinner. We were expecting a late night of star gazing and we wanted to be relaxed and ready when the first twinkles appeared in the darkened sky. But mother nature had other plans…

The clouds rolled in and with them came the cool sweep of the evening wind. Hearts a little heavy and toes a little cold, we reluctantly retired for the night. Hoping to be well rested for the next leg of our journey in the morning, we were frustrated when we realized we had not packed the appropriately rated sleeping bags for our end of October adventure. As the night dragged on, the rain began to fall. We were exhausted. We were freezing. The cold, damp air was biting at our bones. A gorgeous day had turned into a nightmarish night, but so it goes when you’re deep in the wilderness.

Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather and our own bad judgment, as the sun rose the next morning we made the tough decision to cut our trip short. So five days hiking in the Algonquin backcountry turned into two, and 88 km turned into 30 km, but what didn’t change was our love for the outdoors.

Great experiences don’t always go as planned. We left with eager hearts and smarter minds, vowing to return to the Algonquin backcountry and to complete the Western Uplands trail.

Getting There

Algonquin Provincial Park is located in central Ontario. It spreads a vast distance between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa river, making it easily accessible for all. The Western Uplands trail is located at kilometer 3.0 of Highway 60, right down the road from the West Gate entrance to the park. There is parking and a bathroom at the trailhead and for those who may crave a cozier experience, there is the option of renting a ranger cabin in the woods and using that as your home base as you embark on day hikes through the Algonquin backcountry.

Have you ever hiked the Western Uplands trail? What was your experience? What other Algonquin hiking trails would you recommend? 

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