Adventure in Algonquin: Hiking, canoeing, log cabins and the falls.
- 1life2dream
- Feb 17, 2017
- 4 min read
Algonquin (pronounced Al-GON-kin) provincial park is the first provincial park in the state of Ontario known for it's natural beauty and abundance of wildlife. The word ALgonquin is the French word meaning tribe, the tribe being the original native of Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec. The park itself has a rich history from the native tribes, to the logging industry to the current conservation work seen today. On a day when you are not trekking, cycling or canoeing, the visitors centre is well worth a visit, providing lots of informative information and a viewing platform that provides a stunning backdrop.
The park itself is well managed and there are plenty of activities to get involved in. There are a huge number of interpretive walking trails to try each with it's own guide book and clearly marked route. The walks vary in length from around 1.5km to a more challenging 11km, but provide something suitable for everyone. Each walk specifically put together to show a specific aspect of Algonquin.
The centennial ridge walk is one that offers some stunning views of the park and in the fall provides a fantastic way of viewing the various shades of amber, green and red. It takes around 4 to 6 hours and meanders through pathways leading to striking cliffs, secluded lakes, wonderful woodland and provides the perfect opportunity to spot wildlife be it a garter snake, chipmunk, beaver, woodpecker, black duck and much more for the established wildlife spotter or nature enthusiast.
Another way to spot wildlife, get active and admire the natural beauty of the park is hire a canoe. There are plenty of places to do this and we used the Portage store, being beginners we took a guided tour for the afternoon. Not only was our guide professional, he had an amazing amount of local knowledge of the areas history and a clear love of the outdoors. Canoeing is the term for a hallow vessel that you can carry easily (portage) as we found out. It took us a long while to master the basics and it was much harder than our guide made it look, he did have 20 years experience compared to our combined 6 hours. To do a long canoe trip, you would need much better upper body strength than me however I can 100% see the appeal of canoeing. It is a way of reconnecting with nature, offering an opportunity for solace and reflection, a way to get off the beaten track and for a moment leave the rat race. You get a different view of the islands, lakes, trees and wildlife watching group of Canadian geese diving in the water as we floated past (some of us more effortlessly than others). For me I have always been fascinated with water, it offers sense of freedom that nothing else can, a different perspective, the sounds offer complete calmness, the rippling of small waves create patterns that no artist could repeat. Natural beauty at it's best, intoxicating. The opportunity to make you feel alive and at peace. Another highlight of our guided canoe trip was a stop on one of the smaller islands on the lake where we had a small taster of what it could possibly be like to portage, as a group we had a sense of comradeship and respect that had developed throughout the trip.
At the end of a long active day, there was only one place to stay. Wolfden Hostel and Nature Retreat, a natural, eco log cabin with a community spirit of like minded individuals. Wolfden fully embraced the ethos of Algonquin and it's own role in local conservation and history.
The main lodge itself was like a family home for travellers and nature enthusiasts from all over the world to share the experiences of their day: photos, memories, hints. tips and stories. Think warm wood, snug rugs and plenty of chill out space with a log fire to gather around in the evening.
Wolfden has an organic feel that fits in with it's surroundings, a family feel, personal and welcoming and not obtrusive like a large chain hotel. It has a rustic charm with all the mod cons needed away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Wolfden encourages you to return to nature, the outdoor showers looking up to the sky are a must on a beautiful day and the sky on a clear night sat around a camp fire is guaranteed to dazzle you and make you contemplate life or at least help you relax.
The owners are fantastic hosts and really support the whole Algonquin ethos. They provide a wealth of knowledge and are the heart of the Wolfden, they are the jewels among the crown here and it is impossible to imagine anyone running Wolfden better than they do.
Whether you want to cosy up and relax, get out and explore or just unwind and contemplate life you will not be disappointed at Wolfden and Algonquin.
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