Mystic Algonquin Park!!

As this was our first fall season in Canada, we decided to visit the famous "Algonquin Provincial Park". Everyone around us have been repeating the park's name since we landed in Canada. So, we hatched out a plan to see this mesmerizing place in its true fall colors. 

There are so many activities to do in this park - Trails, Hikes, Canoeing etc. Being an avid nature lover, we picked up few interesting trails with moderate level of difficulty as we were hiking with kids. At times, rain played hide and seek with us but thankfully, it never sabotaged our plans and we managed to visit most of the spots.

1. Our first pit stop @Whiskey Rapids

As we entered the park from West Gate, we were hoping to catch a glimpse of the "Mighty Moose" at some point but we weren't lucky this time. We made our first stop at "Whiskey Rapids". Now, don't get fooled by its name, the term Whiskey  applies to the Rapids (stream of water) and not the other way round. The trail was mostly flat with a manageable incline at some places. Due to constant rain, it was mushy in some patches but the serenity of the woods, and the end point with a scenic view of the rapids makes this trail absolutely great. Also, the 1.9 km loop makes it ideal for families traveling with kids. Be careful of the rapids if your kids are active and move around as the flow of the rapids is enormous. We had to watch our 3 year old as he was full of energy but was careful and alert when we reached the rapids. Here's a picture of my daughter enjoying the view and fresh air of the park. Sheer Bliss!!

2. Canoe Lake

After a short drive from Whiskey Rapids, we reached at "Canoe Lake" aptly named after the peaceful waters perfect for a leisurely canoe ride with family. I was about to rent a canoe but the rain gods decided otherwise. This is a perfect spot to have a lunch as there are lots of table facing the lake. This spot provides a good view of the colors nature painted the park with. Coupled with the lake, the beauty of the colorful tree is notched up to a different level altogether. Again, a word of advise to be careful with your little ones as there is no rail to stop the kids and the water seems deep. 

3. Look Out Trail

This is a short and steep hike to an elevated spot. This spot gives a clear view of the park from a hill top. The calories burnt during the steep incline are totally worth it when you reach the top and are treated with a delight such as this one (shown in the pic). To be honest, I would prefer spending a whole day at this spot, read a book, drink some tea and call it a day. However, most of the road trips are hectic and we had to hit the road again to reach next spot. I would surely love to visit Algonquin for a week or so to spend leisure time here.

4. Algonquin Visitor Center

One must visit the "Algonquin Visitor Center" which is closer to the East Gate as there is lot of information available about the park and its history. There is a small gallery for visitors to see the variety of wildlife in Algonquin. There is a art gallery which showcases the painting of different part of the park. Some of the painting are really wonderful. The view of the deck is also great. There is ample parking and washrooms availability here. Our kids loved seeing the moose and other animals in the center as they couldn't see any during the trails except a few squirrels, chipmunks and birds.

There's a spot ahead of the visitor further east which again offers a clean view of hills in all its colorful glory. There are other trails such as "Beaver Pond" and "Lake of Two Rivers" which couldn't do due to limited time and energy. I have read about the "Centennial Ridge" trail which offers the best view but it's a 10 Kms loop which would be a bit too much for a family. 

We ended our day by spending time at a sand beach of "Lake of Two Rivers" and let the kids have fun for a while as they were too tired after a full day of driving and trail walking.

As we ended our day in the park and started driving back to our hotel, we were happy that we visited this magical place and experienced its full glory during fall. I would definitely plan an extended trip at some point to spend more time here with friends and family. 

In the next post, I will share my experience of "Muskoka"as we visited it next day on our way back to home. Thanks for reading, Please share your thoughts and suggest new places that we can explore in this beautiful country.