Hello,

I live in central Ohio and I'm contemplating a trip up to Algonquin next year.

I normally go to the BWCA with two of my kids along with my neighbor and one or two of his kids. Well, two of my younger kids are begging to go but I can't fit them into our regular trips to the BWCA because of car space and I don't feel like driving all the way to the end of the Gunflint as the only driver.

So, I'm thinking that whether we go to the BWCA or not, I can definitely swing the much shorter distance to Algonquin with the younger kids (10 hours to middle of west side of Algonquin I think vs 15.5 hrs to BWCA).

I assume that there's an outfitter either on the west side or a little further up near Algonquin that can rent me a 3-person canoe and then I just have to get the boat to the put-in, yes?

I would much appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Thanks!

The Portage Store on Canoe Lake (in the park) used to rent canoes, etc, back in the day. There should be no shortage of outfitters in the area.

Be aware that you need to reserve individual campsites in the park---important info for planning a canoe trip.

I had never looked into Algonquin before, but being a fellow central Ohio resident, I'm definitely interested after seeing that drive time. Driving to BWCA sure is brutal =)

Uncle Buck, i have some experience tripping in Algonquin Park, I began to go there around 1980, and made several trips over the years. On the west side I used the the South River (Round Lake) entry point a coupe of times. I self outfitted, so I am not familiar with outfitters in that area. North Tea Lake and Biggar Lake are nice lake to explore from that entry point. I also made several trips to the north side of Algonquin, jumping off at Brent and going south into the interior. (Brent is a secluded location and at the end of a 30 mile gravel road) Alqonquin Outfitters used to have an outpost at Brent and could handle your canoe needs, providing that they are still in business at that location. Algonquin Park is/was a wonderful place and i hope you have a great trip.

I have a buddy that lives around Toledo, and while he's gone on several BWCA trips he & I have never been able to get our schedules to align. We have discussed Algonquin briefly as a possibility for us to sync up and do a joint family trip.

Drive time to Northern MN is an issue for them, so they only go every other year or so.

Several years ago I printed a wall map for Algonquin and taped the tiles together into a solid unit, and it hangs on the basement wall next to my camping closet.

Yes Algonquin is a fine place and well worth a visit. We liked it well enough. On my bucket list is a river trip there which is filled with brooks and cuts. There are a few guidebooks around on the park and well worth a few bucks.

Anyone know what the fishing is like in the park?

Mostly brook and lake trout, with some smallmouth in the lakes along Hwy 60 passing through the southern part of the park.

The earlier in the year and the farther from a road, the better the fishing.