Staff Pick
Road Trip Toronto to Algonquin Park – Fall Colours
Toronto
Algonquin Provincial Park
300
km
3h30
drive
All seasons
season
The Itinerary
Algonquin Provincial Park was established in 1893, making it the oldest provincial park in Canada, and at roughly 7,650 square kilometres it is larger than several provinces are wide. It sits on the transition between southern hardwood forest and northern boreal, which is precisely why its autumn display is so strong: sugar maple on the higher ground turns scarlet and orange while the spruce and pine in the valleys stay dark green, giving the mosaic its depth.
From Toronto the approach is Highway 400 north, then Highway 11 to Huntsville, then Highway 60 east into the park — roughly 300 km. Highway 60 is the only road that crosses the park, running about 56 km between the West and East Gates, and virtually everything a day visitor sees is strung along it. Around twenty maintained day-hiking trails leave the corridor, including the Lookout Trail, Bat Lake, Track and Tower, and the strenuous Centennial Ridges. The Visitor Centre near kilometre 43 has a viewing deck that takes in a long sweep of forested valley.
Peak colour usually falls between the last week of September and the first week of October, and it draws enormous crowds; the park publishes a weekly fall colour report, and the Highway 60 corridor parking lots fill early on autumn weekends. A day-use permit is required. To see the park properly you have to leave the road: canoe routes lead into an interior of more than 2,000 lakes, and outfitters at Canoe Lake rent everything needed for a first overnight trip.
From Toronto the approach is Highway 400 north, then Highway 11 to Huntsville, then Highway 60 east into the park — roughly 300 km. Highway 60 is the only road that crosses the park, running about 56 km between the West and East Gates, and virtually everything a day visitor sees is strung along it. Around twenty maintained day-hiking trails leave the corridor, including the Lookout Trail, Bat Lake, Track and Tower, and the strenuous Centennial Ridges. The Visitor Centre near kilometre 43 has a viewing deck that takes in a long sweep of forested valley.
Peak colour usually falls between the last week of September and the first week of October, and it draws enormous crowds; the park publishes a weekly fall colour report, and the Highway 60 corridor parking lots fill early on autumn weekends. A day-use permit is required. To see the park properly you have to leave the road: canoe routes lead into an interior of more than 2,000 lakes, and outfitters at Canoe Lake rent everything needed for a first overnight trip.
Points of Interest
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✦
Lookout TrailEasy 2 km trail to a viewpoint 100 m above the valley.
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✦
Park Visitor CentrePanoramic deck at kilometre 43, at its best in September and October.
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✦
Track and Tower TrailA 7.5 km loop with a view from an old fire tower.
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✦
Canoeing on Canoe LakeAlgonquin's signature outing, with rentals at the Portage Store.
Fishing Spots Along the Route
Protected areas along the route
🌿
ARROWHEAD PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Copeland Forest
General Use Area
🌿
SPRINGWATER PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
BIG EAST RIVER PROVINCIAL PARK (WATERWAY CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Minesing Swamp (Minesing Conservation Wetlands)
General Use Area
🌿
J. ALBERT BAUER PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
UPPER RAFT LAKE CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
BASS LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
EASTERN CARDWELL FOREST CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
Tiny Marsh
Provincial Wildlife Area
🌿
AXE LAKE WETLAND CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
Take this route offline
Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Toronto. Export the map as a geo-referenced PDF before you go and open it in BorealMaps — your GPS position shows on the map with no signal at all.
Try PDF Export How geo-referenced PDF maps workPractical info
- Departure Toronto
- Destination Algonquin Provincial Park
- Distance 300 km
- Duration 3h30
- Category Long (250–500 km)
- Best season All seasons
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