This huge provincial park (3,000 sq mi/7,700 sq km) is hard to miss on the map. More than a thousand miles/kilometers of canoe routes make it a favorite spot of canoeists as well as popular with hikers and anglers. The real reason to go is to explore a true wilderness, and one that's a manageable drive from both Toronto and Ottawa. There are several rustic resort lodges and campgrounds on Highway 60, the only road that cuts through the park, as well as in Yerts—canvas-covered cottages for would-be campers who don't want to tote a tent. The Algonquin Logging Exhibit, on Highway 60 near the park's east entrance, is a museum documenting the logging operations that took place in Ontario in the late 1800s.
During the summer, you can go on a wolf howl or backpack to a remote location reachable only by canoe. In winter, snowshoeing and dogsledding top our list of favorite activities. If you're more interested in soft adventure, there are numerous inns and luxury resorts within an hour's drive of the park that will choreograph day trips in the park. The Algonquin Visitors Center has a restaurant, bookstore, viewing deck, theater productions, films and other displays about the park as well as general information. 155 mi/250 km west of Ottawa.
