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Winter in Algonquin Park

Highway 60 Corridor
Algonquin's East Side
Developed Camping
Algonquin's Backcountry in Winter
How to Obtain Your Backcountry Permit in Winter
Interpretive Trails
Algonquin Visitor Centre
Skiing, Snowshoeing and Dogsledding
Winter Safety & Ice Travel
Contact Us

Algonquin is a fascinating place to visit in the winter – a place to enjoy camping, skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, and wildlife viewing. Spot the tracks of deer, moose, martens, fishers, otters, foxes and wolves and occasionally, the animals themselves. Birds such as the Common Raven, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee and colourful winter finches are also frequently seen. Check the latest winter birding report.

Algonquin Park is open year-round, but facility dates and hours of operation vary. Please check the Events Calendar for more details.

Please note that winter fishing is not permitted in Algonquin Park.

The Highway 60 Corridor

Highway 60 is ploughed and sanded all winter by the Ministry of Transportation. Along Highway 60, as snow accumulates, the Arowhon Road (north from km 15.4) and the Rock Lake Road (south from km 40.3) are not ploughed by Ontario Parks. These roads are closed to public travel.

Anyone wishing to camp in the Rock Lake area must park their vehicle in the Big Pines Trail parking lot and travel by foot down the 8-kilometre-long Rock Lake Road.

Day visitors wishing to drive a side road off Highway 60 may travel the Opeongo Road (north from km 46.3) which is ploughed to the Opeongo Access Point (located approximately 6 kilometres from Highway 60 [no Access Point services are available at this time of year]). This narrow road has limited winter turn-arounds and no shoulders – drivers should use caution.

From Thanksgiving [second Monday in October] to mid-May, commercial services are available only outside the Park – in Whitney and beyond to the east, and in Oxtongue Lake, Dwight and beyond to the west.

Winter equipment rentals (snowshoes, skis, camping equipment, etc.) are available only from outfitters located outside the Park.

Algonquin's East Side

The Barron Canyon Road (access road to Sand Lake Gate) and associated parking lots such as the Barron Canyon Trail, McManus Lake Access Point, Lake Travers Access Point, etc. is not ploughed in the winter by Ontario Parks. This includes the +/- 18 kilometres of road outside the Park. Road maintenance (ploughing and sanding) is performed by the forest industry to meet their needs, with no maintenance on weekends or holidays. For current road conditions, contact Brent Frederick, Achray Group Leader, Ontario Parks at (613) 732-5553.

The Achray Road is typically gated one kilometre from the (closed) Achray Campground from Thanksgiving (the second Monday in October) to late April and visitors must access the trails and the backcountry on foot from the gate. When winter's snow arrives, visitors wishing to access the Eastern Pines Backpacking Trail, Berm Lake Trail or the backcountry in the Achray area will have to snowshoe or ski about 5km from the intersection of the Barron Canyon Road and the Achray Road.

Permits are required for all Park visits, year-round, and are available at the self-serve fee station at the Sand Lake Gate.

There is no cell phone coverage on Algonquin's East Side (located near the city of Pembroke).

Developed Camping

Developed camping is available from Thanksgiving to late April only at Mew Lake Campground on a first-come, first-served basis. The main parking lot and the roads adjacent to campsites #1 to 76 are ploughed, and sites #1 to 66 have electrical hook-ups. (Sites are ploughed as time and weather allow).

The Mew Lake Campground features seven yurts (spacious tent-like structures with basic furniture and electric heat; available by reservation only) for those who would like a simple style of roofed accommodation.

A fully-winterized comfort station (flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities) is available at Mew Lake Campground.

Firewood may be purchased at the Mew Lake woodyard and is housed in a shed beside the woodyard gate. Deposit payment (cash only) in the fee box at the woodyard.

Permits for campsites at Mew Lake Campground are available at the:

West Gate
East Gate
Mew Lake Campground (self-serve fee station, cash only)

See fees and permits.

Algonquin's Backcountry in Winter

For the real adventurer, winter camping is permitted in the Park backcountry, accessible only by ski or showshoe. For overnight backpackers, the parking lots for the Western Uplands Backpacking Trail and Highland Backpacking Trail are ploughed.

How to Obtain Your Backcountry Permit in Winter

Procedures for permits and registration differ during Algonquin's winter period (Canadian Thanksgiving to the last Friday in April). A permit must be purchased for all Park visits, for any length of time, and for access anywhere in Algonquin. All current Park permit fees apply.

The Ontario Parks Reservation Service Call Centre does not accept backcountry campsite reservations for the winter period. After Thanksgiving to the last Friday in April, Interior Camping Permits may be purchased, in person, at the West Gate or East Gate during business hours.

If it is inconvenient to physically access either of these offices given the detour required from your proposed backcountry access point, you may purchase an Interior Camping Permit by telephone during office hours, using a major credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express), from the Algonquin Park’s West Gate at (705) 633-5583 or the Park Information at (705) 633-5572.

When an Interior Camping Permit is purchased by telephone, it is held at the Park Office. No refunds are possible for permits purchased by telephone.

Should a Park Warden observe your vehicle or meet you in the Park, your details will be verified through the Park Office before any enforcement action is taken. To assist Park Wardens, visitors must leave a note on the vehicle dash indicating clearly their name and the permit transaction number (which will be given at the time of booking).

In the event of an emergency or should a search and rescue be required, your trip details, held at the Park Office, will be the first point of reference.

Remember, your safety in Algonquin Park — as elsewhere — is ultimately your own responsibility.

Interpretive Trails

Parking is available at most of the self-guided interpretive trails along Highway 60 during the winter months, however, regular maintenance of trails takes place only from early May to late October.

Guide booklets are removed from trailhead dispensers from late October to early May (booklets are available year-round during business hours at the East Gate, West Gate and the Visitor Centre, or online

To help visitors plan their day trips along Highway 60, parking areas are ploughed at the following interpretive trails throughout the winter months.

Algonquin Visitor Centre

Open on weekends from early November to late April, the Algonquin Visitor Centre offers a bookstore and outstanding exhibits on the Park's natural and cultural history. A theatre presentation sums up the Park story and takes you out to a viewing deck from which you can admire a breathtaking panorama of wild Algonquin landscape and check out the winter bird feeders.

Skiing, Snowshoeing and Dogsledding

Algonquin has 48 kilometres of groomed and 23 kilometres of non-groomed cross-country ski trails available in three trail networks. Trails range in degree of difficulty from easy to difficult. Check the latest ski trail conditions.

To minimize damage to trails, dogs, walking, snowshoeing, toboggans and sleighs are not permitted on ski trails.

Snowshoeing enthusiasts can go virtually anywhere (except the ski trails). If you prefer to stay on a definite trails, check out the short interpretive walking trails along the highway or either of the two longer overnight backpacking trails.

Dogsledding trails are found in two locations in Algonquin – one along Highway 60 and one in the northwest section accessible from the village of South River on Highway 11.

Commercial operators offer dogsledding services and should be contacted directly for information or, if you wish to use the trails independently, contact the Park for detailed trail maps and permit information.

Walking is not permitted on dogsled trails as deep tracks can result in injuries to sled dogs. Snowshoers and skiers must yield the trail to dogsledders.

Winter Safety & Ice Travel

A visit to Algonquin in winter can be rewarding but there are dangers. On any visit to Algonquin Park, visitors must be aware of their limitations. Your safety in Algonquin Park – as elsewhere – is ultimately YOUR responsibility. Be prepared!

Winter camping requires special care and attention to equipment. On any extended trip away from the Highway it is wise to tell someone back home your exact itinerary and expected return date. Even following this advice and the fact that the Park staff do some limited patrols (including weekends) cannot be taken as assurance that you would be found in time if you were to become lost or have a serious accident in sub-zero temperatures.

We advise against ice travel due to a range of environmental variables and the difficulty in detecting hazards. Be prepared for a cold-weather emergency.

Cellular telephone coverage is not Park-wide; generally it is limited to 3 kilometres on each side of Highway 60 and, even in this area, service can be "none" to "limited."