My two friends and I are trying to plan our first portage trip together sometime next year. Two of us have been on 3-5 portage trips each while we were younger so we have basic experience and pretty decent canoeing experience elsewhere. From skimming this subreddit and other camping websites we think we've settled on Grand Lake to Squirrel Rapids. It seems to be fairly novice for our one friend who has never been but enough for me and my buddy to not get too bored. My one friend and I already have all the gear we need, just are helping our other friend put a kit together but now the question I want to ask since I'm the one doing most of the actual planning and I haven't been able to find a pre-made map for that trip just written instructions. What is the best way for me to map out that trip? is there a good program to use or should I just print out a map and start drawing on it following the written instructions I've found online?

Anything helps thanks!

Spotted on spruce bog trail

Anyone have any old copies of The Raven? And could you post some photos?

I've been reading and enjoying the "Best of the Raven" books that the Friends of Algonquin sell. I'm just curious to see what the newsletter actually looked like back in the day.

Hey fellow park-lovers!

I just booked off June 6th-10th 2025 for my first solo trip to the park. Was wondering about your favourite 3 or 4 night loops? I'm an experienced backcountry camper, don't need a rest day, but don't mind one either. 40 to 60km would be ideal.

I've done Canoe lake into Tom Thomson, to Burnt island and back, was thinking of reversing that through Sunbeam, but wouldn't mind hitting a different locale. Rock into Pen, and beyond I've done as well. Was thinking Rain L access or maybe Magnetawan, but not picky at all. Oddly enough, I don't fish. Looking for scenery, swimming, sun, and relative solitude but I know there's never a guarantee of that!

Thanks for any suggestions or faves you might share. Maybe I'll see you out there!

I can’t find any page that clearly states what is open and useable right now for backcountry hiking and camping

The reservations page doesn’t indicate that you can’t book camping sites but everything has the orange ‘restricted’ dot — is this because bookings are only done in person or by phone?

I can call them later but i don’t get why it’s so damn hard to just know… can I hike and camp? Or I can’t until X date?

I was warned there might be trails closed until winter backcountry hiking begins but is not clear

This picture was taken during my backpacking trip of the Eastern Pines in September. This juicy spider decided to plant its fat egg sac on my bag one night, only for me to find it first thing in the morning. No I did not scream like a little girl that would be silly 😅

Hey, was just wondering if anyone could enlighten me on a few questions about the backcountry. I was wondering do portages and sites change (added or removed) and how often? Just wondering because there is large parts of the park that seem inaccessible even by day tripping from a back country site. Does algonquin work on adding more back country portages and sites or is it kind what we have is what we have?

I went to book online for camping on Opeongo for late October, early November, but the site says there's restrictions and I can't book online.

Is it open to launch our boat and where would we book when we get there?

Hello, i’m going on a solo backpacking trip of the ~80km route through the western uplands on Oct 28-30. I’m having trouble finding accurate weather information for that area. Any advice to get more accurate weather information for that section of Algonquin.

Edit: I’m a very experienced backpacker, just looking to see if anyone knows any good weather websites not just “Prep for anything cuz you never know”.

Edit: This would be a backcountry hike and camp. My concern is being soaked, I do have good layering for warmth.

I considered going up for a couple of nights next week. Obviously rain is a consideration and it’s pretty cold at night.

Do you folks wear a jacket and pants that is waterproof and heavy? I’ve got stuff from other endeavours that would keep me fairly dry and warm. If it’s not expected to rain heavily I think I could do it.

I’m not going to risk it if i have doubts. Hypothermia is real. But I’m trying to get a sense for what experienced Algonquin users do

Little chilly but fires always nice great way to end the camping season

Visited for the first time yesterday and caught this sunset at Lake of Two Rivers (I think.. was a long day!)