Exploring Algonquin Park

Diana McElroy was a computer programmer in Deep River, Ontario.

While Joanne Kates is best known as the restaurant critic for The Globe and Mail, she is also an expert on Ontario’s Algonquin Park, both from having grown up there and from currently spending much of her time at her cottage in the park.

The first few chapters are devoted to the history of the park area: its geology, native peoples, and the formation of the park proper. An account of the early development of conflicts between logging and recreational use leads into a discussion of the present-day situation as well as other relevant problems such as acid rain and conflicts between user groups. There follow four chapters describing each of the seasons as they manifest themselves in the park in terms of weather, wildlife, vegetation, water conditions, and recreational activities. The bulk of the rest of the book is devoted to these activities in greater detail. First is a description of the lodges, campgrounds, nature trails, and exhibits along Highway 60, the main road through the park. Second is a section on hiking, describing the park’s two major trails. This includes almost step-by-step information about each trail and the characteristics of individual campsites along the way. Third is a description of five canoe routes in different parts of the park. These routes vary in difficulty from easy to expert, last from two to ten days, and run from lakes to white water.

Descriptions, such as those for the hiking trails, are detailed and include numerous historical notes. Maps are included for both the hiking trails and the canoe routes. The text is illustrated throughout with numerous black-and-white photographs, many by the author.

Appendices provide basic information on park facilities and publications. The bibliography lists numerous excellent references about the park itself and about relevant topics such as hiking, canoeing, and wildlife.

This is a very readable book, full of factual information but far from dull. The chapters on the four seasons are the most delightful part of the book, vividly evoking the character of each time of year and reflecting the author’s personal experience and enthusiasm. The spring chapter is enough to make any diehard canoe tripper want to get the paddles out. The hiking trail and canoe route descriptions are good, though they seem to be primarily from a summer point of view — spring or fall travellers may find very different conditions in terms of water levels, vegetation, and insects. The canoe trip descriptions of time required, level of difficulty, and advisability of running rapids are all quite conservative. No one should get into trouble following this advice. Alas, the photographs don’t do the landscape justice; they are adequate but not inspiring, and it is a pity that both the Natch and the Barron Canyon could not have been shown to better advantage.

Nonetheless, Exploring Algonquin Park is informative and enjoyable to read, providing a rich portrait of an interesting area of Ontario.