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Golden Visit      By James Stoness

Algonquin Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in Ontario. Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven brought this beautiful wilderness area to public attention as the subject of several of the artist's paintings. Established in 1893 as Ontario's first provincial park, Algonquin encompasses more than 7,725 square kilometres of forest, lakes and rivers. Sylvia and I visited Algonquin in the autumn when scarlets and golds hugged every hillside contrasting occasionally with the darker evergreens. It was a scene that filled the RV with a happy glow, and a feeling of contentment. The campground was saturated with the delightful aroma of autumn, and the sounds of falling leaves that crunched pleasantly underfoot as we walked through the woods. It was a great time to be in the park. The bugs have left, and animals are preparing for winter. The air is clear and crisp and the blue waters of the lakes seem brighter as they are set off beautifully by the painted forests rising above them. And, the crowds are a shadow of what you'll find in summer. The largest crowds come in the summer, filling the campgrounds and beaches with their merriment, and sometimes noise. Fortunately, there are 'radio-free' areas in some campgrounds. We prefer to visit during the so-called shoulder seasons. Autumn is beautiful, as is early spring before the black flies and mosquitoes come out. Moose are abundant along the road then, as they come down to lick the salt that has collected over the winter. As well, the new leaves are emerging then, and the woods smell nice as the warm sun dries the leaves. Winter camping is also popular, and is certainly bug free. An abundance of groomed ski trails will provide the opportunity to explore this wilderness, muffled in its snowy blanket. Each season has its own charms, but for sheer color and breathtaking views, give me fall anytime. The major access to Algonquin is via Highway 60, which cuts a small arc, only 56 km long, across the park's southern edge. This corridor is highly developed, and it's where you find the RV campgrounds. There are turnouts for picnic areas and little roads that lead to marshes, stream rapids, parking areas for hiking trails and other points of interests. Some of these side roads are not well marked, however, and it's not unusual for a trailer or motorhome to pull into one only to find it's narrow, hilly, or has no room to turn around. Been there, done that! Along this corridor you will also find private stores and lodges. The Portage Store on Canoe Lake has been outfitting park visitors since 1937, and has everything one would need for an enjoyable canoe trip. You can enjoy a good meal at their restaurant before you leave. The Opeongo Store on Lake Opeongo also provides canoe rentals and outfitting services. Both sell gasoline. ... (Read full article in the magazine) (Page Top)

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