In prep for our big Gros Morne National Park adventure next June, my friend Deb had a few friends north to her cottage on Lake of Bays, which we used as a home base to hike Algonquin Park for two days.
We had a couple of very rare, warm Northern Ontario November days with highs of 16C and a gorgeous breeze. The leaves had fallen, the tourists were gone, and we didn’t see another soul the whole time. Amazing…
My dog Hailey kept us company the whole 27.2 km and scared me senseless when she sauntered casually along the cliff edges.
If you’re going, make sure you pick up a trail-specific route guide at the West or East Algonquin Park gate as the booklets detail interesting history about the area — from rocks dating back a billion years to fur trapping and the building of the railroad.
CENTENNIAL RIDGES TRAIL
14 km (it says 10 km, but my Fitbit argued it was 4 km more, 21,000 steps and 134 flights of stairs); 4 hours (the trail map says it takes 6 hrs). This is a fairly strenuous hike but worth it for the incredible views from the ridges and golden ponds.
TRACK AND TOWER TRAIL
7.7 km + 5.5 km side loop for a total of 13.2 km; 3 hours (or 4 hours as per the trail map). With gorgeous vistas, this hike is much easier than Centennial.
In 1921, an anonymous writer opined on the beauty of Grant Lake, aka the Gem-of-the-Woods. With the US election today, and all the chaos and violence in the world, their words rang very true:
The sense of solemnity is deep and all pervasive. The woods constitute a temple, and the heart is uplifted at the thought of the immanence of Deity in this vast and silent world, breathing of beauty and peace. The cares of life recede… All the sordid things of life are forgotten. The things that meant so much in the chaffering market-place of life have no longer any meaning. The woods are an eloquent rebuke to hurry and strife and petty pre-occupations…
We plan to knock off more trails next Spring! 
TREDSUP 