G’Day from the South Algonquin Business Alliance (SABA). If you’re new to this area - welcome! If you’ve been here before - welcome back!
Located at the southernmost border of the Nipissing District and snuggled between the Muskoka area and Renfrew County, you’ll find South Algonquin on the map between Algonquin Provincial Park’s Highway 60 corridor and Barry’s Bay. We are Ontario’s Hinterland Region - just beyond the cities of Toronto and Ottawa.
Surrounded in every direction by breathtaking views of serene wilderness and tranquil lakes, you should plan to make frequent stops during your stay simply to absorb the gorgeous landscapes. Take as many pictures as you want - we know you’ll want to look back on these memories and priceless views for years to come! And share them on your social media feeds with the hashtags #SouthAlgonquin #ExploreSouthAlgonquin #SABA
Whether you’re an experienced wilderness traveler or venturing north to the great outdoors for the first time, we’ve put together a sample itinerary for you so you know what you can look forward to when you book your stay in the quaint and quiet township of South Algonquin.
Day 1: Arrive and explore South Algonquin
Lunch at Lake of Two Rivers Cafe
Bicycle the park: The Old Rail Bike Trail, or Minnesing Trail
Dinner at the Lakeside Smokehouse
Back to overnight accommodation
Eat After a scenic drive to South Algonquin, you might be feeling hungry. Try lunch at the Lake of Two Rivers Store and Cafe (check their website for hours of operation). The Lake of Two Rivers General Store is a great place to catch some Algonquin Park swag.
Explore Bike - or walk if you’d rather - along the Old Rail Bike Trail that takes you all the way to Rock Lake or Minnesing Trail on the north side of highway 60- the there are so many sights to see.
Eat After a long day of activity - as leisurely or difficult as you choose - you might want to replenish your energy with the delicious choices offered at the Lakeside Smokehouse at the east end of South Algonquin on beautiful Spectacle Lake.
Stay Once you’ve sampled everything the Smokehouse has to offer, head back to your overnight accommodations to relax with all the sights and services each location has to offer. Madawaska and Whitney have an array of choices for you from cabins, to motels, to campgrounds, AirBnBs to luxury resorts. Read more here. Check back in on the site as our options grow!
Day 2: Make yourself at home in South Algonquin
Enjoy breakfast and order a bagged lunch for your travels
Canoe from Rock Lake to Galeairy Lake
Dinner over the campfire
Sleep with your windows open a crack to hear the night sounds of nature and wildlife as you drift off to sleep, and then wake up to try some more of South Algonquin’s finest dining options.
Eat Try out Whitney’s Algonquin Lunchbar for breakfast and then head over to the Mad Musher to order a bagged lunch that you can take along for a picnic on your travels through the day.
Explore Your legs might be tired from all the biking and hiking of Day 1, so why not take a lovely canoe ride from Rock Lake to Galeairy Lake - all arranged by our local Opeongo Outfitters based in Whitney.
Shop After a day exploring the trails in the area, head back across the peaceful lake and browse through some of the shops in South Algonquin! Check out the directory on our website to put your shopping lists together in advance!
Eat As the sun sets, find a place to hunker down for a dinner over a crackling campfire and enjoy the unpolluted starlight on the inky backdrop of the night sky. If you’re interested in a late-night adventure, check out the nearby Four Corners Algonquin Observatory and really get a close-up view of those stars!
Day 3: Goodbye (for now) to South Algonquin
Enjoy breakfast
Hike the trails through South Algonquin or in Algonquin Park
Depart for home
Eat Have breakfast in or order out at the Algonquin Lunchbar. Explore Head out to hike on South Algonquin’s Old Rail Trail or the trails around Spectacle Lake Lodge. Or, visit one of the beautiful trails in the park like the Logging Museum Trail, Beaver Pond Trail, the Leaf Lake Ski Trail. If you’re looking for something more remote and self-guided, you might prefer stopping by Algonquin Provincial Park for a couple hours through one of the many access points that connect South Algonquin to the provincial park - on Galeairy Lake, Aylen Lake, Hay Lake, or Shall lake.
Shop After stretching your legs and enjoying authentic nature for a little longer, you can head back to your lodgings to pack up and check out. On your way out of town, stop by Perry’s Pit Stop to gas up and grab some ice cream for the road!
You’ll want to come back again to visit all the restaurants you didn’t have a chance to sample, and sleep in all the beautiful accommodations available that you didn’t have a chance to explore. Want to read more about what South Algonquin has to offer?
Check out our other blogs:
Welcome to South Algonquin - to learn more about the area.
The 11 Best Things to Do Year Round at South Algonquin - to learn more about activities that are great for solo OR family travellers.
Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting South Algonquin in the “Off-Season” - to learn about the perks of booking a winter adventure trip!
Winter Activities in Ontario for great tips on travelling in the chilly months!
We look forward to seeing you!
Follow us on social media for future events and updates!
The South Algonquin Business Alliance was featured in the news recently as we celebrated all our victories (small and large) from 2021. Read more here about how far we’ve come to serve you better!
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