Get closer than you imagined possible to Algonquin Park moose, photograph the park’s most stunning autumn scenes, or discover cultural treasures hidden deep in the forest. These Algonquin tours highlight the very best of the park, whether you choose a guided Algonquin canoe trip or a park bus tour. You’ll be amazed by how much you can see and learn on an Algonquin Park day trip!
[This article is part of the Ultimate Algonquin Park Travel Guide 2021. Find all the resources you need to plan an adventure-filled trip to Algonquin Park.]
Algonquin canoe tours
To experience the real magic of Algonquin Park, you need to get off the highway and onto the park’s lakes and streams. Enhance your Algonquin canoe tour by choosing a themed day trip based on your interests—wildlife watching, artists in the park, fishing and more. These Algonquin Park guided canoe day tours are a great introduction to paddling in the park and are perfect for first-timers! Canoes, paddles, safety equipment, park permits and shore lunch (full-day trips) are provided.
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Algonquin Canoe Trip Sampler
Enjoy a one-day backcountry experience in Algonquin Park with Algonquin Outfitters, starting at their Oxtongue Lake store. This full-day, guided experience is ideal for active people wanting an enjoyable day on the water or a taste of what canoe tripping in Algonquin Park is all about. You’ll see beautiful scenery and learn fundamental paddling, portaging and safety skills.
Discover Algonquin Canoe Tripping
Take the mystery out of Algonquin Park canoe tripping with this personalized, full-day canoe tour. Algonquin Bound’s experienced guides will teach you essential canoe tripping skills and share their knowledge of Algonquin Park’s fascinating natural and cultural history. Algonquin Bound offers this canoe day trip from their three distinct locations: start at Canoe Lake or Smoke Lake near the park’s West Gate, tour the quieter lakes and rivers around Shall Lake near the East Gate, or visit the spectacular Barron Canyon on Algonquin Park’s east side.
Canoe Lake Cultural Tour
Beginning at the Canoe Lake access point, Algonquin Adventure Tours’ six-hour guided canoe tour explores the cultural heart of Algonquin Park. After an orientation to Algonquin Park and essential canoeing skills, you’ll paddle across Canoe Lake and learn about historical points of interest along the way, from ruins of a century-old town site to possibly the most debated gravesite in Canada—that of celebrated landscape artist, Tom Thomson, who died here in 1917 under mysterious circumstances. This canoe day trip also includes a short hike to a scenic lookout, shore lunch and—depending on season—swimming, cliff jumping, wild berry picking or fall colors viewing.
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Hailstorm Creek Wildlife Watching Tour
Explore Algonquin Park’s Hailstorm Creek Nature Reserve and enjoy some of the best scenery and wildlife viewing in Algonquin Park with the assistance of an experienced Algonquin Outfitters canoe trip guide. This unique half-day experience allows day-trippers to explore Lake Opeongo’s wild and remote Hailstorm Creek without having to worry about paddling on the big lake. Algonquin Outfitters’ water taxi transports paddlers and canoes (or kayaks) from their Opeongo base to the heart of Algonquin Park in just 20 minutes and returns later to pick you up. Moose, beaver, heron and loon are abundant in this scenic wetland.
Intro to Algonquin Canoe Tour
Head to The Portage Store on Canoe Lake to meet your guide for this one-day introduction to Algonquin Park canoe culture. After instruction and orientation, explore Canoe Lake while watching for wildlife and learning about historical points of interest along the way. This guided Algonquin Park canoe day trip includes a tasty shoreline lunch.
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Algonquin Bass & Trout Fishing Canoe Tour
Departing at sunrise with the morning mist (and the morning bite!), this three-hour canoe tour travels with Algonquin Adventure Tours’ founder to his preferred fishing spots, where you’ll learn expert tips for catching Algonquin Park’s world-famous lake and brook trout. Fishing success rate on this guided trip is 90 percent. Anglers travel in a custom fishing canoe outfitted with a silent, electric trolling motor, top-quality fishing gear and electronic fish finders. Every tour begins with a delicious breakfast of local bakery pastries and freshly brewed organic coffee.
Algonquin photo tours
Whether you’re an avid photographer looking to expand your knowledge of wildlife and landscape photography, or a novice shutterbug wanting to capture quintessential images from your time in the park, there is a perfect Algonquin Park photo tour for you. Bring your camera and prepare to be inspired!
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Algonquin Wildlife & Landscape Photography Experience
Gain a deeper knowledge of your camera’s functions and capabilities while developing your own creative vision on a sunrise-to-sunset Algonquin photo tour. Led by a local duo who shoot professionally in Algonquin Park, Follow Me North Photography workshops are all about guiding fellow photographers into Algonquin and teaching the how-to’s of wildlife and landscape photography. Tailored to your specific photography goals, these coaching tours are offered one-on-one or in small groups and visit exclusive locations in the park not included on most tours.
Combine Follow Me North’s full-day Algonquin Park Photo Guided Tour with a post-shoot photo editing session in their Muskoka studio for the complete experience.
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Algonquin Backcountry Adventure: Cameras & Canoes
If you’re looking to photograph Algonquin Park moose and other wildlife in their natural habitat, this is the Algonquin photo tour for you! The full-day Cameras & Canoes Photography Adventure is lead by professional photographer, instructor and local “animal-whisperer” Helen Grose, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters.
Your Algonquin photography adventure begins with a water taxi ride from Algonquin Outfitters’ Lake Opeongo store to one of the park’s best locations for viewing moose. Here, you’ll slip into canoes to explore a backcountry wetland filled with wildlife. Photograph moose, loons, beavers and the beautiful scenery from your canoe, while getting individualized photography instruction and back-of-camera critique.
Algonquin Fall Colors Photo Workshop
Capture peak fall colors in Algonquin Park with the help of award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer, instructor and Algonquin specialist, Rob Stimpson. Participants on this full-day Fall Foliage Algonquin photo tour meet in the village of Dwight near the park’s West Gate and explore on foot to photograph the sensational fall colors of Algonquin Park. Shoot iconic waterfalls and whimsical river scenes, while learning the art of composition, color, lens selection and effective camera settings.
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Algonquin Astrophotography Workshop
Muskoka wildlife and astrophotographer, Wesley Liikane, better known as Cowboy With A Camera, is an expert at shooting the dark, star-filled skies of Algonquin Park. Learn how to photograph the night sky, the Milky Way, northern lights and even meteor showers on this hands-on, after-dark Algonquin photo tour.
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Algonquin Winter Wonderland Photo Workshop
Follow Me North Photography loves Algonquin in every season, and they’re confident you’ll agree after journeying to Algonquin Park for their Winter Wonderland Photography Workshop. Imagine snowshoeing to vast, icy waterfalls, observing moose, beavers, pine martens and otters co-existing in a white powdered vista, and hiking to locations crystallized by the morning frost—all with a camera in hand and new skills to practice.
This landscape and wildlife photography workshop is tailor-made for adventurous photographers from all photography backgrounds. Book the full weekend photo workshop, or join for a single-day trip.
Algonquin Electric Canoe Photography Tour
Short on time but keen on photographing Algonquin Park’s wilderness vistas and wild inhabitants? Join Algonquin Adventure Tours founder and avid photographer, Stuart Letovsky, for three hours of fascinating Algonquin Park history, spectacular vistas and connecting with nature on beautiful Canoe Lake. This top-rated Algonquin photo tour travels in a custom canoe outfitted with an eco-friendly, silent electric motor, so you can see more of the park and increase your chances of up-close wildlife encounters while leaving your hands free for photography.
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Algonquin driving and bus tours
An Algonquin Park bus tour or driving tour can be a great introduction to the park for first-time visitors. Highway 60 traverses Algonquin from east to west, a twisting two-lane road that winds through nearly 60 km of amazing scenery, past sparkling lakes and vibrant forest.
Departing from Toronto, most bus tours arrive at the park in three to four hours and make several stops throughout the day at some of Algonquin Park’s top attractions. Many tours include time for easy, optional hikes on scenic lookout trails. There are even adventurous Algonquin bus tours for active travelers that include canoeing excursions, swimming in a pristine lake and longer hikes.
Algonquin Park Hiking and Canoeing Day Tour
Spend a full day exploring Canada’s oldest provincial park on this active bus tour with Toronto-based adventure company, Travelling Chicken Adventure Tours. Your first stop will be a short hike to the beautiful Ragged Falls, followed by lunch and two hours of canoeing and swimming at Canoe Lake. Finish the day with a steeper 2-km hike to a magnificent view overlooking several hundred square kilometers of Algonquin Park. This small group driving tour uses a 15-passenger van and is led by a knowledgeable tour guide with plenty of local experience.
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Toronto to Algonquin Park Tour with ParkBus
ParkBus provides transportation for independent backcountry travelers and day-trippers in Algonquin Park. Travel from Toronto to Algonquin aboard a coach bus, with scheduled stops at popular park attractions such as Oxtongue Lake, Canoe Lake, Lake of Two Rivers, Pog Lake/Whitefish Campground and Lake Opeongo. The bus returns through the park picking up passengers at the same stops 2.5 to 5.5 hours after drop-off, during which time you can enjoy a day hike, rent a canoe at Algonquin Outfitters or The Portage Store and paddle from their docks, or rent bikes to ride the Old Railway Bicycle Trail at Mew Lake.
Looking for a fun, social Algonquin Park experience with fellow nature lovers? Check out ParkBus ActiveDays for upcoming guided group day tours in Algonquin.
Algonquin Park Fall Colors Hiking/Bus Tour
Hike in the breathtaking scenery of Algonquin Park during the fall season as trees such as maples, birch and beech turn vibrant shades of crimson, orange and gold. Traveling round-trip from Toronto aboard a deluxe bus, this 12-hour day trip includes a visit to the world-class Algonquin Park Visitors Centre and two optional hikes on an easy wetland trail (1.2 km) and the moderate (2.2 km) Lookout Trail.
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Algonquin Park Day Tour for Active Travelers
This convenient Algonquin Park day trip from Toronto is designed for active travelers who are looking for an action-packed day out in nature. This top-rated, small group tour travels by van and includes plenty of time at each stop for enjoying all that Algonquin Park has to offer. Hike to the cascading waters of Ragged Falls, learn to paddle your own canoe, swim in Canoe Lake and even go cliff jumping (if you dare!). This tour offers the most hiking, with a challenging 5-km loop on the gorgeous Booth’s Rock Trail, visiting secret swimming holes and a jaw-dropping lookout.
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Algonquin Park Snowshoeing Day Tour
Experience the magic of winter in Algonquin Park on this small group day tour with Travelling Chicken Adventure Tours. Journey from Toronto in a 12-passenger van to Algonquin Park, where your guide will provide snowshoes so you can hike in the deep, fluffy snow without sinking. Explore Ragged Falls and a second Algonquin Park trail of your choice, while admiring the breathtaking beauty of the snow-covered park.
Wildlife watching on. | Photo: Destination Ontario
