Think of your perfect vacation—fresh air, serene lakes, pine-scented forest and a cozy, ‘gram-worthy sanctuary to end each adventure-filled day. Now think Algonquin Park. The park is practically in the backyard of Ontario’s large urban centres, yet this staycation destination feels worlds away from the gridlock of Toronto and Ottawa. At nearly 2 million acres (7,653 square km) in size, it would take a lifetime of vacations in the park just to scratch the surface of Algonquin’s stunning natural beauty.
You don’t have to be a fan of camp food and sleeping in tents to experience this iconic park—there are plenty of lodges and resorts located within Algonquin or on the park’s periphery. Base yourself at an Algonquin lodge or resort for a true holiday feel with a comfortable cocktail of rustic luxury and wilderness vibes.
[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 Park lodges
An Algonquin lodge stay offers flexibility for couples, friends, families and solo travellers. Book an all-inclusive package where every detail of your experience is exquisitely crafted. Or go independent—taking guided day trips in Algonquin or exploring the scores of trails, lakes and attractions just a short drive from your doorstep, and then returning to your peaceful refuge to recharge for the next adventure.
Fancy more of an off-grid vacation? Get back to nature at an Algonquin eco-lodge, where you can step right from your backcountry bolthole into a leafy world of birdsong and lapping waves. Four of the lodges listed below are located within the park’s boundaries, tucked beneath towering pines and beside beautiful lakes where wilderness is just a few paddle strokes away.
Killarney Lodge
Nestled on a pine-clad peninsula in the heart of Algonquin Park, Killarney Lodge boasts both a fabulous lakeside location and an elegant, rustic ambience. Each of the lodge’s secluded log and pine cabins includes a personal canoe and a waterfront porch with intimate views of Lake of Two Rivers. Explore paddle-and-portage routes, cycle the Old Railway Bike Trail and enjoy casual or ambitious hikes—all right from your cabin door. Or simply settle in to listen to loon calls, stargaze from your deck and savor three delicious daily meals and famous home baking in the lodge’s old-timey dining room.
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Bartlett Lodge
An Algonquin Park landmark since 1917, Bartlett Lodge is an oasis of luxury and fascinating history set amid the wild beauty of Algonquin’s Cache Lake. Whether your idea of the perfect vacation is a lakeside deck and a comfy reading chair, or an ambitious paddle-and-portage adventure to a remote lake, Bartlett’s log cabins, glamping tents and artist studio suites ensure you’ll end each day in total comfort. And the lodge’s gourmet, five-star meal plan guarantees you’ll be well fuelled for each new experience. Located near the mid-point of the Highway 60 corridor, the magic begins the moment guests park their vehicles at Cache Lake and board Bartlett’s freighter canoe for the short ride to the lodge.
Algonquin Eco-Lodge
Located on the southern border of the park, Algonquin Eco-Lodge is a wilderness enthusiast’s paradise. Entirely self-sufficient and off-grid, this award-winning Eco-Lodge creates its own alternative energy from an onsite waterfall so guests can enjoy all the finer comforts, including a carbon-neutral hot tub. This is one of the most secluded places you can stay in Algonquin—walk, cycle, horseback ride or ski a 2.3 km trail to reach the lodge (don’t worry, they’ll transfer your luggage). The eco-lodge has the feel and atmosphere of a European mountain lodge, with 17 private bedrooms, communal dining and social areas and an extensive trail network (over 40 km) right out the door. Canoe to secluded beaver lodges and meandering creeks, then relax in the eco-lodge’s lakeside sauna.
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Adventure Lodge Algonquin
The nine cozy log cabins and cottages at Adventure Lodge Algonquin create a romantic setting for this couples-only, pet-friendly retreat on the eastern edge of the park. Guests enjoy a jacuzzi and wood-burning fireplace in each cabin, with all-inclusive gourmet breakfasts and dinners served right to your door. The Adventure Lodge is just a 10-minute walk from the town of Whitney, and an even quicker drive to the East Gate of Algonquin Park. Use of canoes and kayaks to explore the adjacent Madawaska River and Galeairy Lake is included with your stay.
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Wolf Den Nature Retreat
The Wolf Den Nature Retreat is a beautiful log cabin lodge situated on the Oxtongue River, just a few minutes’ paddle from Oxtongue Lake. Conveniently located 9 km from Algonquin’s West Gate, the Wolf Den offers something for every budget with two distinct types of accommodation. Their independent, fully equipped eco-cabins are perfect for private getaways, with one to three bedrooms and gorgeous square-log construction. Across Highway 60, the Wolf Den’s family hostel-style bunkhouses, cabins and bedrooms share kitchen and lounge facilities in the main lodge. These are ideal for solo travellers and shoestring vacations—as well as being a fun, unique way to meet other outdoor enthusiasts and share stories about your experiences in the park.
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Arowhon Pines in Algonquin
Hidden in the heart of Algonquin Park’s backcountry, yet accessible by dirt road from the Highway 60 corridor, Arowhon Pines offers luxury without compromising on location. Experience Algonquin’s world-famous lakes, trails, wildlife and tranquility while “un-roughing” it with a king-size bed and chef-prepared meals at Arowhon Pines’ heritage lodge overlooking Little Joe Lake. From your lakefront log cabin, grab a canoe, kayak or paddleboard off the beach and paddle the portage-free chain of lakes north through Teepee, Littledoe and Tom Thomson lakes. Spend a morning hiking the lodge’s trail system, try your hand at sailing on Little Joe Lake or simply sit back in a Muskoka chair and take in the resplendent fall colors.
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Algonquin Log Cabin at Voyageur Quest
Voyageur Quest combines unique off-grid accommodations, exceptional outdoor guides and outstanding local cuisine to create award-winning Algonquin Park experiences from their location on Kawawaymog Lake at the park’s northwest corner. In addition to lodge-based adventure packages and independent cabin rentals—including a canoe-in, private island retreat—they offer guided canoe trips and park activities in all four seasons.
Book a stay at their Algonquin Log Cabin to enjoy rustic charm, delicious gourmet meals and a peaceful wilderness setting with daily guided excursions on foot and by canoe. Perfect for family gatherings or groups of friends, their Algonquin Cottages offer modern lakefront comfort, a stunning floating sauna and use of canoes, kayaks and SUPs for independent paddling adventures.
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Northern Edge Algonquin
Another fantastic option for a one-of-a-kind Algonquin lodge vacation on Kawawaymog Lake is this acclaimed Ontario Retreat Center. Participants in Northern Edge Algonquin’s all-inclusive, unplugged retreats sleep comfortably in cozy accommodations nestled in the woods, enjoy organic and locally-sourced meals, and participate in a variety of tailored experiences which make use of their lakeside studio, indoor and outdoor workshop spaces, gorgeous cedar sauna and lovingly restored log cabin. Paddleboards, canoes and kayaks encourage exploration of the island-studded lake and nearby Amable du Fond River, while the center’s forest trails inspire quiet contemplation and nature appreciation.
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Algonquin Basecamp
Situated in the village of Kearney, Algonquin Basecamp is a convenient stopover for those beginning a canoe trip on the west side of Algonquin Park at Tim Lake (Access #2), Magnetawan Lake (Access #3) or Rain Lake (Access #4). This friendly, family-run outfitter offers simple, comfortable rooms and hostel-style communal kitchen and lounge areas in their Basecamp Lodge for paddlers utilizing their complete outfitting services. Staying at Algonquin Basecamp before your canoe trip gives you a chance to prepare and relax before heading into the backcountry, as well as an opportunity to review your route and gear with the outfitter.
Northern Wilderness Outfitters
Located on Kawawaymog Lake at the northwest corner of Algonquin Park, Northern Wilderness Outfitters offers rustic chalet accommodation and canoe rentals for paddlers on a budget. For less than $40/person/night, guests receive accommodation and use of canoes and lakefront sauna. Explore the moose-filled meanders of the Amable du Fond River or make a longer day trip into the West Arm of Algonquin’s lovely North Tea Lake.
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Algonquin Portage
Planning a canoe trip to the breathtaking Barron Canyon, mighty Petawawa River or Grand Lake area on the east side of Algonquin Park? Algonquin Portage is located right on your route into the park, just 15 minutes from Sand Lake Gate, making this comprehensive outfitting service and lodge a convenient one-stop shop. Book one their simple, cozy rooms and get an early start on your Algonquin Park adventures. Additional services include: canoe, kayak and SUP rentals, equipment rental, trip planning, vehicle shuttles, canoe delivery/pick-up and a camper’s store.
Algonquin Park resorts
Perfect for families, couples and friends, Algonquin resorts deliver on all the amenities you could desire during a stay on the edge of the park. Take a guided paddling day trip or rent a canoe from a nearby Algonquin outfitters.
From romantic packages with just-for-adults perks to family resorts that kids and parents will love, these are great choices if your dream vacation features a mix of mini adventures and stay-and-play. Also included in this selection are classic cottage resorts, which offer a comfy, low-key “home away from home” in a peaceful setting.
Couples Resort
This couples-only, five-star luxury resort is situated on the shores of Galeairy Lake and the Madawaska River with direct access to the east side of Algonquin Park. Both the lake (most of which lies within the park) and river offer superb canoeing and kayaking, but it’s the Couples Resort’s opulent rooms—all of which feature an outdoor hot tub and in-room jacuzzi next to a wood-burning fireplace—and gourmet dining experiences that make a stay here truly one-of-a-kind. This all-season resort is also home to an organic spa so you can pamper weary muscles after a day of paddling, hiking, biking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing the nearby trails.
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Algonquin’s Edge Resort
This classic cottage resort near the village of Madawaska is just a 20-minute drive from Algonquin Park’s East Gate, and equally close to the park’s quieter Shall Lake access point, popular with canoeists and anglers. Algonquin’s Edge Resort offers accommodation in private, self-contained cottages on the banks of the meandering Madawaska River. Rent a canoe and paddle to scenic waterfalls right from the resort docks, or get equipped at nearby Algonquin Bound or Opeongo Outfitters for paddling adventures in the park.
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Little Hawk Resort and Marina
Kids and adults love the family-oriented atmosphere and sandy swimming beach at Little Hawk Resort and Marina. Set on five wooded acres on the shores of Halls Lake, this all-season resort offers suites and cottage accommodation as well as complimentary canoes, water trampoline, playground, hot tub and an on-site restaurant. Situated in the Haliburton area of the Algonquin Highlands, the resort is a convenient option if you’re looking to explore both the park’s West Gate area and southern panhandle. Little Hawk is also on the doorstep of the Haliburton Forest, a year-round destination for paddling, hiking, wildlife viewing and winter activities.
Blue Spruce Resort
Just minutes from Algonquin’s West Gate, this fully equipped housekeeping resort boasts comfortable lakeside cottages and a superb, on-site trail network for hiking or cross-country skiing/snowshoeing. With cozy, wood-burning fireplaces and lake views, the cottages here are perfect for a couples getaway or a family vacation. Situated on Oxtongue Lake, Blue Spruce Resort guests enjoy use of the resort’s canoes, kayaks and paddleboards to tour the lake or make the half-day trip to spectacular Ragged Falls on the Oxtongue River. Algonquin Outfitters is just next-door if you’re planning a longer paddling adventure in the park.
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Cloverleaf Cottages Resort
Another option on Oxtongue Lake, Cloverleaf Cottages offers a traditional, family-oriented Algonquin resort experience with 13 beachfront and lake-view cottages to choose from. Enjoy a 450-foot sand beach, paddle to Ragged Falls or head into the park along Highway 60. Canoe and Smoke lakes access points, as well as the Whiskey Rapids and Hardwood Lookout trails, are nearby.
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Spring Lake Resort
Located in the village of Dwight and just 15 minutes from Algonquin’s West Gate, Spring Lake Resort offers a convenient home base with easy on-site amenities including a restaurant, complimentary canoes and kayaks for exploring tranquil Spring Lake and 52 wooded acres with hiking trails. The resort’s tidy, motel-style rooms feature lake views and are steps to a sandy beach and canoe dock.
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Algonquin Lakeside Inn
Choose from comfortable rooms, romantic suites or cozy cottages on the shores of Oxtongue Lake at this resort near the park’s West Gate. Enjoy hot breakfast and dinner with Algonquin Lakeside Inn’s lodge-and-dine packages, and then head down to the resort’s sandy beach and borrow a canoe or kayak to paddle Oxtongue Lake or journey to Ragged Falls.
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Pine Grove Point
Situated on the shores of Benoir Lake at the southern tip of Algonquin Park, Pine Grove Point cottage resort and campground is just five minutes from the park’s Kingscote Lake access, and a perfect departure point for day trips to the spectacular natural water slides at High Falls. Guests can launch canoes right from Pine Grove Point’s dock and paddle up the scenic York River to the falls. Pine Grove Point offers a family-oriented camping and cottage resort experience, including four self-catering cottages, a sandy swimming beach, children’s playground, canoe and kayak rentals, restaurant, ice cream bar and camper’s store.
Paddle to then steam in Voyageur Quest’s floating sauna. | Photo courtesy of: Ontario Tourism
