The Happy Camper: Algonquin Opens a New Trail in Over 20 Years
Algonquin Provincial Park has officially opened the Fork Lake Trail—their newest interpretive trail in over 20 years. So, I went to check it out and I’ve got to say it’s a great hike—but definitely not an easy walk in the park.
The trailhead is at the Visitor Centre’s parking lot (kilometre 43 of Highway 60). That’s the first bonus point the new trail gets; there is plenty of parking, unlike most of the trail access points throughout the Highway 60 corridor. I’ve witnessed the park’s Booth Rock Trail’s access busier than a parking lot at an urban shopping centre on Black Friday.
You also have the interpretive walk-through displays inside the centre as well as washrooms, a cafeteria style eating area and a fantastic place to browse for unique outdoor books.
The second bonus is that it’s a “fresh” way to experience Canada’s oldest provincial park. No new trail has been added to Algonquin since 2001. And if you are looking for a trail in the park that represents a variety of habitats, this one fits perfectly. The pathway wanders through patches of bog with towering black spruce carpeted with sphagnum moss and bunch berry plants and then scrambles up to open ridges topped with oak and hard maple.
Along the way, I heard a variety of warblers in the tree tops: Nashville warbler, Magnolia warbler, Chestnut-Sided warbler, Black and White warbler and even the rare Black-Throated Blue warbler. I also spotted the very common White-Throated sparrow and a group of ravens that squawked at me the entire time I walked the trail.
There’s a lot of scenic views, not just one particular look-out where everyone gathers for a selfie for social media. I prefer that. There’s vistas of moose-loving wetlands, far-off ridge tops and Fork Lake, of course.
The Friends of Algonquin Park website recorded this new trial to be a moderate to difficult loop measuring 2.4 kilometres in length. On the moderate side, it does have fantastic signage. You will not get lost. I guarantee you that. The signs that show you to travel in a counterclockwise direction on the trail are more obvious than any new round-about placed on an urban street.
On the difficult side, however, make sure to bring hiking poles and good footwear. It’s no place for someone who has mobility issues.
I found the first few hundred metres the worst. It’s a very steep grade covered in loose gravel. There’s kind of a switch-back pattern, but I still had to do a side-step maneuver to get myself down and then a pacemaker to get myself back up at the end. I’m guessing some wear and tear and some rain will pack down this stretch—but be extra careful for now.
The hill-type linear stretch for the upcoming loop portion ends with a very wide—and impressive—boardwalk floating across a boggy part, rich with unique plant life and various songbirds bouncing about. It’s the only flat part of the trail, actually. The loop portion doesn’t start until after that. And no worries, there are massive signs indicating which way to go.
An uphill climb on a now regular root and rock pathway will lead you along some nice viewing areas and out of the black spruce, into the oak trees. That’s when you’ll come to the “stairway to heaven” portion. It’s a section of stairs that add up to 61 steps helping you up a steep hill. And yes, I counted them all. There’s a total of 61! I think the stair section taking you back downhill has more steps, but I didn’t count those since it was downhill.
There’s one final boardwalk, a much smaller one, and then you’ll come back to where the loop section started. Don’t worry, another sign will inform you of this.
To help you along the way there are at least half-a-dozen benches to take a breather on. Each will have a plaque thanking a donor of the trail. The construction of Algonquin’s new Fork Trail was gifted by The Friends of Algonquin Park and their generous donors. You’ll also notice posts with numbers while en route. They correspond to a trail guide—who aren’t available yet but coming soon.
Some recent social media posts noted that the 2.4 kilometre trail took them 1.5 to two hours to complete. It took me a quicker 55 minutes. Mind you, it was a very hot and humid day, the deer flies were out and a few mosquitos were still buzzing about in the boggy parts. I may have quickened my pace a tad to escape the bugs.
Take note that you need a permit to hike the trail. If you are camping at one of the many campgrounds Algonquin has to offer, then you’re good. If you are just wanting a day pass, then you’ll have to check-in and purchase one at the main gate(s) or the Visitor’s Centre. I have an annual park pass, but for Algonquin (and other busier parks), you still have to sign up for the day hike at the gatehouse—or online here.
