Algonquin Provincial Park

[VT636]

I'm starting to plan weekend trips for the riding season. Algonquin provincial park looks like an awesome place to spend a night or two in a tent. My only experience riding to the Toronto (via truck) area has been that Ontario is very flat and the cops are very strict. Anyone been to the park on two wheels? Campsites to recommend? ANY twisties at all up there? I am coming from the East.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

My husband (Canadian, Oshawa area) says the following: there are no twisties. It is one road, straight through (no off road riding). It is not a destination for motorcycles. Camping can get busy in season and you should reserve a spot.


Yes, he's a big ball of fun  

[Justin]

My husband (Canadian, Oshawa area) says the following: there are no twisties. It is one road, straight through (no off road riding). It is not a destination for motorcycles. Camping can get busy in season and you should reserve a spot.


Yes, he's a big ball of fun  

+1, it's a beautiful place, but not a great riding area

[Slartibartfast]

My husband (Canadian, Oshawa area) says the following: there are no twisties. It is one road, straight through (no off road riding). It is not a destination for motorcycles. Camping can get busy in season and you should reserve a spot.

Yes, the (only) road through the park is rather flat and straight, but there are some fantastic riding roads within about 20 - 30 minutes of the entrance, so me of the better ones in the province, IMO.

[Huron52]

yes it is true there is only one major highway through the park.  But there is good riding east and west of the park.  
 As for camping crowded?  maybe in some areas but others I don't think you could see anybody for a day or two..... maybe more.

 Before I say PM me I will look in the morning  and see if I can find the map that shows some good roads on.

As for the police they are getting worse not better. 20kph over generally you should be alright.  But don't try that in town.

[Huron52]

Yes, he's a big ball of fun  

Well it is too bad he grew up so close to the "Center of the Universe"

[matthew]

I'm starting to plan weekend trips for the riding season. Algonquin provincial park looks like an awesome place to spend a night or two in a tent. My only experience riding to the Toronto (via truck) area has been that Ontario is very flat and the cops are very strict. Anyone been to the park on two wheels? Campsites to recommend? ANY twisties at all up there? I am coming from the East.

Algonquin Park only has 1 road through it, which is hwy 60.  However, like most people mentioned, there are beautiful roads to the west, south and east of the official park boundaries.  Ontario is pretty flat west and south west of Toronto for the most part, but one hour North of Toronto you enter the Canadian shield with thousands of lakes and some great riding roads.  

The OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) are pretty strict, if you are caught 50 km/h over the posted speed limit, your bike is impounded for 7 days and you need to pay a lot of money to get it back.

[The Shepherd]

I've ridden through Algonquin Park many, many times. It is somewhat straight...kind of sweeperish and a bit boring though the scenery is nice. I have seen many moose crossing Hwy 60 so keep your eyes open.

There are campgrounds inside the park that you can tent at. As far as I know it's pretty busy in the summer and if you are considering staying in a cottage / B&B or inn around the area, expect to pay a premium price.

There are a number of hiking loops off of Hwy 60 that range from a hour long walk to an overnight excursion. These are nice walks and we've seen deer and moose from the trails and walked over a beaver dam.

Click here for more info, http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/algo.html

[jimmy]

This will help you with roads, but please keep in mind, this is Ontario.......

http://shanekingsley.com/Two%20Wheeling/ontario_bikeroads.jpg

[shil]

Camping in Algonquin is nice but does get crowded. The Ontario Parks website helps. If you're heading up on a weekend make a reservation.

We ususually stay at Arrowhead, just west of Algonquin, when we're car camping: closer to the LCBO.

60 through the park is no big deal but you'll have fun getting there.

[The Shepherd]

I knew it was in my pictures somewhere, Mrs. Moose and I coming to a friendly agreement on when I can continue down Hwy 60.

[Huron52]

This will help you with roads, but please keep in mind, this is Ontario.......

http://shanekingsley.com/Two%20Wheeling/ontario_bikeroads.jpg

Yes that was the map I was looking for.

[jimmy]

I got your back, bro!!

[ice-cycle]

Sadly, others are right Highway 60 is a bit of a bore, though not unpleasant on a motorcycle.  I have done it several times.  It hardly constitutes a multi-day trip, though there are road accessible camp grounds all along 60.  It does get pretty busy in summer.  

You might also want to check out a trip into Achray, and a walk along the Barron Canyon in  Algonquin Park.  Do a google search.  The trail can be done in a couple of hours, and is quite beautiful.  It was part of the drainage 10,000 years ago for Lake Agassiz.  The cliffs rise about 300 feet.  There is good camping nearby.  

On the other hand a trip north of Algonquin is also worthwhile.  Good luck.

[Guzzi-Guy]

The park while scenic is a bit boring to ride through, and you will invariably get caught behind an Volvo going 30 Km below the limit so they can take in all the scenery possible.  The key to enjoyable riding in this area is the 500 series of roads to the east, south and west of the park.  Some of the best twisties in the province.

[birdrunner]

Yes, the (only) road through the park is rather flat and straight, but there are some fantastic riding roads within about 20 - 30 minutes of the entrance, so me of the better ones in the province, IMO.

Yup,  the lake country N. of Toronto seemed pretty nice.

[D-Mac]

It's a little out of the way, but get over to Route 129 in Ontario and ride that. AWESOME road. Lots of sweepers and some twisties thrown in.

[Huron52]

It's a little out of the way, but get over to Route 129 in Ontario and ride that. AWESOME road. Lots of sweepers and some twisties thrown in.

Route 129?  Help a guy out here please.... What's it near?

[jimmy]

I got your back, Tom.  He's talking about this little gem.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_129

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=12432155997652724621,46.265240,-83.548740&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=HWY-129/River+St+%4046.265240,+-83.548740&daddr=47.836436,-83.402195&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=47.836983,-83.39314&sspn=0.012819,0.039911&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=47.301585,-83.419189&spn=3.315213,10.217285&source=embed

[Guzzi-Guy]

I got your back, Tom.  He's talking about this little gem.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_129

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=12432155997652724621,46.265240,-83.548740&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=HWY-129/River+St+%4046.265240,+-83.548740&daddr=47.836436,-83.402195&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=47.836983,-83.39314&sspn=0.012819,0.039911&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=47.301585,-83.419189&spn=3.315213,10.217285&source=embed

That's almost in my neck of the woods, I will have to seek it out this spring.

View Larger Map" target="_blank">http://View Larger Map

[bungie4]

Route 129?  Help a guy out here please.... What's it near?

129 runs between Hwy 17 and 101, Iron Bridge to Chapleau.  The road is in very bad shape with logging trucks ripping the hell out of it. I ride it a couple times a year just for the scenery. The lower 1/3 of the hwy is the interesting scenic bit. It runs parallel to the Mississaugi River.  If they ever get around to repaving it I'd give it about an 8 on the fun/scenery scale. As it is now though...

129 Scenery


Short vid from a few years ago. The road has only gotten worse from this.
http://bungie4.blip.tv/file/1160300/

[jp]

Great videos Bungie! I enjoyed the tour of my backyard (Cabot Trail). Quite the year you had in 2010 though! Keep on running...

[bungie4]

Great videos Bungie! I enjoyed the tour of my backyard (Cabot Trail). Quite the year you had in 2010 though! Keep on running...

Thanks JP. Glad you liked them. I'm supposed to return to do the Cabot again in June. Maybe hop on the ferry and run the rock to Gros Morne. Well, depending if I can get the time off - new job...

As for 2010. Nearly 50,000Km, I'm not likely to repeat that kind of mileage for a long time to come, but man, it was fantastic!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

If your coming up from the south toward Algonquin. Treat yourself and spend some time running around the Muskoka/Parry Sound area. Some really good riding in that area. Algonquin is a destination, but on the low end of the scale for riding.

[Corbeau]

The only time I had fun on Hwy 60 was when I took it at 6 a.m. on my way to the Parry Sound Sportbike Rally. No traffic, OPP's finest still asleep and before the stunting law. (The one that makes you lose your bike for a week if you do 140 in a 90 zone)