The first trip of 2021 and I must say we couldn’t have been more excited to put behind all the social isolation and escape into the wilderness. And what better spot than Algonquin National Park, a hidden gem of all national parks across the country. Located just 2.5 hours northeast of Toronto, it is made of one of the most impressive landscapes in the nation.
Given the short drive, we left Friday mid-day. CRV was packed with all the items and trip started with some homemade brownies and coffee. The drive to Algonquin park is one of the most beautiful experiences of the trip – filled with immense greenary on both sides and lake views that makes you want to stop every 20 minutes. Our campground was located in the center of the park with well formed campsites and amenities. By the time we arrived, the sun was starting to settle down so headlights came on and we got down to work to set up the tents. Divide and conquer allowed us to get everything set up and have dinner prepared just in time for the dark. Everything seems worth it when you have the stars lighting up the night sky with the campfire burning bright. It was a good night spent with deep conversations and laughters. We also managed to do a small trek to the nearby lake to enjoy the serenity – some may have even fell asleep to the sound of crickets.
Next morning started off bright and early as we got ready to explore the trails of Algonquin. We picked the Centennial Ridges Trail. This path is a very demanding 10.4 km loop trail that affords spectacular viewing along two high ridges. It’s filled with steep climbs and descents that takes you up and down both ridges. However, just as with life, the hard trails lead to the most beautiful destinations. With every ridges, there were numerous lookouts that allowed us to take breaks and enjoy the beauty from above. The endless panoramic view of the land and water is a humble reminder of life from before. We couldn’t help but wonder how the ancient civilization managed to live in harmony with all of this nature. Often times, it’s during these trips where you realize that humans really do crave nature at their core especially when engulfed in an urban civilization. One thing we did forget to do was pack extra water and snacks so needless to say, by the end, the sun and the hike managed to suck out the energy out of us. However, we persevered with every droplets of water and made it back in the parking lot after around 7 hours of hiking.
Some pictures from the trek:
That night, we made a feast for all the hungry campers. It was my turn to make the famous chicken quesadillas with crispy fries. These meals are always a bit of work during camping but we always allocate one night to eat good. After all, camp food after a long hike needs to be the best of best right. Best part was those were the appetizers, followed by barbeques chicken, ribs, campfire corn and end off with campfire s’mores. Oh what a great night.
Althought the trip was short, it was the best getaway to get the year started. You get more efficient with planning and learn to be in sync with the unexpected. After all, camping experience is for you to reset, reflect and grow right. Until next time Algonquin!
