Review of previous edition: ‘The book is much more than a trip guide. Callan weaves in anecdotes from his own trips, so there’s all the nuts and bolts info but with some good stories thrown in’ The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing.
Ontario’s Algonquin Park is one of North America’s foremost canoeing destinations. Only a day’s journey from the Great Lakes and much of the Eastern Seaboard, and 200 miles from Toronto, it’s a paddler’s paradise of spectacular lakes, rivers and marshes surrounded by maple hills and rocky ridges. The only way to explore the interior of the park is by canoe or on foot, where you will be rewarded with a chorus of wolves howling and the echoing call of waterfowl. You may also see more of the abundant wildlife that call it home: moose, white-tailed deer, beaver, black bears, and more than 300 bird and 30 reptile species.
This revised and updated edition of A Paddler’s Guide to Algonquin Park has 64 more pages, 10 new canoe routes for a total of 35, new photographs by the author and detailed redesigned maps showing portages and permitted campsites. Callan has chosen routes of varying difficulty and experience, from easy to deep backcountry.
The 10 new routes are: Across Algonquin; Cauliflower Lake; Lake la Muir/Crow Lake Loop; Lower Crow River; Mackaskill Lake; Godda Lake Loop; Carl Wilson Lake; Opeongo Lake; Ralph Bice/Daisy Loop; Big East River.
Along with updates of information according to changes in park conditions, regulations, closed routes and so on, the book includes this essential information: Route difficulty; Portages; Campsite locations; Put-in and take-out recommendations; Alternative access points; Updated list of local outfitters and guides; Updated web sites and more.
Kevin Callan has paddled Algonquin Park for three decades. His practical advice and lively descriptions are like having him sitting in the lead canoe - and that would be an adventure.
