Laura Stilwell
Are you looking for a new canoe route? Why not try Canoe Lake to Burnt Island Lake in Algonquin Park! Not only is Algonquin one of the best camping locations in Ontario, it's also very accessible from Ottawa and Toronto, but people from all over the world come here to experience the pristine lakes, trails and campsites. This trip is perfect for beginners or experienced paddlers because it is easily accessible from Highway 60, the padding is easy, the portages are short, and it only takes 2-3 days! This trip is ideal because it doesn’t take long to reach Burnt Island Lake, but since portages are daunting for many new canoers, you’ll be able to escape the crowds.
So, leave behind the cell phones and electricity, and venture into Algonquin Park for an amazing outdoor experience that will be sure to leave you feeling refreshed and reconnected with nature.
Canoe Lake - Joe Lake - Little Joe Lake - Baby Joe Lake - Burnt Island Lake
Total paddling/portaging time: 4-6 hours
Trip duration: 2 nights, 3 days
Jeff's Algonquin Provincial Park Map
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Located at kilometre 14.1 from the West Gate in Algonquin Park, you’ll find the Portage Store and Canoe Lake Access Point. This will be the starting point of your trip. At the end of the road, head over to the Canoe Lake Access Point Office, where you’ll obtain your permit. After parking your car in the nearby lot, load up your canoe and get on your way (you can also rent a canoe at Canoe Lake, but more on that below).
*Tip: if you’re camping in July or August, make your booking 1-2 months in advance, as spots fill up quickly and there are a limited number of camp sites on each lake. If you’re camping on a long weekend, make your booking 3-4 months in advance.
After padding about 3.6 kilometres through Canoe Lake, you’ll reach a fork. Take the passage to the right (East) and you’ll soon approach your first portage, which bypasses a man-made dam. This portage is only 295 meters long and is a well-worn path that makes for a very easy portage. The entry and exit points are both large beaches, making it easy to navigate and find a spot to load and unload your canoe.
*Tip: watch this video to learn how to properly carry your canoe on a portage. This method is the easiest and safest!
After your first portage, you’ll be in Joe Lake. Once in Joe, you want to stay to the East. Instead of heading due North towards Teepee Lake, veer to the East around Joe Island and head towards the East Arm of Joe Lake. You’ll soon leave Joe and enter Little Joe. Once through Little Joe, you’ll reach a short 120-meter portage to bypass a small swift (fast running water but smaller than rapids). When I did this route in late August, the water was running slow enough that we got out of our canoe and pulled it up the swift, without removing our gear from our canoe or doing the actual portage. If the water is too high (or too low), take the safe route and do the portage. After another short paddle through a river, you’ll reach a portage (435 meters) which will take you into Baby Joe Lake, and finally you’ll reach a 200-meter portage. After completing the fourth and final portage, you’ll be in Burnt Island Lake.
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Burnt Island Lake is by far the largest of the lakes you will enter. It is about 7.5 kilometres in length and has around 50 campsites on it. Don’t let this scare you – it just means that there are lots of good sites to choose from! I don’t recommend padding to the far end of the lake to find a site, because there are plenty of good ones close to the portage. However, I do recommend padding about 4.2 kilometres across the lake where you’ll find the second large bay to the north. This bay takes you to a portage out of the lake, and I recommend staying here if you want to take a day trip to Sunbeam Lake (more on that later).
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Once you’ve found a campsite, get settled and set up your tent and cooking area. It’ll probably be late afternoon once you arrive, so I recommend getting your things ready before it gets dark, and then relaxing and exploring your site. Oh, and don’t forget to gather firewood! Don’t cut down any trees – just collect dead fall from the ground to burn.
After waking up and having breakfast, I suggest you take a day trip into Sunbeam Lake. Sunbeam is a much smaller lake, but big enough to have a few islands and beautiful rocky shores. It takes a little bit of work to get there, but it’s definitely worth it to spend the afternoon swimming and lounging on the rocks.
*Note that the trip takes about 2 hours each way, so leave yourself enough time to get back before dark.
From Burnt Island Lake, paddle up the second large bay on the North shore. Look for yellow portage signs are you go to know you’re on the right track (and look at your map!!). The first portage you come to will be 540 meters and takes you into Jay Lake. Next portage is 495-meters, followed by 110-meters, which takes you into Treefrog Lake. After one more 390-meter portage, you’ll reach Sunbeam Lake. Enjoy your day here and return to Burnt Island when you’d like!
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At your own pace, prepare to leave Burnt Island Lake and head back to your car at Canoe Lake. When you’re packing up your campsite on Burnt Island, being certain not to leave any trace behind. Before leaving, please do a sweep of the site to make sure you haven’t left any gear or garbage. After your 4-6-hour paddle (following the same route as you came), you’ll reach the Canoe Lake Access Point. Unload your canoe (and return it if you rented it), and pack up your car.
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Instead of doing just a day trip to Sunbeam Lake, you could arrange in advance to get a site there on the second night of your trip. On the third day, you can return to Canoe Lake using an alternate route: leave Sunbeam through the southeast portage (120-meters) and enter Vanishing Pond. On this route, you’ll paddle through lots of small rivers and marshy areas – which is why I love this route. Since you’re close to shore, you might be lucky enough to see some wildlife, like the cow and calf moose I saw on my trip!
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After another 405-meter portage, you’ll enter Blue Jay Lake, and then Littledoe Lake. Paddle all the way to the end of the lake and take the southwest arm to Little Oxtongue River and Fawn Lake. You’ll then enter Teepee Lake, and Joe Lake (hey, you’ve been here before)! From here, follow the same route as on day 1 – through Joe Lake to the Dam Portage, and then through Canoe Lake to the Access Point.
*Note that this alternate route is longer than the route you took on day 1. Give yourself 6-8 hours to complete this journey home on Day 3. If you’re up for it though, I definitely recommend this route so you can see something different and have more chance to get away from the crowds and maybe see some wildlife.
If you want more tips on gear and food to bring, and how to prepare for your trip, keep reading!
If you’re a first-time camper, I recommend getting all of your required camping equipment and gear at an outfitter because they will ensure you have everything you need. I would recommend Algonquin Outfitters in Oxtongue Lake (located about 20 minutes outside Algonquin). If you need to rent a canoe, you can do so at Algonquin Outfitters, or at the Canoe Lake Access Point. I would recommend renting at Canoe Lake so that you do not have to worry about transporting your canoe. Just remember to rent a canoe in advance when you make your booking!
An outfitter can also set you up with meals for your trip, but for this specific route, I would recommend bringing your own because of the short duration of the trip. Keep meals simple and remember that you won’t have refrigeration so dried food like pasta and bread are must-haves. Remember that when you enter Algonquin Park, you’re in bear country so you need to take the necessary precautions to avoid unwanted visitors on your site. A food barrel (an airtight/smell-proof plastic barrel with tight seal), is a good idea to keep animals away, but you can also use a regular bag and string it up in a tree each night. Watch this video to learn about keeping your food and campsite safe!
Algonquin Park has some year round campsites and backcountry areas, but no matter what season you go in, be sure to have the right gear. Remember to dress for the weather when camping and if it looks like it’s going to rain, bring your rain gear, tarps, and make sure your tent has no leaks. If you’re camping in Spring, Summer or Fall, it’s a good idea to bring bug spray because being deep in the bush definitely brings the possibility of bugs. All that being said, the best time to go camping in Algonquin Park is in late August or early September because the water is warm, the weather is great, and most of the mosquitos and other bugs are gone!
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