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> Home > Walking Trails > Ottawa River & Algonquin Park > Eastern Pines Trail Information | How to get there | Directions | Map | Points of Interest

DISTANCE: Three stacked loops of 4.3 km, 4.9 km and 10.8 km TRAIL TYPE: Unpaved trail DIFFICULTY: Rocks and slippery in places: boots are essential. Buggy in season

High Falls Information The Eastern Pines Backpacking Trail comprises of three interlocking loops, situated in the northeast corner of Algonquin Park. Plan a short walk or an overnight hike and enjoy the sandy beaches of Grand Lake, scenic views of forests, spectacular cliffs, wildlife, glacial boulders and the High Falls. The trail starts at Achray, where the painter, Tom Thomson, worked as a forest ranger in 1916 and, overlooking Grand Lake, he painted the famous Jack Pine. How to get there From the intersection of Hwys 17 and 58 west of Pembroke, drive eight kilometers north-west along Hwy 17, pass the Forest Lea Road turnoff and take the next left turn onto Doran Rd (Cty Rd 26). Travel 300 metres, and then turn right onto the Barron Canyon Road. Drive 26 km on pavement, then gravel to the Sand Lake Gate on the Park boundary, where you can buy permits for day-use vehicle or camping and excellent publications by The Friends of Algonquin Park. Continue on for another 19 km (passing by the Barron Canyon trail parking lot), before turning left onto the 5 km long spur road sign posted for Achray. Park at the Achray Campground site. Information and safety tips are given in Backpacking Trails of Algonquin Provincial Park, Published by The Friends of Algonquin Park. Directions The Berm Lake Trail loop is a day-use interpretive trail, tak- ing you around the pretty lake and through forest typical of the eastern side of the Park. The ecology of pine and oak forest, as seen from numbered posts, is described in a trail guide published by The Friends of Algonquin Park. The southern portion of the Johnston Lake Trail offers good wildlife viewing with binoculars. Pines on small islands in the lake are home to a heronry and an osprey nest. Camping is permitted at sites along the Johnston Lake Trail and the High Falls Trail. The High Falls Trail taken around Bucholtz Lake, winds between huge glacial boulders. The southern part of the trail has an impressive lookout overlooking Johnston Lake and Grand Lake. Walkers and canoes converge on the High Falls. Take care on the slippery rocks. Water may not be alone in glissading down a naturally scalloped water slide.

Map -- Eastern Pines Trail   Points of Interest

Tom Thomson, is often referred to as the "Canadian Impressionist", who was associated with, but not a member of, the Group of Seven. Tom Thomson worked as a fire ranger in the summer of 1916 staying in the Out-Side-Inn Cabin at Achray. The cabin is located just east of the stone building used as the headquarters for the east side of the Park. While there he painted this famous painting just south of Achray from a rocky knoll which overlooks Grand Lake across to the hills surrounding Carcajou Bay. Tom Thomson drowned the following year in Canoe Lake. (The Explorer's Guide to Algonquin Park, Michael W.P. Runtz).

The Algonquin red wolf is the sole mammal species special to Ontario and found nowhere else. Public wolf howls are held in Algonquin Provincial Park on Thursday evenings in August and more than 100,000 people have attended over the years. The more common grey wolf weighs 29 kilograms on average; the typical Algonquin a mere 18 kilos. The Algonquin wolves number about 150 animals and are found mainly on the eastern side of the Park. Efforts are being made to save this keystone species from extinction as its presence at the top of food chain is beneficial to other species. Photograph from: The Howls of August, Encounters with Algonquin wolves, by author Michael Runtz. p.48/9

Links of interest
		• The Friends of Algonquin Park • Ontario Parks • Algonquin wolf information: CPAWS

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First Posted: July 20th, 2001

Authors: Richard Richardson & Gregory Richardson