Logging Museum Trail – An introduction to the history of Algonquin Park

I have been wanting to visit Algonquin Park for a long time! This park is THE must-visit provincial park in Ontario! It is the biggest and oldest of the parks in the province, and it is also arguably one of the most popular. When my partner and I went camping near the park a few weeks ago, there was no question of us leaving the region without exploring it a bit.

Algonquin Provincial Park also has miles and miles of hiking trails. In fact, there are so many hiking trails there that I wasn’t sure exactly where to start. As we arrived by the East Gate, we decided to stop at the first trail we came across: that of the Algonquin Logging Museum.

And it was fitting, because the Logging Museum trail retraces an important part of the park’s history: that of its logging industry. This short interpretive trail was therefore a perfect introduction to Algonquin Provincial Park for us!

It was in the 19th century that the lands of what is now Algonquin Park began to attract the attention of logging companies, in search of the great White Pines, whose wood was then in great demand. The loggers spent the winter in primitive camps, they felled the tall trees of the territory, and in the spring, the logs were thrown into the swollen rivers of the area, by which they eventually get to the Ottawa River.

This history is explained on a 1.3-kilometre trail at the Algonquin Logging Museum. As we arrived early, the museum pavilion was still closed, but that was no problem, since the main exhibit is along the trail in the beautiful forest of Algonquin Park.

Along the trail, you can learn more about life in the days of logging camps, the tree felling techniques that were used, and the methods of transporting logs.

I liked how interactive this hike was. It is possible to visit the old cabooses and stables, as well as climb aboard an old steam-powered amphibious tug. I also liked that there were many interpretation panels along the trail, and that they were bilingual (as my first language is French, I always appreciate when I find a bit of French along a trail in Ontario!).

It is also fascinating to learn more about the evolution of the logging industry within Algonquin Park. The provincial park officially came into being in 1893, but this did not bring an end to the logging industry. In fact, at the time, it would have been inconceivable even to think of stopping logging activities within the park.

Over the decades, however, perceptions began to change and in the 1960s, under popular pressure, the government set up a new forest management plan for the park, limiting, among other things, the areas where logging activities would be permitted (today these areas make up about 50% of the park).

In short, some of the park’s precious ecosystems are now protected, so that future generations can also enjoy the beauty of its landscapes!

PS – I was hosted by Four Corners Algonquin during my visit to the region. This campground is located in Whitney, near the East Gate of Algonquin Park. Four Corners Algonquin has several ready-to-camp sites (including very popular bubble tents), and the tents come with a daily pass to Algonquin Park.