Rock Lake Algonquin: First-Time Backcountry Camping Guide
Rock Lake Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada is a beautiful destination for backcountry camping in Ontario.
It was the first place I ever went camping, which means it is an excellent option for beginner campers who want to experience Algonquin’s wilderness for the first time. I have returned to the Algonquin Backcountry numerous times and stayed at Rock Lake campground twice because it is always an excellent spot.
I am now a relatively experienced backcountry camper and have also visited other Algonquin park camping locations, such as Lake Magnetawan.
This article focuses on backcountry camping in Rock Lake Algonquin Park. That being said, you will still find it useful if you are going backcountry camping at another campsite in Algonquin Park.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to backcountry camping in Rock Lake Algonquin Park, which is suitable for first-time campers or seasoned Algonquin visitors who need to refresh their memory.
You will find everything you need to know about what to expect when visiting Rock Lake, what to pack for your camping trip, and how to book Algonquin backcountry reservations. You will also learn about what kind of wildlife you may expect to see, plus some things to do on Rock Lake Algonquin.
Camping in Algonquin Park is a must for any visitor or local in Ontario. Algonquin Park is about 3 hours north of Toronto, and then depending on which campsite you choose, a further 45 minutes by car from the West Gate.
What is Backcountry Camping?
Backcountry camping is a wilderness adventure, distinct from car camping or glamping/yurt camping.
It involves being self-sufficient and cooking on a fire or portable camping stove, camping far from civilisation, and without any amenities like flushing toilets or cell service. You have to pack wisely for your backcountry camping trip, otherwise it could prove disastrous.
When backcountry camping, you will reach your camping spot by hiking, canoeing or another outdoor method; therefore, you will be away from any developed areas.
When camping in places like Algonquin Park in Ontario, you will need to have some bear safety knowledge as you may encounter such wildlife.
Why Should I Camp in Rock Lake Algonquin Park?
Popularity
When selecting a place to go camping, you need to choose your priorities. Do you want convenience, or do you want privacy? Do you want cell service, or do you want a remote location?
The group of friends I went camping with has been coming to Rock Lake Algonquin Park for years – and there’s a good reason for it.
One of the biggest perks of Rock Lake is that it is typically a less busy access point than others. This is because it does not have an outfitter at the access point (where you rent camping and canoeing equipment).
Some people want to go to a campsite where everything is easily accessed. Whereas other locations don’t have this option, but it has the possibility to have the equipment delivered to you.
If you are looking for a campsite with an outfitter on the lake, Lake Opeongo is a popular spot to camp.
Accessible for All Skill Levels
Rock Lake Campground offers different types of camping on Rock Lake or Coon Lake. There is front-country camping (car-camping) which involves driving right up to the spot where you will camp. You also typically have access to bathroom facilities.
The other type of camping is backcountry camping, which I mentioned previously. This involves carrying all of your equipment to a remote campsite by hiking or canoeing. By paddling across a lake you can find a more private and rural spot.
Another reason why we like to return to Rock Lake is because it provides the perfect introduction to backcountry camping. The paddle to get to a campsite is far enough to get the impression of being in the wildness, but not too far so that children or beginners can still join.
When you start your trip, you are at your heaviest because you are carrying all of your food and supplies. So, when you are paddling to your campsite, it is preferable to not have to travel too far with all of your equipment. Particularly, if you have beginners with you.
Also, some campsites require you to canoe across one lake, then walk with your boat and equipment to access to another lake, before canoeing some more to get to your final site. This process is known as portaging.
There are plenty of opportunities to portage if you opt to camp from Magnetawan Lake access point.
If you prefer to stay at another Algonquin Park backcountry campsite to Rock or Coon Lake, check out this website for a list of other campsites.
How Do I Get to Rock Lake Campsites?
If you are driving from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), you will be heading for a town called Huntsville. This is one of the last towns with gas stations, food outlets and cell service before entering Algonquin Park.
You need a car to get to Algonquin Park, so you may need to rent a car if you are a visitor to the area. Book your car rental on Discover Cars for the best price.
As you get closer to Rock Lake, you will go down a dirt track to arrive at Rock Lake Campground Office. Here, you need to check in and show your reservation details.
Make sure you pick up some firewood at the campground office (you are not allowed to bring your own). This is also where the last washroom facilities will be before your camping experience begins.
Once you have checked in, you will drive a little further to Rock Lake Access Point. Here, you need to unload the car and carry all of your belongings to the water edge. Now, it is time to load up your canoe with all of your equipment (tent, food barrel, dry bags etc.)
The paddle across the lake to get to a camping spot will take around 30 minutes. It starts on a small river that comes from the direction of Whitefish Lake, and it opens up onto Rock Lake.
One thing to note about booking in Algonquin Backcountry is that the reservation does not reserve a specific site on the lake but guarantees a site will be available. So, you may need to paddle a bit to find an open site if the lake is busy.
To see the canoe routes on a map, refer to Algonquin Provincial Park’s website.
Rock Lake Map
How Do I Choose a Site to Set Up My Tent?
As you cross Rock Lake you will want to start looking out for where you will set up camp. There are red posters with a tent icon stuck on trees indicating that you can set up your tent here.
However, you will need to check if there is another group who has already claimed the campsite. For example, you may see a canoe on the lake edge, or some clothes hung up on a tree branch.
The campsite that I have been to each time is shown on this map I have drawn on for you. The red line indicates the start of the paddle from the access point.
This campsite is by no means the best one. We just like the layout and there is plenty of flat ground to put your tents on away from the campfire. It also had a good cooking area with benches and a fire pit, not to mention the stunning views.
What Should I Expect When Backcountry Camping in Algonquin for the First Time?
As I explained earlier, backcountry camping is when you hike or paddle to your campsite while carrying all of your belongings. The first time I did this in Rock Lake in Algonquin Park, it was such a new experience for me.
The fact that there were no showers, and no toilet was a big thing for me already! But also having to cook food on the fire and be wary of dangerous wildlife made the trip even more thrilling.
This kind of trip is not to be taken lightly. You need to be prepared and make sure you know what to expect. I recommend that you have one member of the group that is more experienced in backcountry camping and who can act as a guide.
If you have children coming with you, make sure you have a good ratio of adults to children. Also, make sure that you have your own medical supplies because you may be far from help and need to be able to take care of yourselves initially.
Bathroom Facilities in Rock Lake
You may be wondering, if there are no bathrooms, what do I do? Well, there is a wooden box with a hole dug into the earth at each campsite that can be used as a toilet. My friends called it the treasure chest.
Figuring out the toilet situation was definitely the hardest part about the whole camping trip. It is honestly horrendous, and the smell is dreadful, there is no sugar-coating it. Make sure you have hand sanitiser, is all I can say.
The wooden box is usually tucked away a bit so that you can’t see it from the main campsite. This means you can’t smell it and it gives you some more privacy.
The shower, or the lack of, is more of a liberating experience. Unless you want to clean yourself using bottled water, your best option is to wash in the lake wearing swimwear.
Bring along some biodegradable soap and you can use this for your dishes and your body! Half the fun is not looking in a mirror the whole weekend and rocking the dishevelled camping look.
Cooking While Backcountry Camping
Mealtimes were another part of the trip that I really enjoyed. The process involved starting a fire and using a camping stove. For example, you could grill some food on top of the fire and use the camping stove to boil water for rice or pasta.
You should wash your dishes in a large pot and dispose of the water away from the lake and your camp. Don’t let any of this waste go into the lake, because remember – this is where you may be washing your body too! Again, make sure you have biodegradable soap for this.
You want to make sure you pack up any food leftover from the dishes and take it away with you when you leave. You should always leave the campsite in the same state you found it.
Read more about cooking while camping here.
Wildlife at Rock Lake Campground Algonquin
Before my first backcountry camping trip to Rock Lake, I spent a lot time worrying about the animals I would see. Coming from England, the scariest animal you are likely to see camping is a badger or a fox!
Bear Safety in Rock Lake Algonquin Park
It is worth knowing that there is a chance you will see a native animal to the area, such as a bear. It is also worth researching what to do if you see one of these creatures. Ignorance is not bliss in this situation.
Black bears are not typically aggressive and can get easily scared. They mostly eat berries. The advice I was given if I saw a bear was to make myself as big as possible, make loud noises and wait for it to back away. Read this article for more information on bears in Ontario.
I was so afraid each night when it got dark that I would see a bear, but luckily, I didn’t on either of my trips to Rock Lake. But I was still scared at night regardless. Once the sun sets, it gets dark very quickly, which can be quite creepy.
The best way to avoid a bear encounter is by keeping a clean campsite. When we arrived at Algonquin park there was a sign that read, “Bear in the area – have you stored your food properly?” This means you have to store all of your food in a barrel, throw a rope over a tree branch and then raise the barrel into the air, at least 4 metres high.
Other safety tips include not sleeping in the clothes you cooked and ate in. Also, when hiking in the woods, stay in a group and make noise so that you won’t startle a bear.
You may have read before that you should play dead if you see a bear, but that advice is more relevant to the Grizzly bears in Western Canada.
Other Animals in Algonquin Park
On one of the trips, we saw a moose, which was a magnificent moment. It happened in the late afternoon after we had finished a day portaging and we were paddling along Rock Lake. We paddled slowly and quietly from a distance and had a chance to watch it for a while.
In terms of other wildlife, I saw chipmunks on a daily basis. My first time seeing a chipmunk I was so excited because it reminded me of Chip and Dale. However, they are very common in Canada and can even be found in a back garden (yard) in Toronto.
At night you will also hear loons calling. A loon is an aquatic bird and its call sounds a bit like a wolf’s cry. (Click here to listen to a YouTube clip of its call.) You can imagine how scared I was at night hearing numerous loons calling.
Cell Service in Rock Lake Algonquin Park
There was no phone service at all at Rock Lake in Algonquin. I only got service back as I started to leave Algonquin Park. So, make sure you let people know who may want to get hold of you.
I found it therapeutic that there was no mobile reception because it meant there were no distractions at all. I brought my phone and a camera to take pictures and to know the time, and that was it. You should bring a dry bag for your phone to keep it safe when in the canoe. Or you can leave your phone in the car, well out of the way.
How To Book Camping at Rock Lake Algonquin Park?
Firstly, you will need to reserve a spot at Rock Lake (or whatever lake you are choosing to camp at). Reservations open 5 months in advance of your arrival date on Ontario Parks’ website. I would recommend doing this when it opens and not leaving it until later, especially if you have certain dates in mind. Weekends and public holidays will book up quickest.
The Ontario Parks website has the most up-to-date information, so always check this website for specifics on booking and restrictions.
This article focuses on my experience with backcountry paddling in Rock Lake. So, if you are doing a different trip, these steps will be different.
Step By Step Guide:
- Visit Ontario Parks reservations website
- Along the top tab, select the Backcountry tab
- Choose backcountry paddling
- Pick Algonquin Park, and the Rock Lake Access Point and your arrival date
- Select the lake you want to book on from the map (you would choose Rock Lake)
- On the right-hand side, click Add to Stay
- If you want to book different nights on different lakes and paddle between them, you can do that by selecting another lake after
- You will see your booking at the top of the page. Click reserve and finish off the booking
How Do I Prepare for my Trip to Rock Lake, Algonquin?
Camping is not as simple as showing up to a campsite and setting up your tent. You will need to be organised and consider some tasks beforehand. For example, making a reservation for a campsite, organising your equipment and preparing your food.
Preparing Your Equipment
If you have a canoe or can borrow one from a friend, you will need to make sure you can transport it to Algonquin Park. You will need roof racks on top of your car to transport it.
If you do not already have your own canoe, you will need to rent one. The company we have used before was Opeongo Outfitters. This company offers an access point canoe delivery service.
Another company that delivers to Rock Lake access point (for a fee) is Algonquin Outfitters, offering delivery service to several access points.
Food Preparation for Backcountry Camping
If you are looking to make things easier while you are camping, I would recommend that you prepare some of your food before you go. This would include chopping up any food because your camping utensils may not be good enough to do so. You can also marinate your protein beforehand, so it tastes good, and you don’t have to bring little packages of sauces.
As you will not have access to a fridge during your stay, it is also an idea to freeze items such as uncooked meat to eat on your first night. If you take the meat out of your freezer on the morning you leave, it will slowly defrost during the journey.
For the most part, you want to bring non-perishable items. For example, vegetarian items or cured meats. You can also bring dehydrated food.
It is worth mentioning that you will probably be hungrier than usual because it is a very active trip. So bring food and snacks that will keep you full, e.g, trail mix with lots of nuts.
Typically with backcountry camping, food is packed in a barrel. It is easy to carry, particularly if you buy harness straps to carry it on your back. Additionally, you can hang the barrel from a tree as part of bear safety (I explained this earlier in the wildlife section).
Make sure you pack your food barrel in reverse order. For example, put food for the last night at the bottom, and the first night on top. This is so you don’t have to keep repacking your barrel and can easily access the foods you need.
What to Pack for a 3-Day Camping Trip in Algonquin Park
Make sure you don’t overpack because you have to be able to carry it. (Plus, you don’t want to sink your canoe!) You should put your clothes in a dry bag so that they don’t get wet if you were to drop the bag out of the canoe or splash it by accident.
The temperature can drop pretty rapidly during the summer in the backcountry. Even though it may be warm weather during the day, it will get much colder at night. So, you need to have clothing suitable for a range of weather scenarios.
Read more about what to pack for backcountry camping trips here.
Clothing Packing List
The main idea of packing for a backcountry camping trip is to wear practical clothing that is comfortable. That being said, you don’t want to bring any clothes you would mind getting ruined. You ideally want to bring well-worn clothing in case you accidentally damage or stain it.
Some of the clothing on this packing list, such as leggings and long johns, will be useful for winter in Canada too.
- Bathing suit x1
- T-shirt x2
- Shorts x1
- Sweater x1
- Long pants (track pants or similar, not jeans) x1
- Leggings or long johns x1
- Socks (daytime) x2
- Socks (warm) x2
- Underwear x3
- Rain jacket
- Sandals/flip flops
- Old running shoes or hiking boots
- Hat
- Sunglasses
Equipment Packing List
It can be a dealbreaker if you forget equipment during your trip. So, make a list and double check it before you go.
The most important pieces of gear to have with you are:
Do not go on this trip without them. Read below to find the links to the actual products that I use.
Tent
The tent is your only shelter. If you have bad weather, this is your only place you can escape. So, if you tent isn’t waterproof enough, your belongings will get wet and you will have a miserable time.
Check out this tent on MEC. Or buy this Nemo tent on MEC.
Camping Stove
If it rains during your trip and your firewood gets wet, you can’t use the fire to cook your food. Additionally, sometimes there are fire bans, so you can’t rely on cooking on a fire. Therefore, you need to have another option for cooking.
You need a reliable camping stove that you know how to use and you have practiced using beforehand. This is the camping stove that we use when backcountry camping.
You can also purchase a kit with the portable camping stove and cookset here.
Water Purification
You will need some kind of water purification method while camping in order to keep hydrated.
You cannot drink water straight from the lake due to a bacteria called giardia (also known as beaver fever). Beaver fever can cause some pretty nasty side effects, so it’s not worth risking.
The most cost-effective method is using purification tablets. However, it can give an off taste to the water. Purchase your tablets here.
So, if you are looking to invest in good equipment, you should purchase a gravity bag. This is a bag you fill up with water from the lake and it filters out potable water (see image). We own this gravity bag from MEC.
If this is your first camping trip, I would recommend you borrow as many items as you can from friends or family. Good quality camping equipment can be very expensive. Once you have been on your first trip you can decide if you want to go again and will purchase your own gear.
In addition to the items I already recommended, you should also bring these items.
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Backpack
- Pillow (non-essential but worth it)
- BBQ lighter/matches
- Hatchet & Sledgehammer
- Sunscreen
- Dry bag
- Flashlights
- Espresso maker
- Bug spray
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Hand sanitiser
- First aid kit
- Garbage bag (you have to take all of your garbage back to the campground garbage unit)
- Firewood (pick up at Rock Lake Campground Office)
- Rope (to lift the food barrel into a tree)
Another thing to note is that cans and bottles are forbidden in Algonquin Park. This is to reduce the risk of broken glass and metal. So don’t pack any disposable beverage containers and only bring reusable items that you will be bringing back home.
For more information on what other equipment to bring, read this article from Algonquin Park.
Food Packing List
When figuring out what food to bring, I would recommend preparing a meal plan for the trip. You should plan out exactly what you are going to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Go to the supermarket with your ingredients list for each meal and then you can pack each item in ziplock/sandwich bags already prepped and ready to go.
Some other food/drink items, aside from your meals, you may want to bring are:
- Granola bars
- Trail mix
- Coffee
- Juice crystals or cordial
- Salt & pepper
As I mentioned before, I recommend that you have a water gravity bag with a filter so that you can drink potable water. You can also buy filtration tablets for the water.
We usually took the water bag out to the middle of the lake by canoe and filled it with water a foot below the surface. It is typically cleaner because there are less contaminants and dirt in this part of the water.
Even with all these efforts, the water still doesn’t taste as good as back home. Let’s face it, it’s lake water! So, that’s why I recommend boiling it for coffee or putting cordial in it.
How to Spend Your Time in Rock Lake, Algonquin Park
For those who have never been camping before, you may be wondering, “what do you do during the day?” Well, there are plenty of things to do. Such as, cooking, swimming in the lake, playing games and enjoying time with fellow campers. It is also very peaceful to sit and enjoy the views and the quiet, especially if the weather is good.
If you are into photography, you will easy pass the time from behind your lens. If you are going to bring your posh camera, make sure you have a waterproof and protective case for it.
Portaging
I mentioned earlier that there is a process in canoeing called portaging. This is where you canoe down the lake until you can’t go any further due to an obstacle, such as a waterfall. You then take the boat out of the water, lift it on your shoulders and carry it a couple hundred metres (or it can be more than 1km) until the lake opens up again.
Carrying a boat on your shoulders sounds quite difficult, and for me it wasn’t possible. But some of our stronger campmates were easily able to carry the canoe. Luckily the children and less strong members like me were able to help by carrying the paddles and bags.
Portaging is not only a practical method, but it is also something done for fun. Common portage routes for Rock Lake include going to Pen Lake or to Galeairy Lake.
Make sure you bring your lunch with you in a backpack, and you can use an empty campsite during your portage to cook it.
My Review of Camping in Rock Lake Algonquin Park
I can’t recommend a backcountry camping trip to Rock Lake enough. As a newcomer to camping, I found it an eye-opening and exhilarating experience. Being so far out into the wilderness and witnessing the untouched surroundings and wildlife was unforgettable.
One of my favourite parts of the trip was the stunning view across the lake in the morning with the mist dancing around on top of the lake. I would wake up each morning with a creaky back and sleepy eyes, but still run to the lake to see it.
Sunsets were another unmissable sight on my trips. I liked to go out onto the canoe and capture some pictures so I could remember them when I returned home.
Even though I may have complained about the lack of toilet facilities and my unclean hair, I couldn’t stop talking about the trip on my return home. Backcountry camping in Rock Lake, Algonquin Park was one of the best and most frightening experiences that I have had while living in Canada.
FAQ – Rock Lake Camping
How to book Backcountry Camping Algonquin?
To book backcountry camping in Algonquin Park, visit the Ontario Parks reservations website, select the Backcountry tab, choose backcountry paddling, pick Algonquin Backcountry, and your arrival date, and then select the lake access point you want to book.
How far is Algonquin Park from Toronto?
Algonquin Park is approximately 3 hours north of Toronto, followed by an additional 45 minutes by car from the West Gate, depending on the campsite chosen.
Further reading
- If you want to try out camping in Ontario, but you aren’t ready for backcountry camping, read my article on yurt camping in Tobermory.
- Read more about visiting Algonquin Park in fall.
- Read my article on what to do in Ontario and when to visit Ontario.
- For more information on winter in Canada, read about winter clothing, Ontario winter getaways and the best winter activities here.
