The Canoe Lake access point (access point #5) is the busiest backcountry entry in Algonquin Park, and the most built up. At km 14.1 on Highway 60 you’ll find canoe and kayak rentals, complete outfitting, two stores, a licensed restaurant, washrooms, and the launch that feeds some of the most travelled canoe routes in the park. If your trip starts here, you can show up with nothing but a permit and paddle away outfitted. This guide covers how to get there, what’s on site, how rentals and permits work, and the routes that start from the dock.
Canoe Lake access point at a glance
| Park | Algonquin Provincial Park |
|---|---|
| Access point | #5, Highway 60 at km 14.1 |
| Operated by | Algonquin Outfitters (The Portage Store, since 2023) |
| Rentals | Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, gear, complete outfitting |
| Food | Portage Grill; licensed, dine-in, patio, and takeout |
| Booking type | Lake/zone; book the lake, sites are first-come, first-served |
| Permit required | Yes, Ontario Parks interior permit via ontarioparks.ca; day visitors need a daily vehicle permit |
| Parking | Included with a valid permit; separate day-use and long-term lots |
| Drive from Toronto | About 3 hours via Hwy 400 N and Hwy 11 N |
| Drive from Barrie | About 2 hours via Hwy 11 N |
Getting to the Canoe Lake access point
The access point sits at km 14.1 of Highway 60, measured from the West Gate. A short road on the north side of the highway leads down to the parking lots, the store, and the launch at the southern tip of Canoe Lake. It’s well signed and you can’t miss the turn; if you reach Smoke Lake or the Canoe Lake portage sign heading east, you’ve gone past it. Coordinates for your GPS: 45.535032, -78.706570.
Coming from the GTA, take Hwy 400 north through Barrie, continue on Hwy 11 north past Huntsville, then Hwy 60 east into the park. The West Gate is about 14 kilometres before the turn.
Pro tip.
On summer weekends, aim to be at the launch before 9:00 AM. You’ll beat the day-trip crowd at the rental dock, and if you’re camping on a lake close to the access point, an early start gives you first pick of sites when you arrive mid-afternoon.
What’s at the Canoe Lake access point
Most Algonquin access points are a gravel lot and a sign. Canoe Lake is a different animal. The site has been operating as an outfitting post since 1937, and today it packs a full trip’s worth of services around one launch:
- The Portage Store: the historic outfitting operation on the water, running canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals plus complete outfitting and guided trips
- Algonquin Outfitters Camp Store: the place to fill gaps in your food barrel or gear list; dehydrated meals, snacks, ice, fishing tackle, spare layers, and the camp gear you left in the garage
- Trailside Market: park-themed clothing, books, and gifts if you want something to take home after the trip
- Portage Grill: a fully licensed restaurant overlooking the lake, with a large outdoor patio and takeout
- Launch and docks: a boat launch and rental docks at the south end of the lake
- Washrooms near the parking area
- Day-use and long-term parking for backcountry trippers
Canoe rentals and outfitting at Canoe Lake
This is the big advantage of starting a trip here: you don’t need to bring a boat. The Portage Store rents canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards right at the launch, from same-day rentals for a few hours on the water up to multi-day backcountry rentals and complete outfitting packages that cover gear and food.
Same-day rentals don’t require a reservation; you can walk up, grab a PFD and paddle, and be on the water in minutes. For backcountry trips, reserve your canoe in advance, especially for summer weekends and anything in August. If you’re portaging, pay the extra for a lightweight canoe; your shoulders will thank you on the second carry.
Rental questions go to the Canoe Lake store at 705-633-5235 or 1-833-993-5253. Algonquin Outfitters also delivers rental boats to other Highway 60 access points from its Oxtongue Lake and Lake Opeongo bases, which is handy if your route starts at Canoe Lake but ends somewhere else along the corridor.
Food at Canoe Lake: the Portage Grill
The Portage Grill is one of the only licensed restaurants inside Algonquin Park, and it sits directly above the launch with a patio looking down Canoe Lake. It serves breakfast through dinner in season, with takeout if you’d rather eat on the dock.
Practically, that changes how you plan day one and the last day of a trip. You can drive up in the morning, eat a real breakfast, and launch without cooking; and there is no better end to a trip than paddling the last stretch of Canoe Lake knowing a burger and a cold beer are waiting at the takeout dock.
Canoe routes from the Canoe Lake access point
Canoe Lake is the front door to the Joe Lake chain and the busy heart of Algonquin’s Highway 60 backcountry. From the launch, it’s a paddle up the lake and one 240 metre portage into Joe Lake; flat, wide, and crushed rock, about as gentle as portaging gets. From there the park opens up: Tepee, Littledoe, and the Joe Lakes for shorter loops, and onward toward Burnt Island Lake and the Big Trout country for longer trips.
I ran a 3-day loop from this access point through Littledoe and Joe Lake in May 2025; 24 kms of paddling, four portages, and two nights out. The full route guide, with day-by-day breakdowns is here: Canoe Lake Loop, Algonquin Park.
Heads up.
Canoe Lake itself is busy. Cottages line parts of the shore, day paddlers fill the south end in July and August, and the lakes within one portage of the access point see heavy traffic. If you’re after quiet, treat the first day as a commute and push at least two portages in.
Frequently asked questions
Can you rent a canoe at the Canoe Lake access point?
Yes. The Portage Store rents canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards right at the launch, including same-day rentals with no reservation needed. For multi-day backcountry rentals and outfitting packages, book ahead, especially in July and August.
Do you need a permit to launch at Canoe Lake?
Yes. Backcountry campers need an Ontario Parks interior permit booked at reservations.ontarioparks.ca, up to five months in advance. Day visitors need a daily vehicle permit, available up to five days ahead.
Is there a restaurant at the Canoe Lake access point?
Yes. The Portage Grill is a licensed restaurant overlooking the lake, open seasonally for breakfast through dinner, with a large patio and takeout. It’s one of the only places to get a hot meal inside Algonquin Park.
How far is the Canoe Lake access point from Toronto?
About 3 hours by car via Hwy 400, Hwy 11, and Hwy 60. From Barrie it’s roughly 2 hours. Add time on summer Friday afternoons and holiday weekends.
What canoe routes start from the Canoe Lake access point?
The 240 metre portage into Joe Lake opens up the Joe Lake chain, including Tepee, Littledoe, and Baby Joe. Shorter loops run 2 to 3 days through those lakes, while longer trips continue north toward Burnt Island Lake and Big Trout Lake. See the Canoe Lake Loop route guide for a full 3-day itinerary.
How busy does the Canoe Lake access point get?
It’s the busiest access point in Algonquin. Summer weekends bring full parking lots, lineups at the rental dock, and steady traffic on the first few lakes. Launch early, or start your trip midweek if your schedule allows.