Hikers better lace up their boots. Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park is getting a new trail.
In early December, The Friends of Algonquin Park, a charity devoted to furthering educational and interpretive programs in Algonquin, announced that it will be starting construction on a new interpretive hiking trail.
According to Lee Pauzé, the executive director of The Friends of Algonquin Park, an interpretive trail is designed to educate hikers on the different aspects of Algonquin: the types of trees that grow there, the different ecosystems, the particular wildlife, or even the history of the park. Interpretive trails feature a guide booklet that can be collected at the trailhead.
The charity has yet to release where the trail will be or when it will be completed, but The Friends of Algonquin Park have said that it will include scenic lookouts, as well as a floating boardwalk and numerous footbridges to protect sensitive areas. There will also be two significant sets of stairs similar to the ones on the popular Track and Tower and Booth’s Rock trails.
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This will be the first hiking trail built in Algonquin Park since 2001’s Big Pines trail, a three-kilometre loop through an abandoned logging camp that teaches hikers about old growth white pine.
The Friends of Algonquin Park have decided to build the new trail because of the other trails’ popularity. According to the charity, 94 per cent of Algonquin Park visitors cite hiking as an important part of their visit, and 80 per cent walk one or more of the interpretive trails during their visit.
Ontario Parks has approved the new trail and performed a lengthy impact assessment to ensure it won’t damage any sensitive areas. The design and construction of the trail will fall to The Friends of Algonquin Park.
When creating a new trail, Ontario Parks says that one of the first steps is to identify points of interest that appeal to hikers, such as scenic lookouts. One of Algonquin’s most popular trails is the Centennial Ridges loop. It’s a 10-kilometre trail that takes hikers over two high ridges, offering stunning views of Whitefish Lake. The Friends of Algonquin Park funded the creation of this interpretive trail back in 1993 to celebrate Algonquin Park’s birthday, and the establishment of Ontario’s provincial park system a century prior.
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Once points of interest have been established, park staff have to figure out the best route with the smallest ecological impact. The construction crew will then be required to clear shrubbery and excessive rocks, while packing down the path as well as reinforcing and grading it so that it’s safe to walk on.
When the trail opens to the public, day-to-day maintenance will be performed by The Friends of Algonquin Park’s Adopt-a-Trail Program. Through this program, volunteers are assigned to a specific trail. They’re required to walk the trail once a week from May through October, collecting any stray garbage and reporting maintenance issues, such as fallen trees or erosion, to park staff. This helps park staff better manage its repair and maintenance efforts.
The Friends of Algonquin Park is currently asking for donations to fund the new trail. The money will go towards purchasing building materials, hiring skilled labour, and writing and printing interpretive trail guides.
To enjoy the trail once it’s opened, you will need to buy a $21-daily-vehicle permit.
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