Last summer I traveled to Ouimet Canyon and fell in love with the view. The hike was short and the drive steep, but the view was worth it.
What I liked about Ouimet was both the history of the cliffs and the way they rose against a natural expanse that stretched as far as the eye could see, with no buildings or distant landmarks to disturb the view.
Since seeing this canyon could be a once in a lifetime road trip experience, I looked for something closer to home that had a similar feel. Enter: Barron Canyon.
A rock face at Barron Canyon.
This 100 foot high canyon is located in the east gate of Algonquin Park.
The hiking trail to get there is short (it’s only 1.5 kilometers long), but the view is more than worth it. Difficulty level is also rated as moderate as there are some steep climbs to climb from the car park to enjoy the stunning views.
However, the question isn’t if it’s worth it, but if it’s worth the long drive from Toronto. To that I would say yes. But only if you plan it properly.
In my opinion, Barron Canyon is best experienced as the highlight of a 2-3 day road trip. So here’s what we did.
day 1
The best route to the Eastern Gate of Algonquin is to leave Toronto and head east toward Belleville or Peterborough. The journey takes about 4 hours, but is quite doable with a few stops. Here are some suggestions for things to see along the way.
Driving through Belleville we made a stop downtown for groceries and visited L’Auberge de France for lunch.
Their charming patio was perfect for people watching and enjoying freshly baked goods. The grilled chicken sandwich was the perfect choice and we grabbed some croissants for breakfast the next day.
If you’re driving through Peterborough instead, I recommend Dreams of Beans for a quick caffeine hit or small snack.
If you want to take a longer break, the Publican House offers delicious food, as well as a pizza oven that serves a range of delicious options. Consider grabbing a growler for the rest of your trip.
From Belleville we drove north. If you’re feeling adventurous, you should definitely stop by Bon Echo and go on a hike. The Abes and Essen hiking trail is a personal favorite, although you may not plan on spending the three to four hours it takes to hike unless you intend to stay the night.
This trail is rocky and full of pond vistas (and a few mosquitoes).
Always carrying an inflatable paddleboard in my car, I paddled over to the Clifftop Trail for a steep 1-mile climb to enjoy the view from above. If you don’t have your own, you can hire a watercraft to take you across in the summer.
Paddleboard views at Bon Echo.
Another worthwhile stop is the Eagle’s Nest Lookout on Manitou Mountain. This heritage site offers one of the best views of Ontario’s cliffs – I’d argue that if you’re in the area, don’t miss it.
The 1.5-kilometer trail leads to some of the most spectacular views I’ve seen in Ontario, all surrounded by lush trees (you’ll be treated to some amazing colors if you come here in the fall).
Parking here costs $5 per day. I recommend taking the clockwise path so you can take the rocky path down instead of up. It is considered difficult due to its rocky terrain, but it was fairly easy in my opinion.
Where to sleep
Depending on your budget, there are many places to stay in and around Calabogie. Just a short drive from Eagle’s Nest, Calabogie Lodge is a great option. Rooms for 4 to 8 people start at $195 per night.
Their property offers a sauna, indoor pool, fire pits, beach, and more, making it a great place to relax after a long day of driving. They also offer watercolor classes on Wednesdays and Sundays.
For a cheaper option, I would recommend an Airbnb. For this trip we booked two nights in a motorhome on the lake shore near Barry’s Bay, which made it easy for us to get to and from our hikes while also giving us a place to relax each evening.
The terrace facing the lake had a private path to the shore.
This location was the perfect choice for us, as prior to this trip I had read Toronto-based author Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake (in case you haven’t read it, the romantic comedy is set in Barry’s Bay).
where should we eat
Calabogie Brewing Co. is an 8-minute drive from Eagle’s Nest Lookout and offers a selection of local beers, sandwiches, apps, pizzas and salads.
They always have a great selection of drinks on tap and this year the Berry Radler spring collection was my favorite – mostly because of the graffiti covered can.
Perfect Summer Drinks at Calabogie Brewing Co.
day 2
It would be really easy to stay in the Calabogie area and explore the variety of hikes and adventures nearby, but instead we made our way north to Algonquin Park.
It’s just over an hour’s drive from Barry’s Bay or Calabogie to Algonquin’s Sand Lake Gate, dubbed by park officials as the “real Algonquin.” This quiet entrance features a long and dusty 30-kilometer dirt road that leads to some spectacular views.
We started with the Barron Canyon Trail to get an overview of the terrain and then blew up our paddleboards to explore the canyon.
The route, which began at the Squirrel Rapids parking lot, starts a few kilometers inside the park and from there it’s about 6 kilometers (about 2 hours) of paddling followed by a 450m portage to get to the cliffs.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can add more carry options and distances to the paddle, but we decided to pack snacks and water and make a day out of it instead.
The current was light and the paddling was some of the smoothest I’ve experienced in Ontario. If you don’t own a watercraft, Algonquin Outfitters offers kayak, paddleboard, and canoe rentals starting at $40 with the option of home delivery.
If you want to extend your journey even further, take a look at Algonquin and Beyond. You’ll have a detailed map of all of Algonquin’s hidden gems, as well as useful insights to help you make the most of your trip.
Where to sleep
If you are a camper, there are numerous beautiful campsites along the gorge. If you have the necessary gear, I highly recommend this route! Rates start at $11 per night and there are also auto-camping opportunities.
Otherwise local Airbnbs in Pembroke, Barry’s Bay or Calabogie work well.
day 3
Heading back into town, a stop at Kawartha Dairy is a must. Located in Bancroft, it’s an easy roadside stop and home to some of Ontario’s best ice cream. Personally, I’m a fan of the very kid-friendly Moon Mist, but classics like Moose Tracks are also available.
In conclusion, everyone who wrote me about the canyon being too far from Toronto (or who, on the other hand, commented on how epic the view from the canyon is) is absolutely right.
It’s far and it’s epic. If you’re looking for a less busy alternative to Algonquin’s West Gate (and have three days or more to spare), I’d highly recommend this adventure.