Backcountry

Overnight Hiking - Go the Distance

Whether you're looking for a week-long hiking adventure or a short, single-night escape, Ontario Parks has a rewarding hiking experience for you.

Appropriate route planning will make for the most enjoyable backcountry experience. For assistance planning your trip, visit the webpage of the park you plan to visit, or call the park for more information.

Parks that offer Overnight Hiking

Park	Trail Name	Trail Rating	Trail Length (km)	Trail Type	Booking Type	How to Obtain a Permit
Algonquin	Eastern Pines	Intermediate	6-15	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Algonquin	Highlands	Intermediate	19-35	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Algonquin	Western Uplands	Intermediate	32-88	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Bon Echo	Abes and Essens Lake	Intermediate	17	Linear	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Charleston Lake	Tallow Rock Bay	Intermediate	1-10	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Arkon Lake	Beginner	11	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Big Salmon Lake	Intermediate	17	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Little Clear Lake	Intermediate	7	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Gibson Lake	Intermediate	9	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Tetsmine Lake	Intermediate	10	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Cedar Lake	Intermediate	14	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Frontenac	Slide Lake	Advanced	21	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Halfway Lake	Hawk Ridge	Advanced	15	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Killarney	La Cloche Silhouette	Advanced	80	Loop	Specific campsite	Reserve online
Lake Superior	Peat Mountain	Intermediate	11	Loop	Lake Zone/Area	Reserve online
Lake Superior	Coastal	Advanced	65	Linear	Lake Zone/Area	Reserve online
Lake Superior	Towab	Advanced	12	Linear	Lake Zone/Area	Reserve online
Lake Superior	Crescent Lake	Beginner	2	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Mississagi	MacKenzie	Advanced	22	Loop	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Sleeping Giant	Burma	Intermediate	11.4	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Sleeping Giant	Sawyer Bay	Intermediate	5.7	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Sleeping Giant	Twin Pine	Intermediate	4.4	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Sleeping Giant	Finlay Bay	Intermediate	5	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Sleeping Giant	Talus	Advanced	6	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online
Sleeping Giant	Kabeyun	Advanced	37	Linear	Lake zone/area	Reserve online

Choose a Park that matches your skill level

Beginner: Requires basic map and compass reading skills. Generally, even terrain and few slopes. Campsites may be close together, and easily accessible.

Intermediate: Requires developed map and compass reading skills. Generally, some uneven terrain and some slopes. Campsites may be a greater distance apart and/or more remote.

Advanced: Requires developed map and compass reading skills. Generally uneven terrain or significant slopes. Campsites may be a greater distance apart and more remote. A hike may be classified as advanced purely based on its remoteness. These overnight hiking trips require significant advance planning.

Description of Booking Type

Specific Campsite - You will reserve a specific numbered campsite for each night of your trip.

Lake zone/area - You will reserve a pre-defined lake or zone to camp in on each night of your trip. Within your lake or zone, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you arrive at a site that is full, you will continue your journey until you find an available site.

First-Come-First-Served - All campsites are first-come, first-served. If you arrive at a site that is full, you will continue your journey until you find an available site.

How to Obtain a Permit

Reserve Online
- A reservation can be made up to five months in advance of your arrival date.
- If you have a reservation at Algonquin, Frontenac, Kawartha Highlands or Charleston Lake, your camping and vehicle permits are included with your confirmation letter. Please print your permits in advance of your arrival.
- Campers holding reservations at all other backcountry parks will obtain a permit upon arrival when you check-in.
Register Online
- Register online to purchase a backcountry permit up to two weeks in advance of your arrival date.
- Campers registering online will be e-mailed their backcountry and vehicle permit. You are responsible for printing your permit and bringing a copy to the park with you.
- All backcountry registrations are final. There are no changes or refunds.