| Equipment » Rogers Satellite Beta » 8/25/2025 11:41 am |
Jdbonney wrote:
So my experience with the iPhone satellite has been very poor. I was in Killarney two weeks ago and it did not work all (bell lake loop). I just returned from an Algonquin trip (out of kiosk to manitou, biggar, north Sylvia, maple and back to the van at kiosk). It was spotty. Would pretty much consistently send my location to my dad and kids who were following me, but messaging was extremely hit and miss. I would sit in the evening multiple times with my phone supposedly “connected” for 15-20 minutes trying to send a message and have no luck. Then the next morning I would try to send a message and it would send almost immediately. Responses were also spotty with some coming instantly, some later the same day and a handful arriving when I got back into cell phone range. Basically it was exactly what the old saying says….you get what you pay for. It’s free and I can’t complain because of that, but I wouldn’t trust it.
Interesting - I used it again on my most recent trip to Fraser Lake a couple weeks ago and found that it worked seamlessly again. In fact, it connected to the satellite and sent messages faster than my inReach Mini 2. Also, the fact that the iPhone directs you where to turn/point the phone to achieve the strongest satellite connection was very useful compared to the Garmin, which requires the antenna to point to the sky in hopes of connecting to the satellite that passes over approximately every 10 minutes.
After two successful trips using it, I went ahead and cancelled the Garmin subscription and will be using the iPhone satellite messaging going forward. This was a no brainer for me, especially considering the price increases for the Garmin subscriptions in recent years.
| Trip Planning » Full Fire Ban - effective August 14, 2025 » 8/13/2025 12:13 pm |
Dear Reservation Holder,
This email is regarding your upcoming reservation with Ontario Parks.
Effective Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 5pm Algonquin Provincial Park is entering into a FULL FIRE BAN. This means that no open fires are permitted within the park at any time. Fire hazard conditions are monitored daily and fire bans are lifted as soon as conditions improve. Campfires and charcoal/wood-burning barbecues are not permitted during a fire ban. Portable gas/propane/naphtha stoves or barbecues with a shut-off control valve are permitted.
What is allowed during a fire ban:
- portable gas or propane cooking stoves
- portable liquid-fuel cooking stoves
- propane barbecues
What's not allowed during a fire ban:
- campfires
- charcoal or wood barbecues
- biomass stoves
- candles
- torches
- propane fire pits or bowls
For more information on what equipment is permitted during a full fire ban visit:
Visit our website for up-to-date information at: Alerts in Ontario Parks
Remember: if your campfire starts a wildfire, you can be held responsible for suppression costs and/or damages.
Sincerely,
Ontario Parks
| Where In Algonquin? » WIA 997 » 8/03/2025 12:20 pm |
Burntroot at the end of the Robinson Lake portage?
| Equipment » Rogers Satellite Beta » 7/25/2025 12:09 pm |
I confirm that I was able to successfully send and receive satellite text messages using my iPhone when I was on the Nipissing River a couple weeks ago. If it works again on my next trip, I will likely cancel my inReach Mini 2 subscription and sell that device.
| Trip Planning » Hurdman - West Corbeau - Stretch ___but in October? » 7/06/2025 8:51 am |
I did a trip at the end of August 2023 out of Brain Lake to Little Cauchon, and then made a loop by portaging up Daventry Road back to the access point. Water levels in Brain Creek and Hurdman Creek were fine when I went through in late summer. I stopped for a water break at the campsite on Stretch Lake. The scenery looking out at the rock cliffs was stunning, but the campsite itself wasn't great.
| Catch-all Discussions » Residents trapped after suspected tornado touches down up north » 6/22/2025 3:39 pm |
Wow - I was supposed to start a trip with my son out of Kiosk on Friday, and just received this email this morning:
Dear Camper,
Due to a severe storm that occurred in Algonquin Park and the surrounding area on June 22, 2025, the road leading into Kiosk Campground is washed out at several sections and the campground and access point is currently inaccessible. It is unclear at this time how long the road will remain closed for. Due to the road washout and inaccessible campground and access point, we are offering no-fee cancellations and free changes to your camping trip.
Please be advised that at this time due to multiple power outages in the park, our phone line is not working. You will still be eligible to receive a no-fee cancellation or change to another campground when our phones are operational again. To change your reservation to another campsite in a different campground, or to process a full refund if you choose to cancel your reservation, please call 613-637-2780 ext. 229 during business hours of 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Please email us if you haven’t been able to get in touch with us via phone and we will contact you when our phone lines are operational again.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
Algonquin Provincial Park| Ontario Parks
Box 219, Whitney, Ontario, K0J 2M0
P: 613-637-2780 W: www.ontarioparks.com/park/algonquin
| Where In Algonquin? » WIA 883 » 5/27/2025 9:46 am |
Marie Lake
| Trip Planning » 2025 Shuttle Services » 5/12/2025 3:14 pm |
I appreciate the offer - I will certainly let you know!
| Trip Planning » 2025 Shuttle Services » 5/12/2025 6:22 am |
Thank you, everyone.
I received an email back from one of the local Outfitters and they quoted me prices from Opeongo to Tim River, and from Canoe to Rain. As Martin pointed out, it is not cheap.
Jeff was kind enough to email me the contact number for the Hurleys. I will call this week and see if I can arrange something.
I'm starting to think that this could be a decent retirement gig for somebody. Surely a well-run, semi-regular scheduled shuttle service could be profitable.
| Trip Planning » 2025 Shuttle Services » 5/11/2025 5:37 pm |
Algonquin Bound Outfitters
Thank you - but as I previously indicated, I reviewed all of the Outfitters' websites, including the link above. You will note that what they offer on the website is not the service I am interested in. The service provided in your link is to have someone move your vehicle to your end point destination. I simply want a shuttle vehicle to pick me up at Canoe Lake or Lake Opeongo, and drop me off at another access point.
| Trip Planning » 2025 Shuttle Services » 5/11/2025 10:10 am |
jack and peggy hurley from dwight offer a shuttle service ,, i hope this helps
Thank you - do you happen to have contact information for them?
| Trip Planning » 2025 Shuttle Services » 5/11/2025 8:05 am |
I would like to park my vehicle at Canoe Lake or Lake Opeongo access points, and be picked up by a shuttle and dropped off at Tim River or Kiosk (1 adult, 1 pack, 1 canoe). Does anyone know of any companies offering this type of shuttle for 2025?
I have searched the websites of various outfitters, but I don't see this exact service listed.
| Trip Reports » New PCI Campsite Report Submissions » 2/20/2025 9:08 am |
Excellent - thank you, Dwight!
| Trip Reports » Aurora - Third Time's the Charm » 2/03/2025 11:20 am |
Thanks for another great report! Looks like a beautiful lake and well worth the effort to get there.
| Trip Planning » Clara Lake Canoe Campsite » 2/03/2025 11:17 am |
I haven't been there myself, but a friend did a solo trip there end of May 2023. He said it is a small but gorgeous site. I also remember seeing Kev Wild's video a couple years ago where he camps at the site one night. It does not appear to be huge from what I could tell.
| Where In Algonquin? » WIA 832 » 1/22/2025 9:27 am |
Little Otterslide?
| Trip Reports » Day Ski Trip to Aurora Lk - Jan. 10, 2025 » 1/18/2025 12:40 pm |
Excellent - thanks for the info. Definitely an area I would like to explore this winter.
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