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From the Friends of Algonquin Park:
Algonquin Park's Lake Opeongo Access Point Office Closure — Ontario Parks is reporting that the Lake Opeongo Access Point Office will be permanently closed as of today (April 1, 2026). Ontario Parks recommends visitors requiring in-person information visit the East Gate or West Gate.
The Lake Opeongo Access Point Office (shown) provided backcountry services (assistance, information, and historically in-person permit and license sales) for visitors heading into Algonquin Park's backcountry via Algonquin Park's largest lake. This backcountry access point office, and others, are traditionally closed for the winter months meaning the Lake Opeongo Access Point Office will not re-open along with other access point offices near the end of April/early May 2026. In their announcement, Ontario Parks provided no explanation for the closure.
For more about Algonquin Park’s Backcountry Access Points see
Note: This is not an April Fool’s Day joke, but a real announcement effective today (April 1, 2026).
Image: Lake Opeongo Access Point Office in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada.
#AlgonquinPark #Ontario #Canada #backcountry #canoeing #canoe #camping #fishing #parks #closed #closure #spring
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I noticed this yesterday when making a reservation for May.
I suspect with the ability to now print your permit at home no one was using the office anymore so this is just cost savings. I don't think we'll see too many permit offices in the future. With license plate readers and print at home permits they really aren't needed, except in the campgrounds.
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They also announced this:
"-Lake of Two Rivers Campground Office:
Please note that the Lake of Two Rivers Campground Office is permanently closed as of April 1, 2026. Visitors requiring information, permits, or firewood can visit the Mew Lake Campground Office, or call the information line at: 705-633-5572."
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this is a sad, sad move- for years, even with permits, I always checked in to get real time weather and water conditions, any bear or other creature issues, and any questions regarding my route and problem sites, plus I'd get the newsletter and any issues of the Raven for T-box reading. those staffers heard from people checking in or out what exactly was happening in the area, on essentially an hourly basis
I'd say on average I'd be in there 15-20 minutes of which the actual check in was about a minute.
i'll also miss the interaction with all the staffers for simple conversation, tips, and even corny jokes- It was one such person who explained to me what a "walkover" was decades ago; It's the simple act of stepping from a dock into a canoe off- centre and continuing right out the other side....
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The office at Kawawaymog Lake has been permanently closed too
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jeffreym wrote:
The office at Kawawaymog Lake has been permanently closed too
The website still lists it as an access office, as of today, unlike the pages for Opeongo and Lake of Two Rivers.
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Indeed. I presume no one bothered to tell the FoA.
However, there is a notice on the CAMIS webpage. Go to then choose Backcountry, click Search, and see the first item under Park Alerts (it has the heading Park Notice):
Last edited by jeffreym (4/04/2026 10:59 pm)
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The Happy Camper: Algonquin Just Closed Two Doors on Campers
Last edited by Barbara (4/09/2026 2:48 pm)
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Kevin sums it up in a nutshell, but misses one very important point- the closure of the busiest frontcountry office and busiest backcountry offices means all the people using them will now have to DRIVE to other offices for their services, increasing traffic on an already overburdened highway, AND increasing congestion and delays at the other remaining offices. Permits are just one small part of what they do- forgot your garbage bags? the office has them. need firestarters, the office has them, want a camp map to find your site, check the office. Need a weather report, yup- the office, and the list goes on and on. I've seen campers in the front country ask when the comfort stations are cleaned so they don't sit outside with a couple of rowdy, bored, junior campers for 1/2 to 3/4's of an hour. then there's the parking- people using the Two Rivers office have ample parking, Mew has maybe a couple of dozen spots at most.
Opeongo has maybe 200 spots (including up the hill) East gate maybe 50, and West gate maybe 75- BUT many arrivals are towing trailers and require 2 or 3 spots. who's going to wait a half hour or so just to park especially on a long weekend. are they expecting people to keep circling until a spot opens like Walmart on a Saturday afternoon???
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