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6/25/2016 11:38 am  #1


Western or Highland for first trip

This is my first backpacking trip and I'm flying solo! Can someone recommend which is the better trail? I'm coming from east side.

 

6/25/2016 1:44 pm  #2


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I prefer Highlands. Eastern Pines might be a good option though? Never hiked it before but that's my favourite area in the park.

 

6/25/2016 4:34 pm  #3


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

Thank you. I read Eastern was on,y a day hike. I am looking to do a 2 night, 3 day walk.

     Thread Starter
 

6/25/2016 9:59 pm  #4


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I'd do the first loop of the Western Uplands. Highlands was okay; it was my first solo overnight hike, but a lot of the trail is through forest. So are long parts of the WU trail, but at least there are more lakes to stop at on the way (Hardy, Maple Leaf, Maggie, Oak, Ramona, Guskewau). My two cents.

 

6/26/2016 10:58 am  #5


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I have done both numerous times and don't think you will notice much of a difference in terms of terrain or difficulty level. Both are a good hikes with lots of rolling hills. I've done both trails in 2 nights/3 days but prefer 3 nights. My preferred routes below would be the same in either circumstance.
 
My preference when hiking the Highlands is to do it clockwise stopping the first night at the west end of Provoking and then tackling the Mosquito Creek section on Day 2. This allows you to take the remaining two days (assuming 3 night) a little more leisurely. Nice lakes and sites. Faya Lake is a solo site and well liked although there have been bear issues reported the last few years and leeches in the water.

Some pics


 



If you choose the WUT, both directions have advantages and disadvantages. Some say there is less uphill and more downhill if you go counter-clockwise but I personally have not noticed much of a difference. If you go this way, EU Lake is a good stop for the first night. Very nice solo site. Then continuing to Maggie Lake for the second night will allow you a rest day on Day 3 when you can day-trip around Maggie. The grade from west of Ramona out to the trailhead is definitely flatter, however, which you may appreciate on your last day.

Some pics




Last edited by Algonquintripper (6/26/2016 11:08 am)


Dave
 

6/26/2016 7:51 pm  #6


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

Thanks Dave! Leeches? I can deal with anything else but leeches. Have you hiked Kilarney? I am so unsure of where to go for the first time. I am looking for hard in the sense where my body needs to hurt by the end of day 3. It is going to be my soul cleanser. lol
I see you hike with your dog, that is amazing! That will be next year's resolution. 

     Thread Starter
 

6/27/2016 7:51 am  #7


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

Hi Sammy,

I have also hiked both trails a number of times and totally concur with Dave's information and recommendations. If you do the Highland Trail, do not miss the Lookout by Starling Lake as it is quite spectacular. Make sure you go the very end of the Lookout Trail where you are perched high atop the rocks. If you're good with the challenge aspect, then the Highland Trail should be feasible in the 3 day/2 night timeframe.

I guess the big questions would be how much hiking/outdoor experience you have, what is your physical condition, and how heavy will your pack be? Also, how much solitude are you craving? I made the mistake of going a bit too light and too far for my first solo trip which made things a little less enjoyable, but served as a great learning experience! If you're looking for a larger distance challenge, I suppose you could consider loops 1 and 2 of the WUT, but I'm not sure if it's a great idea for a first trip, especially solo.

Another option is the third loop of the WUT by Rain Lake. It is less busy (relatively speaking!) and you have a shortcut/bailout option from the Otterpaw/Gervais Lake areas vs. doing the whole loop if need be. The out and back section to the top of the loop mostly follows an old rail bed and is easy to traverse, which is kind of nice to start and end a hiking experience. The loop itself has some good challenges and some nice spots along the way. I would avoid the Ishkuday Lake site at all costs! I can offer further recommendations if interested...

The Killarney loop is amazing. We've done it twice - once in 6 days/5 nights and once in 4 days/3nights. We're in pretty good physical condition, but the 4 days was a bit much! Also, you'll need to book this well in advance as sites are in high demand. 

Hope this helps - cheers!

Rich

 

6/27/2016 9:38 am  #8


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

AT, what's the date of that Madawaska "falls" pic? I've never seen such little water there!

Sammy, Eastern Pines is not only a day hike as there are backcountry sites there but the most you can stretch out that trail without being repetitive is about 20KM. I've not hiked it yet but understand it's fairly easy with only one more difficult section north of Bucholtz where there are large boulders you'll have to climb. I find WUT and Highland very similar in what you'll see and difficulty - moderately difficult with lots of ups and downs. Which trail you do should really come down to how far you want to hike in 3 days and if you don't want to repeat any part of the trail. The shortest loop of the WUT is 32KM but it's pretty much a true loop. You could do 19KM or 35KM loops on Highland but both repeat the first 3.8KM. Check out Jeff's Map if you haven't already and you can see all the permutations.

You could do the Rain Lake access as hiker mentioned, just understand that it would add 2 hours to your drive each way vs. the Hwy 60 access for WUT. 

Last edited by spicol (6/27/2016 1:58 pm)

 

6/27/2016 1:03 pm  #9


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I'm going to be sacrilegious here and say that the backpacking trails in Algonqian are Boorring. Out of the 3 I think the Eastern Pines trail is the most interesting. Spicol is right is about 20km, so you could make an overnighter out of it. Otherwise, I could see myself one day doing the whole Western Uplands loop because the length makes it one of few well organized longer trails in Ontario.

That said you will find much more interesting hiking, terrain, look outs and points of interest at Killarney, Frontenac, Superior or the Adirondacks.

 

6/27/2016 2:17 pm  #10


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I'd agree with most of that. You're absolutely right that other trails have more interesting terrain and scenery but Algonquin is pretty special and never boring.

 

6/27/2016 2:54 pm  #11


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

Algonquin is special. Especially from the water! I just find the backpacking trails very closed in. Especially in the summer. Boring was too harsh! 

Last edited by MartinG (6/27/2016 2:55 pm)

 

6/27/2016 4:32 pm  #12


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

The trails are pretty closed in and several sections are marshy and thus have lots of bugs but the campsites are great, mostly lightly used, good swimming, nice fire pits. You'll enjoy it for sure. My recommendation would be the highlands. Stay on provoking first night then head or harness next night. I would recommend east end provoking, but you really can't go wrong on either side of the lake.

 

6/28/2016 11:41 am  #13


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

Have only done Highlands once.
We found it to be easier than Western and also found it more "used" (campsites were littered with garbage, etc...) The sites on Western are either less utilized or are used more by people who are familiar with good camping practices like LNT.

 

6/28/2016 12:11 pm  #14


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I also prefer Highland, especially for a first trip, though the sites on Provoking do see a lot of use by daytrippers. If going for an easy weekend trip with newbies I'll book two sites on Provoking. That way if there's an issue, you can backtrack to the split and go up the opposite side, cutting off about 10km, or bail out in a couple of hours.

 

6/28/2016 2:54 pm  #15


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

scoutergriz wrote:

I also prefer Highland, especially for a first trip, though the sites on Provoking do see a lot of use by daytrippers. If going for an easy weekend trip with newbies I'll book two sites on Provoking. That way if there's an issue, you can backtrack to the split and go up the opposite side, cutting off about 10km, or bail out in a couple of hours.

a good point. The first time I took my kids on the highlands we stayed on west provoking the first night then hiked to east provoking the next. After setting up camp on east provoking around 2-2:30 the rain started...and continued...at about 5 it was not letting up. It was pretty miserable, especially when the water started pooling around the tent. We packed up and hiked to the car and were there before dark.
 

 

6/30/2016 9:39 pm  #16


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

MartinG wrote:

I'm going to be sacrilegious here and say that the backpacking trails in Algonqian are Boorring. Out of the 3 I think the Eastern Pines trail is the most interesting. Spicol is right is about 20km, so you could make an overnighter out of it. Otherwise, I could see myself one day doing the whole Western Uplands loop because the length makes it one of few well organized longer trails in Ontario.

That said you will find much more interesting hiking, terrain, look outs and points of interest at Killarney, Frontenac, Superior or the Adirondacks.

Thank you all for great advice. I am new, like first time new to everything. Camping to me has been in my 24ft travel trailer. However, much "crap" has happened this year and I am "screaming" on the inside for solitude. At the same time, I want to push my body to a point of where it cannot go any further. Almost a "hike the demons" out of my head. I have looked at Kilareny however, it is 7 hours away from me and I am debating the drive as I only have the 2 nights. 

Adirondack might be another solution.

Or if anyone has an Algonquin area that can push me to my limits, I am all ears!
 

     Thread Starter
 

7/01/2016 8:11 am  #17


Re: Western or Highland for first trip

I don't know what to say about pushing yourself to your limits... Doing the big loop of the Western Uplands Trail starting from hwy 60 (about 75 km or 25 km avg/day) would be hardcore and a tough go - if that doesn't push your limits, I don't know what would! Having said that I would really, really discourage this as a first time endeavour. The ups and downs wear you down over time, especially when considering a backpack. Maybe consider doing the first 2 loops of the trail (about 55 km total) and build in the option of doing the Maggie Lake loop if you're still feeling the need to push further?

 

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