Algonquin Adventures / 2018 Ice Out Predictions?

**Posted by Was Hardcore** 4/11/2018 7:42 pm

Noticed on the FOA webcam that a lot of the snow melted today.

**Posted by Was Hardcore** 4/11/2018 7:44 pm

Nother Question. If backcounty reservations, canoe trips permits are cancelled can you still do day trips if the lake is open?

http://www.youtube.com/user/kayakcamper · **Posted by Uppa** 4/12/2018 8:05 am

I don't think there's any way you could be prevented from day tripping.

**Posted by RobW** 4/12/2018 10:00 am

Yes you can day trip if the lakes are open. That's what we did back in 2014.

**Posted by vanslyke** 4/12/2018 2:41 pm

Kevin wrote:
I’ve been watching Simcoe. Have heard it’s usually out about two weeks before Opeongo. Still looks pretty white on the satellite images.

It is yes but it wont be long now until Simcoe is wide open. There are big areas of the southern and south/eastern part of the lake that are fully open in marinas and bays.

**Posted by Was Hardcore** 4/12/2018 5:35 pm

Well its snowing on the webcam again.

**Posted by yellowcanoe** 4/12/2018 5:50 pm

There is a pretty amazing temperature differential between Windsor and the park east gate right now. The east gate is a zero degrees while Windsor is at 22 degrees -- the hottest spot in Canada right now and 9 degrees warmer than normal.

**Posted by Rob** 4/12/2018 7:02 pm

These were taken Tuesday.

Smoke Lake

The Canisbay campground office is directly behind me.
Canisbay Road

Brewer Lake by Rob Howes, on Flickr

**Posted by trippythings** 4/12/2018 7:50 pm

DanPM wrote:
trippythings wrote:
I'm considering a trip around May 16-20 but not sure if that's too late if I'm trying to avoid the bugs
I often go on trip in the park Victoria Day weekend and usually don't get hit too hard by the blackflies. Sometimes they're starting to come out but not yet at peak. It's not bug-free but it's as good a time to go as any summer weekend.

PaPaddler wrote:
Agreed with DanPM - I'm always amused at how freaked out people get about bug concerns in May. All of my experience has been that they don't get bad until the last week of May in almost every year and even then can be manageable.

Sure, as you get later in May your risk goes up but I have rarely seen the bugs as "horrible" any time in May. Worst I've seen are short blasts of annoying bugs that a smokey fire or good breeze or DEET can keep at bay with ease.

Thanks for the info. I see such conflicting things about when the bugs come out and when the bugs start getting intolerable. I've never done a spring trip but like I said I'll probably just plan tentatively and play it by ear based on weather and bug reports. I've got plans that I can't change for every weekend in May, so I'd have to do a mid-week trip and take extra vacation days from work... so I really need the stars to align. Otherwise I'll just save the vacation days for more August/September tripping

**Posted by kenny** 4/13/2018 7:04 am

If you are going May 16-20 this year you should be fine as I looks like Ice won't be going out until First week of May.

**Posted by ATVenture** 4/13/2018 7:33 am

Ice conditions 30 minutes North of the park yesterday.
Nothing in the North Bay area is even starting to break up on shore. All the locals are saying Nipissing is going to be later this year than the previous record of May 18th.

Last edited by ATVenture (4/13/2018 7:34 am)

**Posted by AlgonquinGuy** 4/13/2018 4:28 pm

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/ice-out.php

Delayed opening until May 4th.

**Posted by Peek** 4/13/2018 4:58 pm

Given the photos, the forecast and the word on the ground from locals - I think even May 4th is optimistic. I wouldn't base any planning on this date, might be disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/user/kayakcamper · **Posted by Uppa** 4/14/2018 4:44 am

Peek wrote:
Given the photos, the forecast and the word on the ground from locals - I think even May 4th is optimistic. I wouldn't base any planning on this date, might be disappointed.

They've pushed opening day to... May 4th. And it won't surprise me in the slightest if that date ends up pushing back another week.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/ice-out.php

Delayed Facility Openings in Algonquin Park

Ontario Parks, the government organization responsible for the management of Algonquin Park, has announced that the opening of the following areas of Algonquin Park will be delayed until May 4, 2018 (subject to change) due to the late arrival of spring:

All backcountry campsites, ranger cabins, portages and backcountry access points
Achray Campground
Brent Campground
Kiosk Campground
Rock Lake Campground
Tea Lake Campground

All Algonquin Park visitors holding an affected reservation with an arrival date up to and including the night of May 3, 2018 can receive a full refund or change their reservation dates without penalty. Ontario Parks reservation service staff will be contacting affected reservation holders directly to inform them of this information and to make necessary changes to their reservations. Online changes are not recommended as visitors will incur penalties or change fees.

Last edited by Uppa (4/14/2018 5:32 am)

**Posted by DanPM** 4/14/2018 10:12 am

Haha I don't think Peek was being prophetic, he was responding to AlgonquinGuy's announcement of the May 4 opening.

**Posted by Peek** 4/14/2018 10:20 am

DanPM wrote:
Haha I don't think Peek was being prophetic, he was responding to AlgonquinGuy's announcement of the May 4 opening.

lol yup, this.

**Posted by sdmoulto** 4/14/2018 10:40 am

There is a significant warming in temperatures coming next week with rainfall. As someone who has worked multiple seasons throughout the park, I can tell you it all happens very quickly. If the park management didn't think there was a realistic chance the ice would be out May 4th, 2018 they would not have announced that date. All it takes is 5-7 days of the right weather conditions to send lake ice to its demise. I wouldn't be entirely negative and push back your plans just yet everyone.

Sean