Camping & Hiking · Fishing · Scenic Views · Ontario
The Sand Lake Gate entrance on the remote east side of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, a quiet access point for Grand Lake camping, canoe trips and the Barron Canyon Trail. No cell service; plan your route.
Sand Lake Gate is the entrance to Algonquin's quieter east side, well away from the busier Highway 60 corridor. Visitors describe it as tucked into the back woods, with campsites under the trees on Grand Lake and a real sense of northern solitude.
From here there are drive-in campsites, yurts and backcountry canoe routes. One group paddled and portaged in and found lovely sites, colourful foliage along the portages and baby painted turtles along the way. Several visitors mention fishing and many lakes and trails within reach.
The Barron Canyon Trail is the must-do hike in this area, according to reviewers, with dramatic views. Campers who like quiet and don't mind driving far will find it worth the trip.
Getting there takes planning. It is a long drive from the Highway 60 side of the park, and one visitor's GPS ran out just before the gate at night. There is no cell service, so download maps and know your route in advance. One visitor found the park maps hard to read, and popular spots can get crowded.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 216 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Sand Lake Gate (Algonquin Provincial Park) directly.
