Parking
There is no vehicle access to the trail. The closest access point is Lake Opeongo; the backcountry trip to the Big Crow Cabin area normally takes a full day from the Opeongo–Proulx portage. Park at the Lake Opeongo access point.
Overview
About Big Crow Lake Old Fire Tower Trail
Why go
- A lake panorama from a historic fire-tower site
- A compact hike with a clear destination
Heads up
- The hill is steep in both directions
- Reaching the trail requires a remote canoe trip
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Algonquin map
Full mapElevation391–528 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Algonquin alerts
- ClosureProvoking Falls Bridge ClosedThe Provoking Falls bridge on the Highland Backpacking Trail is closed because of safety concerns; the bridge has been removed. - Use the posted reroute, which adds 2.5 km.Official details
- CautionLow Water on Backcountry Canoe RoutesOntario Parks currently lists low-water alerts for six backcountry canoe-route sections: - Varley Lake from Carl Wilson Lake - Latour Creek north of Rosebary Lake - Carcajou Creek north towards…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Algonquin Tour Guide
Your drive to Big Crow Lake Old Fire Tower Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Algonquin Provincial Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Algonquin audio tour- 107 audio storiesacross Algonquin’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Moose, Eastern Wolf, Black Bear, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 39 trails, 66 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Big Crow Lake Old Fire Tower Trail
A short, steep climbThis is a short out-and-back from Big Crow Lake's shore up to the former fire-tower site.
This is a short out-and-back from Big Crow Lake's shore up to the former fire-tower site. The mapped footpath is about 0.38 mile (0.61 km) each way, so the mapped walk is about 0.75 mile (1.21 km) round trip. Other published estimates go to 0.9 mile; your total depends on where you land and whether you add the nearby lookout spur. The climb is roughly 400 feet. Allow about an hour for the steep ascent, the return descent and a look around.
The former lookoutBig Crow's fire tower and ranger cabin were built in 1956.
Big Crow's fire tower and ranger cabin were built in 1956. The tower remained in fire-detection service into the mid-1970s, among the last used in Ontario, but it is no longer standing. The trail ends at its former hilltop site, where the view opens over Big Crow Lake and the wooded shore. This is the trail's signature view; frame the water and forested ridges from the lookout. Watch your footing on the steep descent.
Reaching Big Crow LakeThis is a remote canoe-access side hike, not a roadside stop.
This is a remote canoe-access side hike, not a roadside stop. The closest access point is Lake Opeongo; reaching the cabin area from the Opeongo–Proulx portage is normally a full day's backcountry trip. The mapped trail begins at the Big Crow Cabin shoreline, but a trail-specific public-access statement and exact landing instructions are not published. Confirm access before making the paddle in. The cabin is a separate reservable facility, not a trail service; its site prohibits pets and has no running water, indoor bathroom, electricity or cell reception.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Algonquin
1,237 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
245 sightingsEastern WolfMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
331 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
604 sightingsLoonMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
110 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
192 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Algonquin. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
