Parking
Trailhead parking at km 13.8 on Highway 60, shared with the Red Spruce Side Trail; valid Algonquin day‑use permit required.
Overview
About Hardwood Lookout Trail
Hardwood Lookout Trail is a 1 km (0.62 mile) loop through a representative Algonquin hardwood forest, ending at a scenic lookout over Smoke Lake and the surrounding hills.
Why go
- Interpretive pamphlet with numbered posts adds context to the hardwood forest.
- Bench and cairn at the lookout make it a pleasant linger spot.
Heads up
- Summer foliage can partially obstruct the Smoke Lake view.
- Bugs can be intense in June—repellent strongly recommended.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Algonquin map
Full mapElevation450–475 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Algonquin alerts
- CautionLow Water on Backcountry Canoe RoutesLow-water alerts are active on six backcountry canoe-route sections; extremely low water may make routes impassable.Official details
- ClosureProvoking Falls Bridge ClosedThe Provoking Falls bridge on the Highland Backpacking Trail is closed due to safety concerns and has been removed. - A reroute has been posted and adds 2.5 km.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Algonquin Tour Guide
Your drive to Hardwood Lookout 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.
Recorded for this trailhead
Hardwood Lookout Trail: A Short Hike, Big ViewListen
“The parking area ahead is for the Hardwood Lookout Trail. This is a great choice if you want a big view without a huge time commitment.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Algonquin Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Smoke Lake: Backcountry Access Point
- Smoke Lake Access Point: Backcountry Canoe Launch
- Canoe Lake: Paddling Hub, Food, and Tom Thomson
- Loons of Algonquin
- 139 audio storiesacross Algonquin’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Moose, Eastern Wolf, Black Bear, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 26 trails, 95 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Hardwood Lookout Trail
What you’ll seeThe trail’s theme is Algonquin hardwood-forest ecology.
The trail’s theme is Algonquin hardwood-forest ecology. The lookout includes a historical cairn dedicated to Douglas McDonald Hains; forest and lake views are the main highlights.
Route notesPark at the signed km 13.8 access on Highway 60 and follow the marked loop.
Park at the signed km 13.8 access on Highway 60 and follow the marked loop. The primary parking/trailhead point is separate from the first mapped trail vertex by roughly 130 m along the access; the stored line represents the 1 km walking loop itself. Allow about 30–60 minutes depending on pace and stops.
Know before you goAlgonquin Park requires a valid park permit for trail use.
Algonquin Park requires a valid park permit for trail use. The route has uneven natural footing and a moderate climb to the lookout; use care near the viewpoint. Dogs are allowed outside but should remain leashed and under control.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Algonquin
1,230 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
244 sightingsEastern WolfMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
331 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
603 sightingsLoonMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
109 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
191 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Algonquin. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
