Parking
Use the Hardwood Lookout parking access at Highway 60 km 13.8. The mapped lot is gravel; its size and overflow details were not found.
Overview
About Hardwood Lookout Trail
Why go
- Smoke Lake views in a short walk
- A quick introduction to Algonquin hardwood ecology
Heads up
- A brief climb for a view that is modest beside the park’s best-known lookouts
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Algonquin map
Full mapElevation466–487 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 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.
See the Algonquin audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Hardwood Lookout and Red Spruce0:00 / 0:25
“Hardwood Lookout's trailhead is ahead, for a short forest walk to a tree-framed view over Smoke Lake. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes for the one-kilometre loop, with roots, rocks and a brief climb.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Algonquin Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Smoke Lake Canoe Launch
- Canoe Lake and the Portage Store
- Mizzy Lake's Ponds and Wildlife
- Tea Lake Campground
- 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
“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
A short loop to Smoke LakeHardwood Lookout Trail is a 1 km loop through a typical Algonquin hardwood forest to a lookout…
Hardwood Lookout Trail is a 1 km loop through a typical Algonquin hardwood forest to a lookout over Smoke Lake and the surrounding hills. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes; the park rates it moderate. It is a handy Highway 60 stop for a bit of forest and lake scenery without taking up half your day.
Follow the access spurThere is a short approach from the parking access to the circuit.
There is a short approach from the parking access to the circuit. Walk that same stretch again to finish the loop. The route rolls up and down through trees, with a brief climb before the outlook; visitors differ on how steep it feels, but the short distance does not make it flat. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance in bug season, so bring repellent when they are active.
Take in the lake viewAt the lookout, Smoke Lake opens out toward a wooded peninsula and forested hills.
At the lookout, Smoke Lake opens out toward a wooded peninsula and forested hills. The view is pleasant but modest beside the park's headline lookouts; do it for a close lake view rather than a big summit panorama. For a photo, frame the peninsula against the far ridge and leave some open water in front.
A small piece of park historyAlong the trail is a historical cairn dedicated to Douglas McDonald Hains.
Along the trail is a historical cairn dedicated to Douglas McDonald Hains. The loop's interpretive theme is the hardwood forest, so it is a quick way to look at the trees as well as the lake.
Set up the stopStart from the Hardwood Lookout parking access at Highway 60 km 13.8.
Start from the Hardwood Lookout parking access at Highway 60 km 13.8. A valid park permit is required. Dogs are allowed on this trail under the park's general rules, but must stay on a leash no longer than 2 m. Parking is listed at the trailhead; a toilet, drinking water, and food are not listed there.
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.
