Parking
Use the Hemlock Bluff parking area at Highway 60 km 27.2. The trail entrance is across the highway; cross carefully.
Overview
About Hemlock Bluff Trail
Why go
- A Jack Lake bluff view and eastern hemlock stand on one loop
- The official two-hour estimate fits a compact outing
Heads up
- Rooted, rolling ground can be muddy after rain
- Getting from parking to the trail requires crossing Highway 60
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Algonquin map
Full mapElevation471–523 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 Hemlock Bluff 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
Hemlock Bluff Trail0:00 / 0:26
“You're nearing the start of Hemlock Bluff Trail, a mostly wooded walk with a view over Jack Lake from the bluff.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Algonquin Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Track and Tower above Cache Lake
- Highland Backpacking Trail
- Bat Lake Trail
- Canisbay Lake Beach and Camping
- 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 Hemlock Bluff Trail
A short loop with a lake payoffHemlock Bluff is a moderate 3.5 km (about 2.2 mile) loop at Highway 60 km 27.
Hemlock Bluff is a moderate 3.5 km (about 2.2 mile) loop at Highway 60 km 27.2 in Algonquin Provincial Park. Allow about two hours. It crosses mixed forest, passes an eastern hemlock stand and acidic Bat Lake, and opens to a view of Jack Lake from the bluff. It is a worthwhile two-hour walk when you want a compact forest route with a clear lake-view finish.
What the trail is likeMost of the loop is wooded.
Most of the loop is wooded. The path has exposed roots, uneven ground and repeated short rises and dips, so it feels rougher than a level nature walk. Hikers report muddy patches after rain. Leave time to pause at the bluff and take care on the uneven sections.
Hemlocks and Bat LakeThe named stops give the walk more to notice than the overlook alone: an eastern hemlock stand,…
The named stops give the walk more to notice than the overlook alone: an eastern hemlock stand, acidic Bat Lake and the view over Jack Lake. The accompanying trail guide presents research in Algonquin, making this a good route to take slowly rather than hurry through.
Access and rulesThe trailhead is at Highway 60 km 27.2.
The trailhead is at Highway 60 km 27.2. Parking and the trail entrance are on opposite sides of the highway, so cross carefully before starting. A valid Algonquin Park permit is required. Leashed pets are allowed under the park’s general rule; the leash must be no longer than 2 m.
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.
