Our family is heading up by Algonquin Provincial Park this Friday and was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions for photo opertunities? I have been to Lake Opionga and Lake of Two Rivers mostly off the highway. I will most likely be heading into the park about 5AM to setup and plan on doing this about 2 or 3 times during the week, also my understanding is that the bugs are really bad this year, can anyone else who has been up there recently state this as fact?
The bugs never vary up there (horrid), cept maybe a little in winter. Bring repelent and a mesh jacket, anything with "deet" is fine.
As for locations, bring a canoe and get into slightly less traveled areas. Burnt root, tom thompson,canoe and big trout lake are excelent sites, just take a little work is all.
One of the nicest outtings is a day trip by canoe along the Barron River; there is also a nice lookout atop the canyon. It is the perfect "canadiana" outting complete with a short, easy portage. The only "but" is that this is not from Hwy 60 but rather off 17 near Pembroke.
The last time there I had the great fortune of having a deer swim across the gorge about 100 metres in front of the canoe. Image is taken from the canoe with a Canon 20D and 50-200L.
Hey Dan - my girlfriend and her father recently went on a trip to Bon Echo, so just a bit under and to the right of Algonquin. They ended up leaving a day early because the bugs were so horrid. Some up there are saying something to do with the weather is causing all the bugs to have hit hard at once. Their 'deep woods off!', which I believe is the more powerful stuff, did not deter the bugs very effectively at all.
However, if you get yourself one of the coats with the bug hoods and tuck your pants into your socks, you'll be laughing!
I used to spend my summers as a kid camping at algonquin. Of course I don't remember where special photographic vantage point would be ... but .... come to think of it ... I think the whole park is!
The most beautiful place in Northern Ontario however, I think is at Killarney Park. Much like Algonquin ... but more stark.
If you portage in a couple of lakes, you will have it mostly to yourself. There are moose and bears in the park and in marsh areas you can find and herons and other water birds. There are fast little critters running on the ground. Pray for a breeze to keep the bugs away during the day. Go for cover just before sundown. The bugs are always bad at night regardless of the year.
Thanks for the input everyone, I won't be doing and portaging most likely just walking. Sounds like I will be using lots of bug screen.
We are heading out tomorrow so if anyone will be in the area send me a PM tonight as unfortunately my laptop is in for repair and I will have no internet as well as a place to dump my files, looks like I will have to pic up some extra cards.
