Hardwood Lookout Trail

The Hardwood Lookout Trail is a relatively low commitment trail, and a good option if you want a quick hike, while still getting a bit of a workout.

It’s also unique in that it has an optional side trail, not actually connected to the main trail. That’s the Red Spruce Side Trail, and it’s accessed on the other side of the parking lot, from the main trailhead.

More on that in a bit, though!

Anyway, this trail is located on the west end of Algonquin Provincial Park’s highway 60 corridor. Porter has done it twice now, in 2025 and in August 2026.

Here’s what he has to say about it:

The Basics:

Name: Hardwood Lookout Trail
Algonquin Park Section: Highway 60 Corridor
Kilometre Marker: km 13.8
Season: Year-Round ... sort of.
Trail Length: 1 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Suggested Completion Time: 45 Mins

Logistics

Some basic information to help you plan your hike on the Hardwood Lookout Trail in Algonquin Provincial Park:

Registration and Check In

All hiking trails in Algonquin Provincial Park require a valid permit to be within the park in the first place. There are a few different ways you can do this, depending on how you’re visiting the trail.

1. If you’re currently camping in Algonquin

If you have a current, valid camping permit for a campground in Algonquin Provincial Park - you just show up to the trail. Your license plate number is already registered with the park, and you’re good to go.

2. If you’re currently camping in a DIFFERENT Provincial Park

If you’re driving in for a day trip from somewhere like nearby Arrowhead Provincial Park, Bonnechere Provincial Park, Lake St Peter Provincial Park, or Silent Lake Provincial Park - you can take advantage of the reciprocal program.

With a few exceptions, a current and valid camping permit from one Ontario Provincial Park will act as a daily vehicle permit at another.

You just need to show up at one of the gates on the way in (East Gate and West Gate are the ones on either end of Highway 60), and show proof of that permit - a paper permit if your campground has it, or your email confirmation.

They will register your license plate number and you’re free to go - no additional fees required!

3. If you have an annual Ontario Parks Pass

Generally speaking, all you have to do is show up at one of the gates, present your pass, and have your license plate noted.

Note: Sometimes you’ll need to reserve a daily vehicle permit ahead of time. This is usually during peak fall colours season, when certain areas of the park reach capacity.

4. If you don’t have any sort of camping permit or Parks Pass in place

You can book your Daily Vehicle Permit online at Ontario Parks Reservations - up to 5 days in advance of your visit.

If you’re planning your visit for October... you might want to be ready to do so right when that 5 day window opens up, to ensure availability!

Otherwise, you can pay for a DVP at any one of the Algonquin Provincial Park gates.

Note: Some of the trailheads have QR codes for booking your DVP, but with such spotty internet throughout the park ... I really recommend doing it ahead of time.

Parking

The parking lot for the Hardwood Lookout Trail is on the small side, has only one access point, and is secluded from the highway.

Unsurprisingly, RV/Trailer/Bus parking is not allowed in this parking lot.

Larger vehicles like that stand a good chance of running into a BAD TIME if they pull up there, and find more than a handful of cars parked - there’s no good way to turn around, in that case.

Washrooms

There are no washrooms at the Hardwood Lookout Trail.

The closest washroom facilities are about 1.5 km to the east, in the parking lot for the Mizzy Lake Trail. There, you’ll find a two stall outhouse.

Maps and Signage

There is a rough map at the trailhead, more of a general overview than anything. There are no distances marked, etc.

For a MUCH better map, grab one of the trail guides. It has a much more detailed map, with points of interest marked, and even a graph showing the elevation changes.

The elevation chart also gives you an idea of trail segment distances, by comparing the numbered points of interest, to their places on the map.

There are plenty of trail blazes along the way, so you're not going to get lost on this one! The trail is also very, very well established - you’d have to TRY to get lost.

Accessibility

Overall, we wouldn’t recommend this trail for those with significant mobility issues. Those with more mild mobility difficulties may be able to do it, though.

The first 700 metres or so has some mild to moderate inclines, but is wide, well-packed gravel trail. Aside from the inclines, it reminded me a lot of the wheelchair accessible trails you see at National Parks.

Immediately after that, there’s about 100 metres of a moderate incline, on a moderate difficulty trail - roots, rocks, etc to navigate over.

There ARE a couple benches at the lookout, though.

Of course, what goes up must come down - there’s a moderate descent on the back end of the trail, as well.

Pets

Dogs are allowed on the Hardwood Lookout Trail, but all the standard Ontario Provincial Parks rules apply.

They must be leashed at all times, and aren’t allowed to harass other hikers, wildlife, or plants.

They can’t be left unsupervised, and aren’t allowed to make excessive noise.

Owners must pick up after their dogs, and properly dispose of the droppings.

On that note, there are no poop baggie dispensers on site, and no garbage can at the trail head. Plan ahead!

Day Use Area

There are no picnic tables in the parking lot or along the Hardwood Lookout Trail, just two benches at the lookout itself.

If you’re looking for somewhere to do a post-hike picnic, your best bet is to head about 5 km west, to the Tea Lake Dam Day Use Area.

This is actually my favourite picnic area in the park - it has quite a few picnic tables, laid out along and above the Oxtongue River.

My favourite spots are a bit closer to the Tea Lake Dam, as they have a great view of the rapids below the dam.

Connectivity

Cell phone coverage varies wildly in Algonquin Provincial Park, far more so than anywhere else we’ve been.

A spot may have fantastic coverage one day, then none the next. You may have fantastic coverage at one point on a trail, then none just ten metres later.

Carrier, how busy the area is, elevation, and the weather all seem to play a part.

We can’t reliably tell you what the cell coverage will be like on this trail, as a result. Our best advice is to assume there will be no cellular coverage, and plan accordingly.

Note: We can say that the most reliable place we’ve found for cell coverage in Algonquin PP has been the Visitor Center Parking lot. Also, there is wifi available inside the Visitor Centre itself.

Miscellaneous

1. At the overlook - with the two benches - there’s a large memorial rock structure, dedicated to Douglas McDonald Hains.

The plaque says that it was placed by his friends in the Canadian Tourist Association, “in recognition of his efforts to conserve Canada’s resources of forest, field, and stream”.

2. One big thing to note here: the Hardwood Lookout Trail gets closed down for certain days during peak fall colours season.

This is supposed to improve traffic flow in the park.

It doesn’t seem to be a set period, year to year... but if you’re planning on visiting over a Friday/Saturday/Sunday from the beginning of September to mid October, it might be good to manage expectations ahead of time!

There’s a good chance it’ll be closed.

Activities

Some information on the various things you can do, while hiking the Hardwood Lookout Trail at Algonquin Provincial Park:

Hiking

Here’s what Porter had to say about hiking the Hardwood Lookout Trail, and the Red Spruce Side Trail, sharing the same parking lot.

As a note, the photo sets are all done chronologically, but don’t necessarily line up with Porter’s commentary, below. WAY too much effort to try and fit the photos to the text!

Hardwood Lookout Trail

This is a nice, well packed, and short trail - 1.06 km total. The first 700 meters are very well groomed - fine gravel without obstructions. It's a nice walk through the woods with modest to moderate elevation changes.

After that groomed section, it's moderately hilly (but there are no stairs), with a small section of boulder rocks and roots to navigate over, near the lookout.

It's 0.85 km to the actual lookout, when going the direction the signage ushers you - counterclockwise.

When we visited in August 2025, and again in August 2026, the foliage growth made for a pretty obscured view from the lookout, but it was nice enough.
There are two benches available at that lookout. I did enjoy seeing people canoeing far off in the distance from the elevated lookout.

Really not much to say, on this one!

Red Spruce Side Trail

When Porter went back after his first time at Hardwood Lookout, he actually made a point of reading the Hardwood Lookout Trail guide... and said that it does mention the Red Spruce Side Trail as an extra loop to do.

“I love educational opportunities, so I really liked how they labeled all these different kinds of trees.

I don't know trees very well, so it's really nice to be able to see all the different types here and distinguish between them. I feel like I should go back to my pictures and study them to really get to know this stuff.

The trail is somewhat narrow and moderate difficulty. Roots and rocks, a bit twisty-turny, some elevation changes, but nothing too difficult.”

“I counted 12 different trees that were labeled, in just a little half kilometer loop.

This is well worth your time to go check out the variety of trees that you'll see in the area.

Even if you're not looking to actually learn about the details, just seeing the diversity of trees in even just a small area like this is really cool.”

Birding, Wildlife, and Nature

This trail has been a bit of a dud for me, in terms of wildlife. Between two hikes... I heard a Pileated Woodpecker, and saw some squirrels and chipmunks.

That’s it!

I did see some fungi, but nowhere near as much as I’d seen on other trails the same day / day before.

Educational & Cultural Opportunities

While there are no educational signs on the Hardwood Lookout Trail, there are numbered signposts, corresponding to numbered information sections in the Friends of Algonquin trail guide.

You can pick those up the trailhead - It’s free to use and return, or you can keep it for $0.50 - there’s a coin collection pay tube thing right there.

Alternately, the guides are available for purchase at the visitor centre, and at the gates.

These guides are amazing educational accompaniments to the trails in Algonquin Provincial Park, teaching about the geology, flora, and fauna you might see on your hike, as well as some of the history of the area.

They also tend to include information about the elevation changes throughout each trail. All around, a great resource to refer to while you’re on the trail!

As you might guess from the names of the trails here - Hardwood Lookout and Red Spruce - the focus of this trail guide is very much centered on trees, and forest ecology.

Winter Activities

Hardwood Lookout Trail isn’t even listed in the Algonquin Winter Guide trail chart.

We’ve never done the trail in the winter, but seem to recall the road to the parking lot being gated in the winter season.

That said, the trail IS depicted on the winter trails map - which shows a hiking symbol and a snowshoeing symbol.

Final Thoughts

This is a nice, quick trail. Since much of it is easy, and only a short section is moderate, this is a great trail to take inexperienced or young hikers.

The overlook is nice enough, but several of the (much longer) trails in Algonquin offer better scenic overlooks.

I would do this trail again if I just wanted a quick stroll through the woods with a nice little view at the top.

More Algonquin Provincial Park Trail and Campground Reviews

Want to read some more of what we have to say about the campgrounds and attractions in Algonquin Park?

Check out our Algonquin Provincial Park Mega Post, or any of the links below for even more in-depth info:

Algonquin Provincial Park Campground Guides / Reviews

Achray Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
< a href="https://2nerdsinatruck.com/brent-campground/">Brent Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Canisbay Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Kearney Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Kiosk Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Lake of Two Rivers Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Mew Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Pog Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Raccoon Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Rock Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Tea Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park
Whitefish Lake Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park Trail Guides / Reviews

Barron Canyon Trail, Algonquin Provincial Park
High Falls on York, Algonquin Provincial Park
Provoking Falls, Algonquin Provincial Park

Interested in exploring campgrounds beyond Algonquin Park? We've got a huge - and ever-growing! - list of them here: 2 Nerds in a Truck Campground Reviews.

We also have posts on Ontario Waterfalls, other Places to See, and a ton of Camping Recipes to cook up, while on your adventures!