Between Mattawa and Deep River, Hwy-17 runs along the northern boundaries of the enormous Algonquin Provincial Park, which stretches for many miles to the south. Ontario’s oldest and most popular park, Algonquin protects 3,000 square miles of almost untouched wilderness, offering a wide variety of wildlife (including moose, bears, beavers, and timber wolves), dozens of lakes, and hundreds of miles of backcountry hiking and canoeing trails. The main visitors center (705/633-5572) is at the park’s far southwest corner, south of North Bay or west of Pembroke and Renfrew via Hwy-60, the “Parkway Corridor,” the only road through the park. Here you can get details on the park’s abundant camping and cabins, and pick up all the necessary permits.
