Page 60 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Canada

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Taking on the Canadian wilderness can be
a daunting task. But Killarney Lodge in
ORIGINAL COSY LOG GUEST LOUNGE (ABOVE); CABIN AT THE WATER WITH CANOE
(TOP RIGHT); TAKE YOUR MORNING COFFEE AT THE DOCK (BOTTOM RIGHT).
Ontario’s Algonquin Park has elevated the
experience to a gentle art. On a peninsula
Killarney Lodge: A Room with
jutting into Lake of Two Rivers, the lodge is
a serene refuge of 27 private lakeside log
cabins, each with its own canoe. Early-
morning risers can paddle onto the misty
waters to catch the sights and sounds of
a Canoe
nature waking up—or just lounge in robes
on their private deck enjoying room
service for breakfast.
BY E. LISA MOSES
And on crisp clear nights, they can enjoy
magical star-filled skies from the comforts
of home base.
This historic property, tucked into the
woods and craggy rocks of the Canadian
Shield, started life in 1935 as a fishing lodge
with a few cabins. Since then, both the
provincial park and the lodge have become
wildly popular destinations for Canadian
and international visitors who crave a
wilderness getaway, a place to reconnect
with nature or a personal spiritual retreat.
The lodge has preserved the original rustic
vibe while offering state-of-the-art
amenities and hospitality—a combination
that lures guests back year after year.
A stay at Killarney Lodge includes three
meals a day and nighttime snacks 24/7. For
those heading off to explore Algonquin Park,
staff can pack a hearty picnic lunch filled
with enough snacks and drinks to keep
energy levels up along the trail. The lodge’s
kitchen prepares fine country-style meals
flavoured with fresh herbs grown in the
on-site garden and rounded out with home-
baked desserts. Guests can bring their own
wine, beer, etc. The airy dining room boasts
the original fieldstone fireplace, gleaming
hardwood and comfortable seating.
The lodge is the perfect base camp for
exploring the surrounding lakes, trails and
primeval forests. Access is easy to the area’s
authentic experiences—including hiking
trails that criss-cross the parkland, the
visitor centre, bike rentals and nature centre
programs on everything from the park’s
human history to the magical sound of the
howling wolf. Indulge in a little wildlife
watching—moose, deer, beaver, loons and, if
luck is on your side, perhaps a bear or the
elusive wolf. For guests who prefer tamer
pursuits, the sandy beach on the peninsula
at Beaver House Bay is equipped with chairs
and other paddling options such as
lightweight kayaks and paddleboards.
The Arts Centre, which exhibits
woodworking, painting and sculpture by
Ontario artists, has a gift shop and
occasional art lessons. And for a step back in
time, visitors can follow the short trail of the
Algonquin Logging Museum to view
historical displays. These include a recreated
camboose camp and a steam-powered
amphibious tug called an “alligator.”
Killarney Lodge is a three-season resort,
open from May until October (www.killarney
lodge.com).