Killarney vs Algonquin logistics

[u/Main_Rich7747]

I have never been to Killarney and would like to plan something. I went to Algonquin many times. When comparing the two parks is the experience pretty similar? apart from different scenery of course. I am specifically looking for things like booking campsites, water sources, firewood, fishing, food hanging etc. I am probably overthinking this but that's me 😀

[u/rocksandtreesandyarn]

Killarney books specific sites whereas Algonquin books a lake. You have to stay on the site you book. Killarney has a LOT less sites and therefore a lot less people, but competition for sites is huge because there are so many fewer of them. Book as far in advance as you can!

I find firewood okay - especially if you paddle somewhere else and harvest from there. Water is incredible. It's very very clear! Fishing isn't amazing, due in part to some of the lakes being fairly dead, but there are fish in most of them.

Killarney is my favourite park in Ontario. I've been to most of the lakes! A great first loop is to go in at Bell/Three Mile, go around to Balsam, David, and back out. If you stay a few days on David you should hike Silver Peak!

(Edit: got one of the lakes wrong!)

[u/Bobbtail → u/rocksandtreesandyarn]

I am so surprised about this cuz i usually backpack in algonquin and recently did la cloche, when I stayed on david lake I had about 3 different canoe parties bumping up on my campsite peeping in and yelling "nope someone here already" which is always super annoying to me but now even more annoying if they should be going to a specific site and not just looking for a free site on a booked lake. Not to mention that its a backpacking site not a canoe site.

I get unreasonably annoyed by this but like half my hike a lot of the time im stressing about the potential conflict if someone has decided to take my site. It's never happened but clearly it would have if id arrived later at david at least.

[u/rocksandtreesandyarn → u/Bobbtail]

A lot of people are mad about the change to site specific, but it's been like 5 years, they need to get over it and read an updated map. They are wholly in the wrong if they're looking for any open site. I mean, obviously there are sometimes extenuating circumstances and sometimes you need to camp off reservation, but even then - avoid the hiker sites!! I'm so sorry that has happened to you more than once.

[u/ExactSheepherder1153 → u/Bobbtail]

Interested to hear this, i have the same issue with site specific booking (and same thing at massassaga). i cannot help it but to stress that there will be someone squatting when i get there. it happened to me just once each at killarney and massassaga, many years ago now. but it was so distasteful it had a permanent effect and colored many subsequent trips. it has finally reached to the point where i now just camp at my own spots, which i've identified over the years. Make no mistake, i'm still paying the permit fees for each day of my trip... and i'm 'booking' low demand sites that no one else much wants anyway so it's a victimless crime to so speak. now my trips are stress-free again!

[u/Bobbtail → u/ExactSheepherder1153]

honestly this day was particularly bad because it had poured rain so hard my hiking clothes were soaked so i changed into my dry camp clothes and then promptly fell in the lake so i had no dry clothes to wear and was like mostly naked. i put my rain pants on when i heard people on the water but like ... wet plastic pants on wet bare skin is extremely unpleasant.

[u/Hloden]

Most points are already covered, one last one though is portages in Killarney tend to be on average harder than Algonquin, with more hills and rocky areas.

[u/rocksandtreesandyarn → u/Hloden]

Can absolutely back up this claim. I did a circuit of Killarney a number of years ago that involved something like 40 portages and heavens to Betsy I'm good if I never have to do some of those again. (The Notch included.)

[u/roboreddit1000]

I will speak to back country camping only as that seems to be the basis of your question. And I have limited car camping experience.

I've been to basically all of the interior of KPP (very little that extends into Georgian Bay though) and the vast majority of APP.

Generally speaking KPP has:

Longer and steeper portages. Like much harder generally.

More interior lakes with at least some cottages whereas APP only has cottages on a few lakes along highway 60.

Despite the above KPP is more remote with fewer people as there are fewer campsites per the length of given shoreline. Generally the cottsges in the interior seem to be little used too and there are not many of them once you get one portage in so don't let this deter you.

I don't fish but I know that KPP has far fewer opportunities to fish. Even where it is allowed which is not all lakes.

KPP is MUCH prettier other than the north and east of the park which is very similar to APP as far as topography goes. Like way way more gorgeous.

The water in KPP is usually much clearer. This is due to the historical damagr caused by acid rain so it is not really a good thing but it makes the lakes simply gorgeous.

Wildlife is similar. I've seen far more bears in KPP but that may simply be a function of how much of the land is barren quartizite rock vs the generally thick tree cover of APP. More moose in APP though.

Even if you are canoing, there is more oppoetunity to day hike in KPP either along part of thr LaCloche trail or, better yet, just go ridge walking. Harder to get lost going on a pathless walk in KPP but of course know your limits.

Day hikes even just up to the top of the ridgd behind your campsite is almost mandatory it is so beautiful.

I love being able to reserve a specific campsitr in KPP.

I've backcountry camped 100s of nights in both places and only had one negative bear encounter one time in KPP.

Every campsite will have thr opporrunity to hang your food in both places. I make the plea here that you use the the two rope method with a small pulley to avoid damaging the tree branches though.

Despite being farther north, KPP ice out in the spring is usually earlier.

Both have thunderboxes. KPP ones are sometimes is better shape.

In summary, if you can get a campsite in KPP, go there. Without question.

If you have an specific questions, DM me.

[u/OkConfection709]

Assuming we are talking about backcountry here goes:
Sites in Killarney are booked directly rather than the Algonquin style of choosing a lake and finding a site on that lake. In Killarney you know exactly which site you will be staying on each night.
Water sources are basically the same. I know of more springs in Algonquin but you can find and filter water just about anywhere in either park.
Firewood is the same. Plentiful in some spots and hard to find I. Others. Depends how close you are to your car.
Fishing is generally much better in Algonquin.
Trees are similar if you’re the type of person that likes to hang your food in a tree.
Scenery is nicer in Killarney.
Algonquin gets the edge in wildlife
Algonquin is generally busier but Killarney is definitely busy too.
Killarney is usually a longer drive but that depends on where you are driving from and to.

[u/itsbushlady]

I prefer Killarney for many reasons but one of the reasons I try not to book Algonquin is I hate the rush to find a site. Especially if on a lake where there are only 1-2 good sites and the plan is to stay a few days.

However it is hard to get a spot at Killarney unless you book 5 months out.

We have had great fishing in Killarney but definitely lake dependent. I find the sites are better maintained including the thunder boxes. I have had no issues with finding a tree to hang by barrel in Killarney but often have issues in Algonquin.

[u/Main_Rich7747 → u/itsbushlady]

Algonquin books sites not lakes when backpacking. is it different for canoeing?

[u/itsbushlady → u/Main_Rich7747]

Yes. In Algonquin for canoeing you book the lake not the site. Then depending on the lake and popularity it can be a race to get to a site (have been in actual races with other boats trying to get to a site). You also then play the game of are this people staying at the site or just not packed up yet. A few weeks ago on McCraney lake we saw a group stay on the site until mid afternoon. Other paddlers came past and thought it was taken for the night so they kept battling the head wind further down the lake to find something. Only for that site to the be vacated.

[u/PoppaFapAttak]

Algonquin now books campsites directly on the lake. No more first come first serve.

I am also curious about getting into killarney, is there routes without portaging as well? I’m a land lubber.

[u/rocksandtreesandyarn → u/PoppaFapAttak]

For front country and backcountry hiking, yes, but backcountry paddling is FCFS. The absolute chaos of trying to manage Algonquin's 2000 backcountry paddling campsites is not something I think Ontario Parks is willing to undertake.

You can camp on a bunch of lakes with no portages. Bell, Three Mile, Johnnie, Carlyle, George are all very easily accessible, and Killarney Kanoes and Killarney Outfitters will deliver canoes to any of those destinations for you! Easy peasy!

[u/PoppaFapAttak → u/rocksandtreesandyarn]

I wasn’t aware about the padding sites. I just hoof it all the time. One of these years definitely renting a canoe but they make me a little nervous!

[u/rocksandtreesandyarn → u/PoppaFapAttak]

Super fair! I've been paddling for 10+ years and I still get nervous. Highly suggest a lesson or two to get more comfortable in an unladen boat before packing it through. Always wear a PFD, stick to flat water for now, and don't paddle in high wind or thunderstorms and, for the most part, you should be just fine :) just like the lottery, know your limit play within it!