Ontario, off the grid

High Falls, Algonquin Park

Paddled with a pal yesterday into High Falls on the east side of Algonquin Park.
Amazing.

Pines, pools, perfect blue sky, no bugs.
And hardly any people! It's high summer! What gives?



I guess everybody's home, playing Grand Theft Auto.

All the best things are off the grid.
If you can hike 45 minutes one way, or canoe or kayak about five hours round trip, you can see and share this not-so-secret place.
Water, cascading over monumental rock faces.
Sit in the bubbles. Try the natural slide.
A perfect place.

Location: up the east road from Pembroke into Algonquin Park.
To canoe/kayak, start from the Achray launch ramp.
Between two and three hours by water with one quick liftover around a damn.
To hike: find the unmarked trail halfway between the park gate and Achray at about mile 16. Any Algonquin staffer will be happy to help.

Yes, it's even better than in the photos.
Most Ontarians will never see it.
Pity.

"The world stands out on either side,
no wider than the heart is wide...
Above the earth is stretched the sky,
No higher than the heart is high..."