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I do not have the equipment for the trip. What can I do?
You can rent and buy gear both in Toronto and in Algonquin. In Toronto, Mountain Equipment Coop is by far the most popular destination for outdoor-related equipment sales and rentals. Note that some items, including canoes and kayaks cannot be taken on the bus, and should be rented in the park from the outfitters.
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In the park, the outfitters can provide you with everything from canoes to equipment and food packs, and all-inclusive trips are available.
All-inclusive trip is a more expensive option, but everything, including planning, park permits, food, equipment and guidance is organized by the trip provider. -
Is Parkbus operating buses?
We work with a local company (Hammond Transportation) to add direct Toronto - Algonquin Park service to their routes.
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What if the influx of new visitors will cause environmental degradation of the park environment?
It is true that people that are new to our parks may not realize how fragile and valuable are all the elements of the natural environment. This is why we intend to have a volunteer accompanying each bus to educate and monitor those going to the park with little experience and to promote the best visitor practices.
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What can I take on the bus?
Each passenger can take reasonable amount of all the necessary camping equipment.
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Canoes and kayaks are not allowed on the bus, but all are available for rent from the outfitters in the park. Mountain bikes can be rented from the Lake of Two Rivers store (one of our stops), and canoes and kayaks can be rented from all other stops in the park.
Firewood is prohibited due to firewood importation ban.
Bikes: due to popular demand, limited number bicycles may be allowed on each bus. If you would like to bring a bike, please call 1-800-928-7101 before booking your tickets to make sure the space for bikes is still available. -
How long would the ride be? Would there be any stops along the way?
The ride between Toronto and Algonquin is about 3 hours in the optimal conditions. However, adverse traffic conditions are common which may make the trip significantly longer. Furthermore, the park itself is huge - it is larger than 40 countries in the world, including Bahrain, Luxembourg and Dominica - so it takes time for the bus to get to all pickup/dropoff stops.
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Can I go to Algonquin on a day trip?
Unfortunately day trips are not possible, because the bus that brings visitors into the park heads straight back to Toronto with returning visitors. The driving time between Algonquin and Toronto (over 3 hours) make day trips impractical for most people.
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On what days is the service operating?
Dates, schedules and maps are available here.
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What if I want to go canoeing?
Several outfitters in Algonquin rent canoes and other equipment. They can usually deliver a canoe and can also drive you and your equipment to several lakes for paddle-in campsite access. Water taxi (that delivers both you and your canoe) is available at Algonquin Outfitters on Lake Opeongo.
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Are you making any money from this project?
No. We are involved in this initiative because we believe cars should not be the only way to access Ontario's beautiful wilderness. It is ironic, that by going to enjoy nature, most people are ruining it bit by bit by driving and increasing their carbon footprint on the environment.
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I don't like camping. Are there other accommodations available to me?
Please see the roofed accommodation page.
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