Algonquin quick overview - hikers perspective

Algonquin Provincial Park is a large dual use park located close to Toronto (depending where you go around 300km). Dual use means that some of the use is for non-recreation minded stuff such as logging or hunting. Park has lots of lakes - thousands of small lakes and hundreds of large lakes. Lakes are placed in between rolling hills, so its not a "flat" terrain. Expect to gain / loose around 100m-120m (300-400ft) of elevation per each 3km (2 miles) when hiking depending on trail. Most hiking trails start from highway 60. The park is not very hiker friendly as it is mostly a canoe paradise with around 2000km of canoe routes and around 200km of hiking/ backpacking routes. Of note are the seasons, its cold in the winter with lots of snow, hot and humid in the summer. When themps reach around 25C during the day, with cloudless sky the hiking becomes very sweaty and more similar to a fight for survival against waves of mosquitos and/or black flies.

If you don't have a conoe you can still see some stuff through, maybe not spectacular but still it might be worth a visit. I am not sure whatever the park gets 5/5 as a canoe park but I can easily give it around 3/5 as a hiking destination. Here is what I feel about the few trails I have been on:

Barron Canyon - all the way at Arches campground. Great views of the canyon - should be better known. This is very short trail and gets 4/5 for great views.

Berm Lake - all the way at Arches campground. Just a walk around a lake, not very special or scenic, same as many other lakes in the area. 2/5

Booths Rock - nice trail of 5km+ over a lookout. Great views. 4/5

Centennial Ridges - a bit longer trail of 10km - nice views, 4/5

Hardwood lookout - tiny trail with not that great of a view, 2/5

Lookout trail - short trail to a nice lookout, 3.5/5

Spruce Bog Boardwalk - short walk on a broadwalk, nice but not spectacular, 3/5

Track & Tower Trail - another nice lookout trail of 7km+ 3.5/5

Two Rivers - nice short lookout trail, 3.5/5

Whiskey Rapids - walk near a river, next to tiny rapids, not too spectacular, but nice 2.5/5

Highland Backpacking Trail - a lot of hiking in a wet forest with some views of lakes and multiple streams. Not worth the time unless everything else is well explored. can serve as an intro to backpacking as it is short. 2/5