Camping in Algonquin Park

After a hectic move back to Ottawa and the rush of finishing my thesis, I decided to book some time off at the end of the summer. Luckily, Melissa, one of my best friends that I met in Vancouver, was able to come in for a visit. Melissa is also from Ontario, so we decided to spend a few days camping at Algonquin Provincial Park. 

We decided to camp at the Achray Campgrounds, which was the closest site to Ottawa. The weather was very cool for the time of year, but we had a relaxing vacation. Our campsite was a quick walk from the lakeside beach, and we managed to hike the scenic Barron Canyon. 

It was wonderful. We spent our free time relaxing on the beach during the day and listening to loons at night. We also took a quick hike to see the spot where Tom Thomson sketched his famous The Jack Pine painting in 1916. Many reading this blog might not know who Tom Thomson was, but in Canadian art history, he is celebrated as one of the best Canadian painters and an unofficial member of the Group of Seven. He loved visiting Algonquin Park, and it inspired many of his paintings.

Although the original tree is gone, we enjoyed this special spot in history. After reading up on the painting, we realized that the original could be found at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa. So, after an enjoyable weekend of camping, we decided to see the painting in person. In a section of the museum dedicated to the Group of Seven, we found Tom Thomson’s The Jack Pine.