Opeongo Lake
Opeongo Lake, the largest lake in Algonquin Park, is a place shaped by both history and nature. Its name originates from the Algonquian term opeauwingauk, meaning “sandy narrows,” a fitting tribute to its distinctive waterways. Spanning 58 square kilometers (22.4 square miles), the lake takes on a striking Y-shape, with its North, East, and South arms connected by narrow channels. With an average depth of 14.6 meters (48 feet) and plunging to a maximum depth of 49.4 meters (162 feet)
Blue indicates locations we where have camped on Opeongo Lake. Yellow indicates an unplanned stop turning a storm. Green are day trip locations.
Overview
The lake offers an access point to the North, East and southern sections of the park. It is infamous and widely known for its rough waters and sudden change of weather, sadly which has claimed the lives of paddlers over it’s history. When venturing on this lake, it is important that inexperienced canoers are well prepared and accompanied by an experienced canoeist familiar with these waters if a planning a trip deep into it’s network of bogs, streams and open waterways.
Located in the unorganized southern part of Nipissing District in northeastern Ontario, Canada, this is the largest lake in Algonquin Provincial Park and the origin of the Opeongo River - which flows from Annie’s Bay on the eastern arm and empties into Barks Lake (over 30 kilometers away!) in southern Algonquin near the Madawaska River.
Opeongo Lake canoe routes by Jeff’s Map
Unique Inhabitants
Endangered species of Whitefish Photo credit: N.E. Mandrak
Opeongo Lake at sunset
Lake Whitefish are known to prefer deeper areas of large lakes as their habitat. Their diet mainly consists of crustaceans, snails, insects, and other small aquatic animals.[2] During the spring, they may venture into rivers and streams for feeding purposes, before returning to the larger bodies of water during the fall and early winter. It is quite interesting to learn about the fascinating habits of these fish.
Major Fish Species: Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Lake Herring, Lake Whitefish, Round Whitefish, Burbot, Common White Sucker[3]
Algonquin Lakes
[1] History. renfrewpg.ca/history.
[2] “Lake Whitefish (Opeongo Lake Large and Small-bodied Populations).” ontario.ca, www.ontario.ca/page/lake-whitefish-opeongo-lake-large-and-small-bodied-populations.
[3] Lake Opeongo. www.harkness.ca/about-harkness/lake-opeongo.