Achray, Ontario

Achray is a campground on Grand Lake in northern Algonquin Provincial Park. Achray is located in Southern Unorganized Nipissing in Nipissing District in northeastern Ontario.

It was originally a station on the main line of the Canadian Northern Railway, since taken over by Canadian National which no longer runs through Algonquin Park. Once a major center for park administration, only a small complement of backcountry rangers still operates out of Achray. The old park operations centre is now a cinema/interpretive centre and the bunk house is now a tourist lodge at the canoe rental place on the Achray Road.

Tom Thomson's painting, "The Jack Pine", was inspired by the scenery in this area. Thomson worked as a fire ranger at Achray in 1916. The cabin in which Thomson is reputed to have lived in now has some exhibits on the park history and Tom Thomson.

The campground has approximately 40 campsites without electricity. The facilities are primitive but more than enough for those that belong in the woods. The stone staff house that the campground is centred on was built in the 1920's from rock quarried from the other side of Grand Lake. Its a grand old home, be sure to stop in and say high to the rangers if you have time.

Three hiking trails are available including the small interpretive Berm Lake Trail and the longer 14 km High Falls Trail, which takes you to a beautiful waterfall on the Barron River as it exits Stratton Lake. Camping is available at several designated spots but they are very popular and should be reserved in advance.

The campground is a popular starting point for multiday canoe trips into the Barron Canyon (the highway). Try to avoid long weekends if you don't want to end up in a traffic jam on the portages or in line at the slides of High Falls.