Algonquin Park Ice Conditions

COVID-19 Closures: See the latest information that impacts Spring in Algonquin Park

Image: Lakes in Algonquin Park are now ice free. See more details and images below.

Algonquin Park Ice Out 2020

Algonquin Park's lakes became ice free from April 21 to 30, 2020. Generally, lakes on the lower and warmer East Side, and those with substantial water flow, were the first to shed their ice cover. The last lakes to melt were those in the higher elevation areas of the West Side of Algonquin Park and the Park's largest lakes.



The official ice out date for Algonquin Park is recorded when a boat can safely navigate from the Lake Opeongo Access Point to the Happy Isle Portage in the North Arm of Lake Opeongo. With the current COVID-19 closure of Algonquin Park, boat travel is not possible between these two points. Therefore, based upon satellite imagery and the ice out of accessible lakes, the estimated ice out date for Lake Opeongo in 2020 will be recorded as April 30.



Over the past 50+ years, the average ice out date for Lake Opeongo, Algonquin's largest lake, is April 28. Given variations in winter and spring conditions, the ice out dates for Lake Opeongo have ranged from March 29 (2012) to as late as May 15 (1972). During 2018 and 2019 the ice out date for Lake Opeongo was May 10.

Image: Satellite image of Algonquin Park taken on May 1, 2020 showing no visible ice at Lake Opeongo (click to enlarge).

Check this webpage for updated conditions and COVID-19 closures.

Water temperature in spring remains just above freezing for many days after ice out. Submersion in cold water can quickly lead to hypothermia (a potentially deadly situation). Reduce the risks, by wearing a PFD, stay close to shore, paddle according to your skill/experience level, pack the proper safety gear, and don't take unnecessary risks. Learn more about hypothermia and cold water.

Algonquin Park Ice Out History

Typically, Algonquin Park's lakes become ice free in late April/early May. Over the past 50+ years, the average ice out date for Lake Opeongo, Algonquin's largest lake, is April 28. Given variations in winter and spring conditions, the ice out dates for Lake Opeongo have ranged from March 29 (2012) to as late as May 15 (1972). During 2018 and 2019 the ice out date for Lake Opeongo was May 10 (see graph below). The ice out date for Lake Opeongo in 2020 was April 30. This 2020 date was based upon upon satellite imagery and the ice out of accessible lakes as ground observations were not possible because of the COVID-19 closure of Algonquin Park.

Technically, the official ice out date for Algonquin Park is recorded when a boat can safely navigate from the Lake Opeongo Access Point to the Happy Isle Portage in the North Arm of Lake Opeongo.

Recent Algonquin Park Images

A selection of recent images from Algonquin Park. See the caption for the date and location. More images are available on The Friends of Algonquin Park Facebook Page.

Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). As of April 21, Lake of Two Rivers was ice free. All lakes in Algonquin Park are now ice free.

April 24, 2020

Image: Hangar Bay of Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Fisherman's Point at Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Coot Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Little Madawaska River in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Creek and Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Eos Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 24, 2020 (click to enlarge).

April 17, 2020

Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Ice free conditions at Eos Lake near Beaver Pond Trail in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Partially ice covered Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Fisherman's Point at Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Eucalia Lake near Lookout Trail in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Hangar Bay at Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Open water at Smoke Creek at Tea Lake Campground in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Partially ice covered Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Little Madawaska River in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 17, 2020 (click to enlarge).

April 7, 2020

Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: South facing slope along Highway 60 at km 18 in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: North facing slope along Highway 60 at km 18 in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Compare with image above. Image: Lake of Two Rivers Island in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers Island in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Creek looking toward Tea Lake Campground in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Coot Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Creek looking toward Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Little Madawaska River in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 7, 2020 (click to enlarge).

April 1, 2020

Image: Park Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Snow cover on a south facing slope near the West Gate in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Tea Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Coot Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Creek in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Fisherman's Point at Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Smoke Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Little Madawaska River in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Snow cover near km 24 in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Jake Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Mew Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Near Centennial Ridges Road in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Eucalia Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Sunday Creek in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Eos Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge). Image: Brewer Lake in Algonquin Park on April 1, 2020 (click to enlarge).

See more images on The Friends of Algonquin Park Facebook Page.

Latest Satellite Imagery

Below is satellite imagery of the Algonquin Park area. Imagery is taken on a regular basis with the best images recorded on completely clear days, which can be infrequent during late winter/spring. Images are posted to highlight the overall changes in ice conditions in south-central Ontario.

Image: Satellite image of Algonquin Park taken on May 3, 2020. All Algonquin Park lakes are now ice free (click to enlarge).

Image: Satellite image of Algonquin Park taken on May 1, 2020 showing no visible ice at Lake Opeongo. High elevation lakes like Merchant and Happy Isle with little inflow/outflow may have contained ice on May 1, but were ice free by May 3 (click to enlarge).

Image: Satellite image of Algonquin Park taken on April 25, 2020 (click to enlarge).

Image: Satellite image of Algonquin Park taken on April 23, 2020 (click to enlarge). Lakes in this area are in various stages of ice out. The high elevation areas of Algonquin Park are showing frozen lakes (shown in white), partially ice covered or very poor ice quality (shown in shades of gray), and open water shown in black.

Satellite Image Comparison

Below are satellite images of the Algonquin Park area from recent years for comparison purposes. Official ice out dates for Lake Opeongo (Algonquin Park's largest lake and traditionally one of the last to shed its ice cover) are listed with each image.

2019 = May 10 Ice Out

2018 = May 10 Ice Out

2017 = April 25 Ice Out

2016 = May 1 Ice Out

2015 = May 1 Ice Out

2014 = May 7 Ice Out

2013 = April 30 Ice Out

2012 = March 29 (Record Early)

The spring of 2012 was record early by about a month and ice on Lake Opeongo melted by March 29. All lakes in Algonquin Park were ice free by April 2, 2012.

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