Algonquin & Beyond

GENERAL INFORMATION

Lake Name: Ragged Lake

Number of Campsites: 22

Number of Permits Issued: 17

Closest Access Point: Smoke Lake (#6)

This Report: Campsite #16

Length of Stay: Day Visit

Date Visited: October 2020

Map of campsites on Ragged Lake in Algonquin Park, updated for 2024
To purchase your own copy (physical & digital formats), visit Maps By Jeff

This is a small but impressive island site, and I have to say, it’s pretty epic. It’s not at all what you would expect when looking at a tiny island on a map. One side of the island is occupied by massive flat beach maybe 100m long, and the other side of the island is basically a mountain. There’s a gradual incline from the beach to the main campsite area, with the rest of the perimeter being occupied with very steep and very dangerous inclines. If you like living on the edge (literally) there’s a tent spot located right at the edge of the cliff… or for most sane people, there are a few larger tent spot options slightly more inland that are much safer choices. The fire pit offers a breathtaking view into the southwest end of Ragged Lake, letting you watch people paddle to and from Parkside Bay from your private elevated mountaintop. There’s also a tiny secondary fire pit inland, which is likely used in emergency situations when there’s too much wind hitting the main exposed fire pit area. This campsite is also tucked away in the south end of Ragged and offers a good amount of privacy compared to many other campsites on the lake. Overall, this is a pretty amazing site; the only reason I chose not to camp here is because I was tripping in October and it’s not really ideal for that time of year.

UPDATE: Ragged Lake Campsite #16 Report from September 2021

CAMPSITE REMINDERS: 
1) Follow Leave No Trace (LNT); leave the campsite in better condition than you found it!
2) The campsite numbering system (for backcountry canoeing) is not official from Ontario Parks. It is a community-based effort for easy referencing.
3) Reservations for backcountry canoeing are lake-specific, not campsite-specific. You do not reserve a specific campsite. Campsites are first-come-first-serve.
4) Only camp on lakes where you have a valid permit; do not camp off-permit.
5) Physical campsite features can change throughout the season (eg. water levels, leaf fall) and due to human intervention (eg. fire pit, seating).
6) To book a reservation, visit the Ontario Parks website: reservations.ontarioparks.com

Algonquin & Beyond is not affiliated with Algonquin Park or Ontario Parks.

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