Snow line 18 routes livedeepest recorded base 132 cm5 sectors reportingnext report 2026-10-18

中文

Park sector · Algonquin Park · · By The Snowshoe Desk

Track and Tower Trail Line

This is the route the other Highway 60 trails are measured against, and the reason is a single feature: the 22 m fire tower at 3.8 km, restored in 2016, which gives a 360-degree view over the Madawaska valley and the park interior. It is also the most demanding of the corridor trails, because the 235 m of gain comes in six short pitches, each steep enough that you switch from walking to stepping.

Distance 7.7 km
Elevation gain 235 m
Time 4.5 h
Grade Challenging
Track and Tower Trail Line contour illustration
Contour fragment — Algonquin Park, Highway 60 Corridor · 81 cm base · 45.55, -78.60

Best window December through March, and it is at its best in a heavy snow year, because the whole route stays below 400 m and the elevation figure is all short steep steps rather than sustained climbing. Parking The Track and Tower trailhead on Highway 60, 8 km east of the West Gate. Plowed, 15 spaces, winter day-use permit required. The lot is small and the route shares the entrance with the Lookout Trail, which is 4 km shorter and much more popular - expect the lot to be full by 10:00 on weekends.

01

Arrival

Highway 60 to the Track and Tower sign, 8 km east of the West Gate. The route leaves the north side of the lot and immediately climbs 45 m in 500 m. Three of the six pitches come in the first 3 km; the remaining three are on the return side, which is why the route is harder than the elevation figure suggests in both directions.

02

The line

0.0-3.8 km · Three pitches to the tower

45 m at 0.5 km, 60 m at 1.7 km and 70 m at 2.9 km, each at 20-25 degrees and each short enough to be over in 10 minutes. Between them the route follows an old rail grade. Snow depth at the 2.4 km stake measured 81 cm on 27 January.

3.8-4.3 km · The tower

A 22 m steel fire tower with 108 steps and an open platform at the top. The stair treads are open grating and ice up on the north side; the platform capacity is eight people. The view covers the Madawaska valley, Cache Lake and, on a clear day, the Petawawa research area 30 km north-east.

4.3-5.6 km · Cliff edge and ravine

The route continues past the tower along a rock rim above a 40 m ravine, then drops on a diagonal to the valley floor. This is the most exposed section and the only one with any consequence to a slip.

5.6-7.7 km · Three return pitches

Three more short climbs on the way back, then a long descent to the highway. The last pitch is at 6.9 km and is the steepest of the six at 25 degrees.

Travelling the line, step by step

  1. Engage heel risers at the base of each pitch, not halfway upAll six pitches are short. Setting risers before you start climbing saves the stop and the slide that usually follows it.
  2. Leave snowshoes at the tower base and take spikes upThe 108 steps are open grating. Snowshoes are actively dangerous on them; microspikes or bare boots are both safer.
  3. Keep three points of contact on the stairsTwo feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot, on every step. The north face is glazed and the grating hides the ice until you are on it.
  4. Stay 3 m back from the north-west lip on the rim sectionThe cornice at 4.3-5.6 km forms on the north-west side and fails under a person. If you cannot see rock beyond the snow edge, you are on the cornice.
03

What to carry

  • Snowshoes with a heel riser - six pitches of 20-25 degrees is exactly what risers are for
  • Microspikes or crampons for the tower stairs, which are open grating and glazed on the north face
  • Two poles; the return pitches are hard on the knees
  • Insulated bottle kept in the pack; the tower platform is fully exposed
  • Windproof layer and a warm hat for the tower; it is 8-10 degrees colder at the top than at the base on a windy day
  • Ontario Parks winter day-use permit
04

What can go wrong

  • IceThe tower's 108 open-grating steps ice on the north face and are the single most common injury site on the corridor trails.
  • AvalancheThe rock rim at 4.3-5.6 km has a 40 m drop and holds a cornice on the north-west lip after a storm.
  • Open waterThe creek crossing at 5.9 km is bridged but the approaches ice over on a side slope.

The two places to be careful are the tower stairs and the rock rim. On the stairs, three points of contact and no photographs until you are on the platform. On the rim, keep 3 m back from the north-west lip, which is where a cornice forms. The tower is not staffed in winter and there is no radio or phone at the top, so a fall on the stairs is a long wait if you are alone.

05

Before you go

Is the tower open in winter?
The tower structure is open year round and is not gated. There is no staff, no heating and no radio. The platform holds eight people.
Why does a 7.7 km route take four and a half hours?
Six pitches at 20-25 degrees, each with a steep descent or ascent on the other side, plus an optional tower climb. The elevation profile is jagged, not rolling.
Can I skip the tower and shorten the route?
Yes, by turning around at the tower base. That makes it 7.6 km with 165 m of gain and skips the rim section, which is the only exposed part.
06

Nearby and similar

The figures above are our own measurements from the date shown. Only the conditions on your day count: check the current forecast, the gate bulletin and the snowpack before you set out, and treat every ice crossing as open until you have tested it.