I completed the big loop of Highland Backpacking Trail on Saturday, September 26th. It was an absolutely perfect day, beautiful weather and colorful fall leaves. The park was very busy with leaf viewing traffic but this trail was quiet.
I had hoped to finish under five hours, but I was trying out water filtration/treating for the first time and it took a lot more time/planning than I thought! Lots of messing around with my filters and bottles and the treatment tablets while trying to hike. Next time I would plan my water stops a bit better and fill up more when I am at a stop.
Normally this trail can have some big mud pits, but it was almost 100% dry this time which was amazing. Only a handful of backpackers were out and it was a lot busier towards Provoking Lake.
I took the detour that goes out towards the Mew Lake campground (the route shown on the Algonquin Friends website) as I did for the short loop, but it appears the park has now put detour arrows to direct hikers the opposite direction (turning right instead of left). It seems like either direction would be fine but it looks like the park arrow route might be slightly shorter.