McIntosh Lake Water Aerodrome

Regulatory Decommissioning. The closure was not due to economic failure, a specific accident, or military conversion. It was a direct result of a policy change by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The 1998 Algonquin Park Management Plan was implemented to preserve and enhance the wilderness character of the park by significantly reducing motorized access. This plan prohibited private and commercial aircraft landings on most interior lakes, including McIntosh Lake, to minimize noise pollution and maintain the natural environment.

The site is now simply McIntosh Lake, an interior lake within Algonquin Provincial Park. It is no longer a registered or authorized landing area for any aircraft. The area is managed as part of the park's backcountry and is used exclusively for non-motorized recreation, primarily canoeing, backcountry camping, and hiking. It is accessible to the public only via established canoe routes and portages.

McIntosh Lake Water Aerodrome (CA-0676) was a designated water landing area for floatplanes. It was never an 'airport' with physical infrastructure like docks or buildings for public use, but rather a registered point on the map for aviation purposes. Its primary function was to provide access to the remote interior of Algonquin Park for park administration (rangers), forest fire suppression crews, wildlife management personnel (e.g., for aerial surveys), and potentially for access to remote private or commercial camps that existed before the regulations were tightened. It was part of a broader network of water landing sites that were essential for managing and accessing the vast park before the modern emphasis on non-motorized, low-impact recreation.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the aerodrome. The current management direction for Algonquin Provincial Park, as outlined in its guiding policies, continues to emphasize wilderness preservation and the reduction of motorized impact. Reinstating aircraft access on McIntosh Lake would be contrary to the core principles of the park's management plan, making a reopening virtually impossible under the current conservation framework.