A Local’s Guide to Muskoka

If you live in Muskoka as I do, you'll know "Cottage Country" is as much a feeling as it is a place. The smell of a bonfire as you toast sweet and sticky s'mores. The sound of kids splashing about in the water. The sight of a glorious sunset over a lake. It all adds up to that special something that has cemented Muskoka's brand as Ontario's go-to place for easy-to-find and easy-to-do outdoor experiences. Best of all, these and so many other fun things to do in Cottage Country can easily be enjoyed by visitors too.

Getting to Know Muskoka

Located two hours north of Toronto, Canada's largest city, the township of Muskoka Lakes makes for the perfect spot to get a taste of Cottage Country. Just a few minutes' drive or boat ride from the towns of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes includes the lion's share of the region's "Big Three" lakes: Lake Muskoka, the largest and busiest body of water in the region; Lake Joseph, the richest and home to "Billionaires' Row"; and Lake Rosseau, the one Hollywood's elite tend to gravitate to.

Combined, these three bodies of water offer hundreds of kilometers of navigable water to explore. There's even more water to explore if you add Lake of Bays, the district's second-largest lake, to the east near Dorset and Baysville, plus the countless smaller lakes scattered across the district.

Cruising Muskoka's Lakes

As a resident of Cottage Country (hey, someone has to live there!), I've tried pretty much every available means of getting out on the lakes. If you're a first-timer or have ever wondered just how different everything looks from the water, I've got a few tried-and-tested suggestions that never fail to please visiting friends and family.

Peerless II is a must-do. This historic converted fuel delivery vessel offers a variety of fun sightseeing options out of the pretty community of Port Carling (aka, the "Hub of Muskoka Lakes"), including an excellent sunset cruise. I always enjoy coasting past some of the most photographed cottages on lakes Joseph and Rosseau and seeing the region's famed boathouses. Some of them offer tantalizing glimpses of those elegant classic old wooden boats, many of them built in Muskoka.

For a slice of the region's steamship history, head to the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst. It's the home port of the Muskoka Steamships, including RMS Segwun, built in 1887 and North America's oldest operating steamship. You'll also see the historic Wanda III, an elegant private yacht owned by the Eaton family, and Wenonah II, a newer vessel named after one of the first steamships to sail Lake Muskoka in the 1860s.

Cruise options range from one-hour sightseeing trips to dinner cruises and the popular Millionaire's Row excursion, as well as private cruises. There's even a summer sailing program of ship-borne concerts organized by the folks at Peter's Players.

Over on Lake of Bays, the SS Bigwin runs cruises out of the village of Dorset. Built in 1910 as a private yacht, the vessel spent decades ferrying guests to the famed Bigwin Inn resort on Bigwin Island. Rescued after years of neglect, she was restored and relaunched in 2013 and now glides around the lake using a near-silent electric propulsion system.

Head Out for a Paddle

If you've got a kayak or a canoe, Muskoka is the perfect place for a paddle. Numerous parks, beaches, and boat launches dot the shorelines of the township's lakes, most with ample parking and shallow water access for launching your vessel of choice.

While I've got a couple of kayaks of my own (they're a must-have up here), I usually recommend Liv Outside in Bracebridge if a rental is needed. Located directly on the Muskoka River, day rentals of kayaks and equipment are inexpensive, with friendly staff happy to show you the ropes and help you load up. For visits to Huntsville and north Muskoka, the folks at Algonquin Outfitters are great for short-term rentals as well as longer camping adventures.

Another good option is to book a stay at a Muskoka resort. Whether you're at the 4-star JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa or a traditional family resort like Port Cunnington Lodge, you'll get access to canoes and kayaks.

Scenic Drives in Muskoka

Muskoka can also be enjoyed in many other ways, too, and not just in the summer months. Autumn is a great time to take a Muskoka road trip, especially between late September and early October when those magnificent fall colors are at their peak. Combine your visit with Muskoka's famous art studio tour and a romantic weekend getaway for a truly memorable experience.

My favorite Muskoka scenic drive is an attractive 60-kilometer (37-mile) winding route from Port Carling to the village of Rosseau and back. The outward journey along pretty Peninsula Road (Muskoka Road 7) offers some great views, especially from Port Sandfield, where you can stop and look out over lakes Joseph and Rosseau from the canal bridge.

After stopping in Rosseau for a stroll, head back to Port Carling via the equally attractive community of Windermere. Here, you can enjoy spectacular views from the public dock or the patio of the famous Windermere House hotel, a popular spot for celebrities who cottage in Muskoka.

And in spring, sweet-toothed visitors and locals alike hit the region's popular maple syrup trail. Come winter, Muskoka's frozen lakes are also great to drive around. Covered in snow and ice, they're magnets for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and ice-fishing enthusiasts.

Hiking in Muskoka

Muskoka is also home to some excellent trails for those like me who enjoy relatively easy hikes. My go-to destination for a gentle hike is the Hardy Lake Trail between Gravenhurst and Bala. This superb eight-kilometer (five-mile) affair is level and features a boardwalk across the water.

Also fun is the magnificent Huckleberry Rock Lookout on the other side of Lake Muskoka. While it involves a bit of an incline, this sometimes tricky-to-navigate trail boasts panoramic views over Lake Muskoka that more than reward the climb.

One final word: be sure to grab yourself a butter tart. Muskoka considers itself the butter tart capital of Canada, with some of the best being available at Abbey's Bakehouse in Minett, a favorite spot in a converted 19th-century church on the shores of Lake Rosseau. My own local is The Bakery in Gravenhurst, which also makes Muskoka's best donuts. Best of all, butter tarts are freezer-friendly, so buy a bunch and take them home with you.

Getting to Muskoka

Most visitors to Muskoka will arrive by car. That said, we locals are super excited about the fact that a new rail service, the Northlander, is slated to return in 2026 with stops in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. The journey time will be around three hours of stress-free travel, with downtown Toronto connections to rail services across the country and Toronto Pearson Airport.

If you plan to get here by car (and you'll need one once you get here, as there's currently no fast or convenient district-wide public transit), you'll want to pick the day and time of your journey carefully. Muskoka-bound summer traffic is heavy at the best of times, but come Friday, your two-hour journey can easily double or even triple in length due to the sheer volume of cottagers and vacationers all headed the same way.

If you can be flexible, do as I do and avoid weekend traffic altogether. Instead, get your traveling done mid-week outside of morning and afternoon rush hours. While the city of Barrie makes for a great stop if you've got time (it possesses one of Ontario's nicest city waterfronts), I suggest you instead make Webers your first stop. Located just north of Orillia on Highway 11, this famous burger joint has for decades been considered the "unofficial" start of a Muskoka adventure.

Sure, the people traffic can be heavy. But those delicious, charbroiled burgers and tasty milkshakes make the lineups well worth it. And if you miss Webers on the way up, fret not. There's a handy footbridge over the highway and plenty of southbound parking so you can stop for a bite on the way home, too.