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Muskoka Lakes

You are here: Home / Community Profiles / Communities / Muskoka Lakes

The shimmer of the water just beyond tall stands of pine and cedar, birch and maple, rolling hills and jutting cliffs and vibrant air, mist-cloaked sunrises and sunsets in intimate lakes and hills; in Muskoka Lakes you’re never far from the most quintessential experiences of the near North.

From the rustic to the luxurious you’ll find it all here waiting to be discovered. Muskoka Lakes is a must see and do spot for the cottage country lifestyle. Centrally located in the middle of Muskoka’s ‘big three lakes’ (Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph), the area is well known for it’s great waterways, iconic cottages and historic towns.

The Waterfront Trail in Muskoka Lakes includes two signature cycling loops circumnavigating Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka. Here you’ll find many unique places to spend the night, shop, explore or enjoy food by the water. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail connects the Muskoka Lakes communities of Port Carling, Torrance, Bala, Minett and Windermere.

Whether you prefer small communities, rural areas, country settings or stunning waterfront properties, Muskoka Lakes is the perfect destination for creating memorable experiences. The spectacular nature of the area creates ample opportunities to explore the great outdoors, including hiking, canoeing, kayaking, golfing or cycling. Located on the Indian River, between Lake Muskoka and Rosseau, downtown Port Carling is known as the “Hub of the Lakes”. See “The Wall”, a photo mosaic produced with thousands of individual pictures that create the image of the RMS Sagamo passing through the Port Carling locks. Bala, known affectionately as “Ontario’s Cranberry Capital”, hosts the annual action-packed Bala Cranberry Festival every fall.  You will love the fresh crisp air on one of our eight amazing trails including Hardy Lake Provincial Park, Huckleberry Rock Lookout, and the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve, the first such protected area in Canada.

Two Signature Cycling Loops

Port Carling serves as the hub for the two signed signature cycling loops in Muskoka, the 90km Lake Muskoka Loop, circumnavigating Lake Muskoka, and the 66km Lake Rosseau Loop, circumnavigating Lake Rosseau. It’s recommended that you do the Lake Rosseau Loop clockwise as there several hills made more challenging if you tackle them in the opposite direction.

Signage Coming Soon

Download Printable Map

Trail Attributes

Distance:  112km

  • The Trail in Muskoka Muskoka Lakes follows mostly seasonally busy rural roads.
  • Muskoka Roads 169 and 181 in particular are seasonally busy and many sections do not have paved shoulders, some of which are restricted by rock cuts.
  • The Trail in Muskoka Lakes is recommended for more experienced cyclists comfortable riding with traffic, including truck traffic.
  • Between Brackenrig (near Port Carling) and Bracebridge, there is a lightly signed connector along Falkenburg Road for those wanting a quieter experience.
  • The topography in Muskoka Lake, particularly the area on the north shore of Lake Muskoka and around Lake Rosseau can be very hilly, though also exceptionally scenic.

Trail Tips:

  • Spend a few days on the 90km Lake Muskoka Loop or 66km Lake Rosseau Loop for a true taste and experience of the area.
  • We recommend travelling the Lake Rosseau Loop in a counter-clockwise direction, making some of the larger hills easier to manage.
Local Maps and ConnectionsStaging AreasAmenitiesHelpful LinksGetting Here

Links to Local Maps

Muskoka Tourism Interactive Map – Amenities dining and events.
Muskoka Lakes Maps (PDF links)
Muskoka Lakes Trails and Hiking -interactive map, downloadable PDF maps and brochures
District of Muskoka (Municipal Interactive Map)

Community Links

Township of Muskoka Lakes
District Municipality of Muskoka
Town of Bracebridge
Georgian Bay Township
Seguin Township

Staging Areas

All staging areas have parking, washrooms (may be seasonal)

  • Port Carling: Hanna Park, 40 Bailey St, Port Carling
  • Bala: Jaspen Park, Intersection of Pine Ridge Road and MR 38, west of the MR 38 MR 169 intersection

Where to Stay:

Under the sheets? Port Carling, Minett, Windermere, Bala. There are also many other cottage resorts scattered throughout.

Under the stars? Though there are no amenities on site, limited camping is permitted at Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve, roughly 8km south of Torrance on Muskoka Rd 13.

Amenities

Port Carling

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas

    Docks

  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms

    Hanna Park, James Bartleman Island

  • WIFI

    Community Centre, Library

  • Winter Maintenance

Bala

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms

    Jaspen Park, Windsor Park

  • WIFI

    Community Centre, Library

  • Winter Maintenance

Minett

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Outfitters

    Marina

  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms
  • WIFI
  • Winter Maintenance

Windermere

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas

    Dock

  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms

    Windermere Park

  • WIFI
  • Winter Maintenance

Torrance

  • Accommodations, Campground
  • Accommodations, Roofed
  • Beaches
  • Groceries
  • Hospital
  • LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
  • Marinas
  • Museums
  • Outfitters
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Areas
  • Tourist Information
  • Washrooms

    Sunset Park

  • WIFI
  • Winter Maintenance

Helpful Links

Tourism (General)
Muskoka Tourism – Places to eat, places to stay, packages events etc for the District of Muskoka and an interactive map.
Explorer’s Edge – Regional tourism for Muskoka, Parry Sound and the surrounding area. Places to visit, activities, packages and events.
Tourism Muskoka’s Cycle-and-Stay recommendations.

Museums and Heritage Sites
Muskoka Lakes Museum – Explore the history and heritage of the Muskoka region. Located on a lovely island in Port Carling.

Natural Attractions
Hardy Lake Provincial Park – Great hiking near Torrance, west of Gravenhurst.
Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve – Perfect for stargazing. Camping and some hiking trails on site. Located roughly 8km south of Torrance on MR 13.

Ontario By Bike – Great resource with routes, tours and a vast list of bike-friendly businesses.

Transit

Transit:
The Corridor 11 Bus runs weekdays (excluding holidays) from Huntsville to Barrie and back including stops in the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail communities of Orillia, Washago (near the route), Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.

GO Transit: Travellers can connect to Barrie from the the Greater Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara regions via GO transit.

Porter Airlines offers limited flights between Toronto and Muskoka Airport located between Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.

Ontario Northland runs a bus service from Toronto with many stops through the North.

Shuttle
In addition to their touring opportunities, Humdinger Tours offers a customizable shuttle service which can include luggage and gear. Contact them for a quote.

 

Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
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