RegionUsable guide

Muskoka

Regional municipality in Ontario, Canada

Photo: – Wladyslaw [Disk.], CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Muskoka area of Ontario, Canada is a rolling expanse of forest and lake, quietly beautiful. Highlights of the area include Georgian Bay with its rocky inlets and wood-lined shores. It was scenery like this - and further east, in the Algonquin - that inspired Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven painters. The view, as evening falls over the silver water, broken by the low outlines of islands (there are about 30,000 in the Bay) is hauntingly beautiful.

Getting there and around

Getting there

You can reach Muskoka on a day trip from Toronto. Since it is such a large area, travel times can vary.

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Getting around

By car, or by boat. The intercity buses that travel to Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst may make stops on request at smaller settlements along their routes.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Muskoka Airport

Gravenhurst · Regional · YQA

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Cities

Georgian Bay Islands National Park

63 islands in the world's largest freshwater archipelago, including the historic Beausoleil Island

Read before you go to Muskoka

Articles and travel topics about Muskoka and Canada.

Travel tips

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Full travel guide

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Towns

UnderstandThe District of Muskoka covers a large area, but has a permanent population of only about 60,000 people (2016), living mainly in small towns.

Get inYou can reach Muskoka on a day trip from Toronto. Since it is such a large area, travel times can vary.

Get aroundBy car, or by boat. The intercity buses that travel to Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst may make stops on request at smaller settlements along their routes.

SeeThe Lady Muskoka Steamship offers 2-3 hour cruises on the lakes, lunch cruises, dinner cruises from Bracebridge in the summer.

DoRenting a cottage is really the thing to do, although it won't be cheap.

EatWell-known chains and fast-food options are easy to find along the highway for a quick rest-stop, but you'll also find a wide range of local restaurants, from family-style eateries and pubs serving comfort food, to…

DrinkA good place to party in the summer months, when it is much busier. There are places to drink around the towns, ranging from small places to fairly large establishments.

SleepThere are cottages for rent throughout Muskoka, but they won't be cheap as Muskoka cottages are highly prized among Toronto's wealthier denizens.

Stay safeMay, early spring for the areas, is peak time for blackfly and mosquitoes.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Muskoka" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "District Municipality of Muskoka", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: – Wladyslaw [Disk.], CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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