Paws, Pines, and Pure Magic: A Dog Sledding and Lakeside Escape in Muskoka
There’s something about March in Muskoka. The air still carries winter’s crisp bite, but you can sense spring waiting just beneath the surface. The snow is still deep enough for adventure, the lakes still wear their frozen coats, and the forests remain hushed and magical. It’s the perfect moment for one of the most thrilling winter experiences Ontario has to offer: dog sledding.
This March, we’ve crafted a last minute getaway that combines the rush of mushing your own dog team through the wilderness with the cozy comfort of a lakeside cabin retreat. It’s adventure and relaxation, adrenaline and tranquility, all wrapped into one unforgettable package at two of Muskoka’s finest family-owned destinations.
Your Lakeside Home Base
The experience begins at Muskoka Beach House Resort on the shores of Sparrow Lake. Forget the typical hotel room – you’ll be staying in your own private studio cabin with everything you need for a true escape. Lake views, a full kitchen for making morning coffee at your own pace, a cozy living room with a smart TV for evening wind-down, and a comfortable queen bed where you’ll sleep to the sound of absolute silence.
This isn’t about rushing through a schedule. It’s about arriving, settling in, and exhaling. The cabin becomes your sanctuary, a place to warm up after adventure, to cook meals together, to simply be present in one of Ontario’s most beautiful settings.
On your first evening, a three-course dinner awaits at The Pines Restaurant, just steps from your cabin door. The menu showcases locally inspired cuisine, and there’s something special about not having to drive anywhere after a leisurely meal. You simply walk back to your cabin under the stars, maybe pause to take in the winter night sky, and slip into the warmth of your private retreat.
The Main Event: Dog Sledding at North Ridge Ranch
Day two brings the adventure you’ve been dreaming about. A scenic drive through snow-dusted Muskoka countryside takes you to North Ridge Ranch in Huntsville, where an extraordinary team awaits: working sled dogs who live for this moment.
Before you even touch the sled, you’ll receive a comprehensive hands-on lesson. The guides at North Ridge Ranch don’t just hand you a pair of reins and wish you luck – they teach you how to work with the dogs, how to communicate, how to handle the sled, and most importantly, how to respect the animals who are about to take you on the ride of your life.
Then comes the moment when everything changes. You’re standing on the runners of your own sled, your team is harnessed and ready, and when you give the signal, they explode forward with pure joy. There’s no sound quite like it – the howl of the dogs, the sound of runners over snow, the rhythm of paws, the occasional excited bark, and your own laughter as you realize you’re actually doing this.
The trail stretches for 20 kilometres through private bush that few people ever see. Towering pines create a cathedral overhead. Sunlight filters through branches, catching snowflakes that drift lazily down. The dogs know these trails intimately, and they run with the confidence that they were born to do.
Midway through, everyone stops. The dogs settle into the snow, hot chocolate appears, and suddenly you’re standing in the middle of a Muskoka forest, surrounded by content sled dogs who have become your new best friends. This is the moment people remember forever, not just the thrill of the ride, but the connection. These aren’t just working animals; they’re partners, personalities, athletes with distinct characters and an infectious enthusiasm for their work.
You’ll have time for photos, time to pet the dogs (they absolutely love this part), and time to simply absorb where you are and what you’re experiencing. Then it’s back on the sleds for the return journey, and by now you’re working with your team like you’ve been doing it for years.
The Optional Add-On: Floathaus Muskoka
For those who want to elevate the experience even further, there’s an optional stop that perfectly complements the dog sledding adventure. Floathaus Muskoka offers a traditional wood-fired sauna experience followed by a Lake Muskoka cold plunge, the ultimate in Scandinavian-inspired wellness.
After hours of physical activity in the cold, the intense heat of a wood-fired sauna feels like exactly what your body has been craving. The ritual of heating your muscles, stepping out into the brisk air, and then taking the plunge into icy Lake Muskoka creates an endorphin rush that has to be experienced to be understood. It’s invigorating, centering, and the perfect bridge between the day’s adventure and your evening back at the cabin.
Evening at Your Own Pace
Back at Muskoka Beach House Resort, the beauty of having your own cabin with a full kitchen reveals itself. Maybe you stopped for groceries and now you’re cooking dinner together, sharing stories from the day. Maybe you drove through Huntsville, Bracebridge, or Gravenhurst and picked up takeout from a local favorite.
There’s no itinerary dictating your evening. You’re simply in your cabin, lake view before you, maybe a outside fire crackling if you’ve built one, recounting the moment when the dogs first took off or that perfect photo you captured in the forest. This is the luxury of having your own space—not just privacy, but freedom to design your evening exactly as you wish.
The Final Morning
Your last day dawns without pressure. Checkout isn’t until 11am giving you time for a slow morning. Maybe you make breakfast in the cabin’s kitchen, coffee in hand as you watch the morning light play across the frozen lake. Maybe you take a final walk around the property, already planning when you can return, or imagining what summer looks like.
Why This Package Works
This isn’t a cookie-cutter vacation package – it’s a collaboration between family-owned Muskoka businesses who genuinely care about creating authentic experiences. Muskoka Beach House Resort has that old school welcoming hospitality we all crave, and they understand what makes a cabin stay special. North Ridge Ranch lives and breathes dog sledding—this isn’t a side business for them; it’s their passion. And if you choose the Floathaus Muskoka add-on, you’re supporting another local operation dedicated to wellness and traditional practices.
When you book this package, you’re not just buying a last minute 2 day getaway. You’re supporting local businesses, experiencing Muskoka the way it’s meant to be experienced, and creating stories you’ll tell for years.
The Practical Details
When: March 1–3 or March 8–10, 2026
Price: $1,398 CAD for two adults (all taxes and fees included)
What’s Included:
- Two nights in a private lakefront cabin at Muskoka Beach House Resort
- Three-course dinner for two at The Pines Restaurant
- Half-day dog sledding adventure at North Ridge Ranch
- Hot chocolate during the sledding tour
- Full kitchen in your cabin
- All the memories you can fit into a weekend
What to Know:
- You’ll need to have your own vehicle with winter tires to get between Muskoka Beach House Resort and North Ridge Ranch (about 1 hour)
- Bring food for Monday meals to use the cabin’s full kitchen
- Dress warmly for dog sledding – snow pants, winter jacket, insulated boots, toque, gloves, and layers are essential
- Limited availability on these specific March dates
Book Your Adventure
March in Muskoka offers something special—the last gasp of winter adventure before spring arrives. The dog sledding conditions are ideal, the forests are at their most magical, and the crowds of summer are months away. It’s just you, the dogs, the snow, and the wilderness.
This package proves you don’t need to travel to the Arctic or Alaska for an authentic dog sledding experience. Some of Canada’s best winter adventures are right here in Ontario, just two hours north of Toronto, waiting for you to discover them.
The sled dogs are ready. Your cabin is waiting. Muskoka is calling. Are you ready to answer?