Muskoka Is Having a Moment
It seems everyone is talking about Muskoka.
The lake-and-cottage landscapes of Ontario’s Great Canadian Wilderness have found a new international audience thanks in part to two television series: Heated Rivalry, which filmed memorable cottage scenes in Muskoka, and the new Prime Video series Sterling Point, set amid the lakes and islands of the region.
It is easy to see why Muskoka gets the attention. It is one of Canada’s most iconic cottage destinations.
But it is also just one part of a much bigger place.
Ontario’s Great Canadian Wilderness stretches well beyond Muskoka, encompassing Parry Sound and Georgian Bay, the Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, South Algonquin and Algonquin Park itself. Together, they form an enormous landscape of lakes, rivers, forests, small towns and wild spaces just a few hours north of Toronto.
And while summer may get most of the attention, fall might just be the best time to experience all of it.
Start with the fall colours
Across the entire region, forests turn brilliant shades of red, orange and gold, reflected in thousands of lakes and rivers.
Start with our guide to 8 Top Spots to View Fall Colour. which includes classic viewpoints such as Dorset Lookout Tower, Huckleberry Rock, Killbear Provincial Park and Restoule Provincial Park.
Algonquin is deservedly famous, but it is hardly your only option. Our Anywhere But Algonquin guide reveals 14 other places to experience the annual colour show, from the Park to Park Trail and Limberlost Forest to Tower Hill Lookout and the shores of Georgian Bay.
Take the scenic route
In fall, getting there really can be half the fun.
Our Fall Driving Adventures take you along winding cottage-country roads, through small communities and into landscapes that seem to change around every corner.
Slow down. Stop for lunch. Take the side road. Pull over at the lookout.
Fall is made for exploring rather than rushing.
See Georgian Bay from a different perspective
On the western edge of the Great Canadian Wilderness, the rugged shores and islands of Georgian Bay become even more dramatic when autumn colour arrives.
Head to Parry Sound and see the 30,000 Islands from the water aboard the Island Queen. Our story on Georgian Bay’s Fall Colours from the Decks of the Island Queen gives you a taste of what awaits among the granite islands, windswept pines and colourful shoreline.
Or change your perspective completely. A scenic flight offers a bird’s-eye view of the vast forests, lakes and islands below. Read about flying Georgian Bay with Georgian Bay Airways.
Fall in love with Parry Sound
There is enough to do around Georgian Bay to build an entire getaway around it.
Our guide to Fall in Love with Parry Sound brings together outdoor adventure, parks, golf, local food and small-town exploring — with some extraordinary fall scenery as the backdrop.
Get outside before winter
Cooler days, fewer crowds and colourful forests make autumn one of the best times of year to be outdoors.
Spend a night under the stars with our guide to Fall Camping North of Toronto or put a canoe in the water and follow outdoor adventurer Bill Farnsworth on his fall paddle along the Magnetawan River.
This is also the season when the region begins to feel a little quieter. The pace slows. The roads open up. The trails are less busy. There is more room to stop, explore and take in the landscape.
Taste the season
Autumn has a flavour of its own here.
Explore some of the region’s seasonal culinary experiences with our guide to Outdoor Dining in Fall: Crisp Air & Great Food.
And in Muskoka, fall means cranberry harvest. At Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery in Bala, visitors can experience the harvest, explore the trails and even step into the cranberry bog for the famous Cranberry Plunge.
Come see the bigger picture
Muskoka’s latest moment in the international spotlight is a good reason to take another look at this part of Ontario.
But once you arrive, keep going.
Follow the road north. Head west toward Georgian Bay. Explore the villages of the Almaguin Highlands. Paddle a quiet river. Hike somewhere you have never heard of. Spend a night beneath the trees.
There is far more here than any television screen can capture.
And fall may be the best season of all to discover it.