Tour Muskoka
Are you familiar with the Muskoka? If not, here are three different areas you may wish to acquaint yourself with(not including Lake of Bays):
Trip 1: Gravenhurst, West along Highway 169
Gravenhurst west along Highway 169 to Glen Orchard, right onto Hwy 118W and through Port Carling, then on to Bracebridge to Highway 11 and points south. There are several Lakes in this area:
Lake Muskoka and the Gravenhurst Wharf complex. (Try and visit the Grace & Speed Museum there).
Watch for North Muldrew Lake Road going off to the left (Turtle & Loon[off Peninsula Rd.], and Muldrew)
Backtrack to Hwy.169, turn left, Pine Lake near Snider’s Bay Road
At Torrance is Black Lake (on the right), Clear Lake, and Nine Mile Lake (off Southwood Road)
At Bala is Long Lake on the left, then Lake Muskoka on the right and the Moon River.(Bala Annual Cranberry Festival is usually held the weekend after Thanksgiving)
Between Bala and Glen Orchard is Medora Lake, Ada Lake and Butterfly Lake. (Check out Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh on Medora Lake Road.)
Turn onto Hwy. 118W and head toward Port Carling. Near Peninsula Road, on the right, is Henshaw Lake. Then Mirror Lake (off Foreman
Road.) In Port Carling you’ll cross the bridge at the locks – Lake Rosseau on one side and the Indian River on the other – which connects to Lake Muskoka.
Silver Lake goes off to the left, then you’ll come to Brandy Lake and closer to Bracebridge is Leonard Lake.
Trip 2: Port Carling area from Hwy 118
Side Tour 2 in Port Carling area: from Highway 118 close to Port Carling (near Henshaw Lake) follow Peninsula Road (District Rd.7) through Minett. Bruce Lake is on the right hand side of the road; then comes Dyson Lake on the same side. Little Lake Joe is on the left. You’ll notice an absence of hydro poles along parts of this road, some areas are not serviced and still undeveloped.
The large lake on the right-hand side, which you cannot see until you get farther along, is Lake Rosseau – which connects to the Indian River at Port Carling and then flows through Mirror Lake and joins Lake Muskoka.
At the top end of the peninsula you’ll come to an intersection of Highway 141 in the Village of Rosseau. If you turn left you’ll be heading toward Highway 69 and come out just south of Parry Sound.
If you turn right you’ll be immediately in the Village of Rosseau. At the main crossroads in the Village you’ll see District Rd. 3 on your left – this will take you to Huntsville. Or you can keep straight on Highway 141 heading toward Bracebridge. Highway 141 becomes District Rd. 35 for a short distance, then becomes Muskoka Rd. 4. Camel Lake Road is on your right-hand side.
Trip 3: Beginning at Bracebridge
Gravenhurst north along Highway 11 – Gull Lake is off Hewitt Road on the right. Next comes Doe Lake Road; exits right off the Highway. Silver Lake can be found off the Doe Lake Road on the right, then comes Tomingas Road and Sunny Lake.
Continue straight along the Doe Lake Road – you’ll see Doe Lake on the right. Do not turn bear right at the Y – keep straight (Muskoka Rd.20) past Gartersnake Road and through the Village of Uffington.
Turn RIGHT onto Prospect Lake Road and you’ll connect to Highway 118E.Spring Lake is opposite, to the right and along Highway 118E is Wood Lake (turn left onto Oakley Crescent to the boat landing).
Farther along Highway 118E is Bird Lake, Bigwind Lake and Clear Lake. (Bigwind Provincial Park nearby). Turn around and head back towards Bracebridge along Highway 118 (about 25 minutes drive).
Exit north onto Highway 11 and carry on until you come to South Mary Lake Road on the right. This will lead you into the picturesque Village of Port Sydney and Mary Lake. Don’t cross the bridge – this loop will bring you out at Greer Road – there’s a school on the corner. Keep straight, go under the highway and carry on Highway 141 through Utterson.
You’ll soon see Long Lake on your right. At the T-junction turn right – coming up is the Village of Raymond and Three Mile Lake on the left. On the right, a few minutes along, is Skeleton Lake.
Turn left onto Deebank Road and either bear right at the fork toward the Village of Windermere (on Lake Rosseau) OR keep left toward Ufford – then turn right at the Gas Station onto Muskoka Rd. 4 and you’ll come to Camel Lake road on the right If you keep straight on Muskoka Rd. 4 you’ll soon arrive in Bracebridge!
Beginning at Bracebridge, exit off Highway 11 using the third exit (Taylor Road). Pass through the lights at Home Depot and left at the next set of lights onto Cedar Lane. Pass the OPP station and turn left onto Fraserburg Road.
You’ll see two very small lakes (Frau & Gordonnier) keep going. McKay Lake is on the right, then Healey Lake Road is on the left. Continue up the Fraserburg Road - cross over the river and keep going to Leech Lake and then Pine Lake.
Turn around and backtrack to Highway 11 and go north on Highway 11 – exit right on Highway 117 toward Baysville. Peace Valley Road on left to Atkins Lake. No public access, no motorboats.
Continue along Hwy 117 – watch for Moot Lake Rd on left – no public access, no motor boats. Next comes the Village of Baysville. Cross the river and turn right onto Heeney Lake Road. Nice lake, no motorboats.
Back to Hwy 117, turn right and then right again to find Echo, Dickie and Ril Lake(s). Back to the highway again, then turn right and head toward Dorset. Grandview Lake is on your left, then Lake of Bays. When you come to Dorset turn left – go through Town and the left onto Highway 35 to Dwight.
Left onto Highway 60 and back toward Huntsville. Peninsula Lake on the left side connects to Fairy Lake via a canal at Deerhurst Resort area, and Fairy Lake connects to Lake Vernon via the Muskoka River through the Town of Huntsville.
Before you get to Huntsville you will come to Harp Lake Road on the right – most properties elevated from the water. Exit off Highway 11 onto Ravenscliffe Road (OPP station). You can see Lake Vernon from Hutcheson Beach Road on the left. Keep straight up Ravenscliffe Road to South Waseosa Lake Rd on the right. South Waseosa Lake at the end, on the way back you’ll see Muskoka Glens Rd. on the right – leads to Clarke Lake – small.
Back out to Ravenscliffe, turn right and then left onto Hoodstown Rd. Cross the bridge and turn right onto West Fox Lake Road. Then backtrack and continue along Hoodstown Road. The road connects and becomes Etwell Road - keep going until you come to District Rd. 3 (Aspdin Road) and turn left to get back to Highway 11.
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