Muskoka is spread out, and where you sleep shapes your trip more than in most regions. The choice is between a town base, which keeps you close to restaurants and day trips, and a lake or resort base, which gives you scenery and quiet. Here is how the main areas compare, with the eight stays in this guide. A car is needed in every case.
Gravenhurst, the southern gateway
Gravenhurst is the first big Muskoka town heading north from Toronto, with the steamship wharf, the Muskoka Discovery Centre and Bethune Memorial House. Muskoka Bay Resort, on North Muldrew Lake Road, is the upscale golf-resort choice here, and it suits couples and golfers who want a comfortable base close to the wharf. Outside the sailing season the steamships are not running, while the Discovery Centre stays open Thursday to Sunday in the colder months.
Bracebridge, the central base
Bracebridge is the best town for a multi-stop trip, with the downtown falls, High Falls, Wilson's Falls and Santa's Village nearby. Quality Inn Bracebridge is the budget pick, simple and central, and ideal for families and road-trippers. Patterson Kaye Resort on Lake Muskoka is the lakeside alternative, with a cottage-style feel for families and groups who want water views. Confirm the winter operation of the lakeside property before you book.
Huntsville and the north
Huntsville is the base for Algonquin Park, Arrowhead Provincial Park and the Group of Seven murals. Hidden Valley Resort, an Ascend Collection resort near the town and the Hidden Valley Highlands ski area, is the mid-range choice here. Deerhurst Resort, on Peninsula Lake just outside town, is the large resort alternative, with golf and a full activity programme. Check each resort's operating status on your dates before booking.
Lake Rosseau, the splurge
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa, at Minett on Lake Rosseau, is the luxury option, with a spa, a restaurant and a menu of outdoor activities. It is a destination in itself, well away from the towns, and best for couples and special occasions. Windermere House, a rebuilt 1870 inn on the same lake with around 58 suites, a restaurant and a pub, is the heritage alternative, and Sherwood Inn, near Minett, is a quieter, more traditional lakeside inn.
How to choose
For a first trip with day trips, stay in Bracebridge. For a golf or couples weekend, choose Muskoka Bay Resort or the JW Marriott. For Algonquin and the north, stay near Huntsville, at Hidden Valley or Deerhurst. For a family lake stay, look at Patterson Kaye. For a heritage feel, choose Windermere House or Sherwood Inn.
Which season, which base
In summer, lake and resort stays shine, because the water, the cruises and the lakeside terraces are all in use. In fall colour weeks, Huntsville and Bracebridge put you closest to the lookouts and the Highway 60 route, and you should book well ahead. In winter, Huntsville and the north make the most sense for skating, skiing and snowshoeing, while a Gravenhurst or Bracebridge base is cheaper and closer to the southern highway if the roads are poor.
Booking tips
Rates peak in July and August and in fall colour weeks, so book early and compare midweek rates. November and spring are the cheapest times, but many seasonal sights are closed. Check cancellation terms, parking and pet rules before you pay, and confirm which resort facilities operate in the season you are travelling.
