2010 Adventure Series – More than fake lakes in Muskoka

EH Tourism exploring Muskoka River's Wilson Falls

Muskoka Country in Central Ontario, Canada is well known for its lakes and water sport activities. It is even better known now to Canadians and the world because of the G20 Summit that was recently held there. Unfortunately for Muskoka Country the media was to preoccupied with fake lakes and political non-action to really give the area a fair shake on what it has to offer for adventure tourism and accommodations.

Muskoka Country includes three main communities and many smaller villages. The communities of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville make up the main destinations in Muskoka Country. Each community with its own flair, character and individuality. Stay in one community and you can explore all of Muskoka. There are many roads and cycling routes circling lakes and crossing rivers for sightseeing.

Many from the bigger cities of Ontario like Toronto and Ottawa refer to Muskoka as Cottage Country. Some have summer cabins on one of the many lakes in the region. Some, who are not as lucky to have an accommodation on the lake, visit the region to rent a cottage. Some make a trip for camping and some spend time on one of the many beaches.

Lake of Bays from Dorset Fire Tower

Muskoka is also home for boys and their toys – like jet skies, speed boats, sailing and others. For many of us, all we hear about, are the lakes in Muskoka.  The story never changes. So we want to talk about something else besides the lakes because there is so much more to the region than lakes.

Yes, we enjoyed the lakes but we found other activities that are worth a visit that may not be getting its fair shake under the shadow of the lakes. Being under dogs in tourism ourselves – competing with Government Tourismopoly –  we like the under dog activities. The activities that are worthy of praise but are not as well explained to the outside world.

In our opinion one of the best “points of interests” to visit while in the Muskoka Country region – the under dog activity destinations –  are the sightseeing towers and lookout points. There are some pretty amazing views.

Lookout on Peninsula Trail

In Gravenhurst there is the Lookout Park and the Peninsula Trail. Lookout Park is an easy access sightseeing platform over looking the marina, waterfront shops and Gull Lake. The Peninsula Trail, located in the same area but just on the opposite side of the Gull Lake, explores a rocky shoreline from lookout shelter to lookout shelter with more open views of the lake.

In Huntsville and the surrounding area there are some great sightseeing views and fire towers to visit. The Lions Lookout is a short drive to sightseeing park located on top of a rocky hill in the centre of Huntsville. There is a large shelter with views of the surrounding lakes and the community below. Although on my visit there was a ton of road construction and I had a hard time finding my way up to the lookout. Just another adventure within an adventure.

The best tower in the region with views of many lakes, forests and of the township of Algonquin Highlands is the Dorset Tower.  The 1922 Fire Tower measures 82 feet high and provides a 300 square kilometre viewing radius of Muskoka Country.

Dorset Fire Tower

A series of metal steps spiral up to the top viewing deck of the Dorset Tower. The steps are see through so, for some, always seeing the bottom with every step higher you take can be a knee shaking experience. For us it was a heart pounding experience filled with excitement because the tower is very high. We like heights.

From the top there are views directly looking down on the village of Dorset and Trading Bay (lake). To access the tower park requires a small admission fee. There is a gift shop. picnic tables, outdoor art and a cliff side lookout platform. For the more adventurous there is a 2.3 kilometre hiking trail connecting Dorset with the tower.

Like every destination in Canada, there is always much more to enjoy than what is always on the front page of tourism brochures. Sadly enough, if it does not pay high tourism advertising and membership fees it does not get allot of press.