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Muskoka is one of Canada’s most picturesque regions, long renowned as a summer vacation destination for Canadian and international visitors drawn by the allure of its dramatically beautiful scenery, clean air, lush Boreal forests and pristine lakes.

Located in central Ontario, just a two-hour drive north of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, Muskoka stretches across 6,475 square kilometres (2,500 square miles)—a land mass the size of Luxembourg or the state of Delaware.

Nestled between the untamed expanse of Algonquin Provincial Park and the cool, clear waters of Georgian Bay, Muskoka is home to some 60,000 residents. The population more than doubles to 136,000 during Canada’s summer months, however, as cottage dwellers, tourists and returning vacationers pour into the region.

Muskoka’s main attraction is its rugged natural beauty. At some 305 metres (1,000 feet) above sea level, the Muskoka ecosystem is dotted by 600 unspoiled lakes, wetlands, bogs and barrens interlaced with rich pine and maple forests and outcrops of rugged, windswept bedrock. The exposed stone, which includes pink granite, is part of the vast Canadian Shield—Precambrian rock that was the first part of the North American continent to be permanently raised above sea level.

Muskoka’s three largest towns, Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, have plenty to offer in services and amenities, including hospitals, fine restaurants and waterfront pubs, banks, art and crafts galleries, big box stores, boutiques and specialty shops for items such as finely crafted canoes.

Accommodations run the gamut from cosy campsites to rustic inns, business hotels and full‑fledged resorts.

Three of Muskoka’s largest lakes, Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph, are connected by rivers and a lock system, which open up the vast waterways to exploration by watercraft. There is a wide array of outdoor activities and attractions available in Muskoka to satisfy all manner of nature and sports enthusiasts.

Discover its blue calm waterways by car-top canoe or kayak. Enjoy motorized pleasure crafts and wakeboarding. Those seeking a languid cruise can book passage on a historic steamship or a cruise boat that will take them along the shores of Lake Muskoka, past homes that once belonged to billionaires from as far away as Pittsburgh. Some of the estate cottages now belong to Hollywood and sports celebrities who appreciate Muskoka’s tranquil beauty.

Muskoka has the world’s first permanent Dark Sky Reserve, tucked into the Torrance Barrens Conservation Area. On a clear night, you can see the stars and the Aurora Borealis (northern lights) or, in mid-August, witness the spectacular Perseids meteorite shower. See the solar system in even more luminescent detail through the 40-centimetre (15.7-inch) telescope at the Echo Valley Observatory on the Lake of Bays.

Bird-watchers perennially gather in Muskoka to see more than 200 species of bird return for the summer or gather in the fall as they prepare to head south. A wide variety of finches populate the forests, lakes and wetlands, as well as larger birds such as spruce grouse, wild turkeys and the common loon.

Muskoka is criss-crossed by 40 public hiking trails, including a meandering section of the Trans‑Canada Trail. Those looking for something a little off the beaten track can sign up for a night‑time tour howling with the Eastern Canadian wolves in Algonquin Park, which was established in 1893 as a wildlife sanctuary.

Business and Investment

The Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit will provide short and long-term economic benefits for the Muskoka region and the province of Ontario.

Tourism

Stretching from the vast wilderness of Algonquin Park in the east to the rugged windswept shores of the Georgian Bay Islands in the west, the District of Muskoka offers a unique experience with an abundance of activities.