Popular Muskoka Routes

South Branch Muskoka River
A picturesque route in south-eastern Muskoka, from Baysville to Fraserburg. 42km long with 11 portages. Access is off Hwy #117 at Baysville.

Big East River
A great northern route with no portages or whitewater. It's 17km length can be run in a day. Access is in Arrowhead Provincial Park.

Kawagama Lake and the Hollow River
A short, pretty route near Dorset. Start at the lake and follow the length of the river to the Long Slide Chute, just before entering Lake of Bays.

Gibson-McDonald Loop
A well known 56 kilometer loop reaching to Georgian Bay. There are nine portages. Access is off highway 400 in Georgian Bay Township. A short portage takes you into McDonald Lake to start the trip. Paddle north until you see the beaver dam on the left, paddle directly across the bay to the 250 metre portage which will take you into McCrae Lake. There are four campsites on McCrae Lake. You can take an optional trip up the west channel out into Georgian Bay. Follow the shoreline north until the mouth of the Musquash River and continue upstream to Three Rock Chute.

Musquash and Moon River
A varied route, with numerous options depending on the weather and time of year. Be sure to obtain a map and check local conditions. Starting point is in Bala, below the falls.

Beausoleil Island
Take Highway 11 south then west on Honey Harbour Rd. to Honey Harbour. Beausoleil Island is directly across from Honey Harbour. Stop at the Information Office or park office for details and maps. One option is to paddle west through Big Dog Channel, between Little Beausoleil Island and Roberts Island, making camp on Tonch Point. Another would be to make your way northwest up the main channel, and then left through Little Dog Channel, camping at Blueberry, Sandpiper, or Chimney Bay campsites. You may decide to paddle up the main channel, between Beausoleil and Deer Islands, making camp on either Cherry, Godettes, or Honeymoon Bay.

Whether it is the attractions, golf courses, canoe routes, shopping in historic downtown, fishing on the hundreds of lakes and waterways or one of the many thousands of other activities which bring people to Bracebridge every year, you can always count on two things. One is that you will feel the warmth, magic and friendliness which has made Muskoka a vacation destination for almost a century, and the second thing is that you will take a part of that back with you from wherever you came.

Since tourists were coming here by train and taking steamships out to the various lodges and resorts on the lakes, there has been a certain indescribable enchantment surrounding this region which you can feel even today. From year to year it's nice to see the same faces back again, and always new ones as well. Those one-time tourists evolve over time into cottage owners and in some cases four season residents, themselves becoming part of the magic for future generations.

From Bracebridge you can head out in any direction, in any season, and reach another corner of this great district. What are you waiting for?

Come home to the 'Heart of Muskoka'.