14 Adventurous Things to Do In Muskoka

Picture yourself gliding down snow-covered trails, hiking among the first spring blossoms, paddling sparkling lakes, or horseback riding through an explosion of fall colours. This is just a small sampling of the many incredible and unique things to do in Muskoka. Each season offers something special, which is why I’m so grateful to live here year-round.

Explore the region’s diverse network of trails, paddling routes, parks, outfitters, and friendly communities and you’ll quickly discover the best things to do in Muskoka are outside. With more than 660 lakes, 17 major river systems, and countless wetlands covering 36 percent of the region, getting out on the water (or ice!) is one of my favourite things to do in Muskoka.

When the temperature drops, Muskoka is home to some of Ontario’s best snow-season adventures, bestowed with nearly 3.5 metres of lake-effect snowfall every winter. It’s a superb destination for thrilling snow sports like dog sledding, ice skating and fat biking,

but I also love padding silently into the quiet winter forest on snowshoes.

Whatever your adventure appetite, read on for my shortlist of the top things to do in Muskoka in all seasons.

Go Horseback Riding in the Fall Forest

Listen to the crunch of leaves beneath hooves and feel the steamy breath of your mount on an unforgettable fall colours trail ride. Muskoka stables offer safe and scenic guided trail rides for both first-time and more experienced riders.

Join a 1.5-hour trail ride at Maple Lane Farms in Bracebridge, where you’ll learn the basics before leading your horse beneath the brilliant forest canopy and across bridges and fields with sweeping Muskoka views.

Learn more about the Best Horseback Trail Riding in Ontario.

Catch Fall Colours at Ontario Parks

Fall is a superb time to visit Muskoka, when shorter days and crisp nights transform forest canopies into a riot of red, orange and gold. Whether you’re paddling, hiking or cycling, provincial parks throughout the region offer some of the finest opportunities for viewing fall foliage.

In the highlands, catch early fall colours (late September to early October) at Arrowhead, Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls or Algonquin provincial parks. Along the Georgian Bay coast, plan a visit in early- to mid-October for peak colours at The Massassauga, Oastler Lake, Killbear or Sturgeon Bay parks.

Visit Ontario Parks for more information on each park, and be sure to check the regularly updated fall colour report before you go.

Learn more about the Best Places to Visit in the Fall in Ontario.

Pedal an Autumn Cycling Route

Every twisty back road in Muskoka comes alive with fall colours from late September through mid-October. Check the region’s detailed fall colour report for the best places and times to visit, and then choose from a dozen popular cycling routes.

Avid road cyclists will love cranking the hairpin corners and bedrock ridges of the Torrance Barrens, then winding along the leafy Black River corridor on Gravenhurst’s Loon Lake Loop (107.5 km). Alternatively, tackle the climbs—and savour the hard-earned descents—on the Lake of Bays Loop in Dwight (73 km).

If, like me, you prefer to cycle off-road and away from traffic, head to Algonquin Park’s Old Railway Bike Trail. This scenic gravel ride along an abandoned rail bed is one of my favourite things to do in Muskoka in fall.

The 16-kilometre trail (one-way) is mostly flat, making it accessible for families and less experienced riders. Even better, it rambles through a rainbow tunnel of fall foliage and postcard-perfect pines, following the shores of sparkling blue lakes and serene rivers. Bike rentals are available at the Algonquin Outfitters Lake of Two Rivers Store.

Learn more about the Best Fall Bike Rides in Ontario.

Sample Fall Foraging in Muskoka

Harvest wild fall flavours on an educational foraging hike in the autumn forest. Wild Muskoka Botanicals offers a variety of experiences, including introductory edible plant and mushroom identification walks, as well as longer herbalism programs focused on medicinal wild plants and fungi.

Join a beginner program to spend the day learning foraging safety and ethics on the land, with identification of 10 to 12 species per session. All walks take place in Muskoka between Gravenhurst and Lake of Bays. Classes are offered from spring through fall and locations and species change with the seasons.

Learn more about Foraging in Ontario.

Skate a Frozen Ice Trail

Did you know Muskoka is the birthplace of Ontario ice skating trails? Lace up your skates for an unforgettable woodland experience in Arrowhead Provincial Park. First opened in 2012, the Park’s celebrated skating path winds 1.3 kilometres through snow-draped forest. During iconic Fire and Ice Nights, hosted on Friday and Saturday evenings late January through February, the skate trail is lined with flaming tiki torches for a magical after-dark experience.

Arrowhead’s skating trail is one of Muskoka’s most popular winter attractions—reserving your daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance is a must. Alternatively, Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery, near the Lake Muskoka village of Bala, offers a similar skating experience with a 1.2-kilometre ice trail around their frozen cranberry bogs. Light the Night torchlight skating is available every Saturday night, weather permitting.

Learn more about the Best Skating Trails and Outdoor Rinks in Ontario.

Mush! Experience Muskoka by Dog Sled

If you’re looking for new things to do in Muskoka in winter, I recommend this bucket-list Canadian experience at Huntsville’s North Ridge Ranch. Located on the edge of Algonquin Park, owners Brad and Leah Fetterley have been running dogs here for over two decades. Together with their team of Alaskan huskies, you can learn to mush your own sled or just sit back and enjoy the winter wonderland.

Half-day and one-hour tours are available most days throughout the winter season. Book early—these dog sledding trips fill up fast.

Learn more about Dog Sledding in Ontario.

Discover Nordic (Cross-Country) Skiing

Muskoka’s cross-country ski trails offer something for every level of skier, from first-timer to avid enthusiast. Near Huntsville, Arrowhead Provincial Park’s immaculately groomed trails offer 28 kilometres of classic skiing and 16 kilometres of skate skiing. Ski packages (skis, boots and poles) are available for rent.

Nestled among old-growth forest just 10 minutes from Parry Sound, Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre has 30 kilometres of trails to explore. Rent equipment at their cozy on-site chalet.

If you’re new to skiing and looking for a fun way to explore on- and off-trail, backcountry skis are the widest and most stable of all types of Nordic skis. Take them for a tour at Liv Outside in Bracebridge, which has equipment rental and trails to explore. For a true backcountry adventure, join Find Your Wild for a guided half- or full-day excursion in Algonquin Park.

Think of these girthy planks as a hybrid between snowshoes and cross-country skis—offering enough traction to climb up hills and enough glide to slide down, with bindings that allow you to wear your regular winter boots. Even better, almost anyone can easily learn the basics in just a couple of hours.

Learn more about the Best Places for Cross-Country Skiing in Ontario.

Spin Forest Trails on a Fat Bike

As an avid cyclist, I love how fat bikes extend the Muskoka riding season right through winter. Fat bikes feature oversized tires for flotation and grip on snowy trails, making these go-anywhere rides the monster trucks of mountain bikes.

Liv Outside in Bracebridge is one of Muskoka’s most accessible fat biking destinations, offering guided and self-guided fat bike adventures throughout the winter. Fat bike adventure packages include bike/helmet rentals, expert advice, a tour guide (optional), and a trail permit for five kilometres of groomed singletrack winter bike trails at their Riverside Bike Park.

Two popular Muskoka resorts also offer on-site fat bike rentals and groomed trails, allowing you to visit for the day or stay for the weekend. Check out the beginner-friendly trails at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville and Muskoka Bay Resort in Gravenhurst.

In Parry Sound, explore 20 kilometres of dedicated fat biking trails with open vistas and tight, winding singletrack over the frozen Canadian shield at Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre.

Learn more about Where to Fat Bike in Ontario.

Get Vertical with Muskoka Ice Climbing

Experience the thrill of climbing high above a frozen lake on beautiful chandelier ice clinging to granite cliffs. For adrenaline-chasers, outdoor adventure doesn’t get more exhilarating than ice climbing in Muskoka.

With 25 years of experience in the region, Liv Outside’s highly recommended Ice Climbing Intro Adventure Day offers quality instruction on some of the best routes in Ontario for beginner to intermediate ice climbers. Perfect for first-timers, you’ll learn the foundational skills and knowledge needed to participate safely and confidently in this exciting winter sport.

Learn more about the Best Ice Climbing Tours and Clinics in Ontario.

Go for a Wildflower Hike

Muskoka’s vibrant forests come alive in spring. Planning a wildflower hike is a perfect way to welcome warmer weather and I find the fleeting beauty of spring wildflowers helps connect me to the ever-changing cycles of nature. If you’re looking for things to do in Muskoka with kids, it’s also a great way for children to learn more about the natural environment in a fun and interactive way.

In late May and early June, look for lady slipper orchids and trilliums among the granite shorelines and hardwood forests of Hardy Lake Provincial Park (3-km and 8-km loop trails), located between Gravenhurst and Bala. Nearby, kids love hunting for carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants in the wetlands at Torrance Barrens Conservation Area. The Main Trail (3.5 km) circles Highland Pond with views of the pond, marsh and surrounding fens.

Just minutes from Huntsville, Limberlost Forest & Wildlife Reserve offers 70 kilometres of scenic trails to lakes, lookouts and mossy woodlands. This privately owned, 10,000-acre reserve is open free to the public and is an ideal place to search the forest floor for delicate spring ephemerals (tiny wildflowers that bloom brilliantly for a short period in early spring).

Grow Your Bird-Watching Life List

Muskoka’s varied and unspoiled landscapes—from mixed forests and freshwater lakes to rock barrens and intimate wetlands—make this region a top choice for bird-watching. Visit in spring, when birds sport their brilliant breeding colours and migration brings an incredible opportunity for bird enthusiasts. Keen birders can spot over 100 species within a single 24-hour period.

Grab your binoculars and make a reservation for Nature Takes Flight, a series of 20 guided birding events across Muskoka from mid-April to mid-May.

For self-guided bird watchers, Muskoka Field Naturalists have compiled a comprehensive list of hot spots throughout the region. One of my favourites is the Cooper’s Falls Trail (8 km each way), part of the Gravenhurst Trans Canada Trail, which traverses the rugged bedrock ridges and interconnected wetlands of the Kahshe Lake Barrens Conservation Reserve.

Head to Algonquin Provincial Park to glimpse Canada’s national bird, the whiskey jack (gray jay), and listen for the enchanting calls of loons across the water. Check out guided birding events and sightings at the Park Visitor Centre.

Remember: the early bird gets the worm! Plan to hit the trails before 8 a.m. to catch the dawn chorus, when songbirds are most active and vocal. Download the free Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify birds through sounds, photos and simple questions.

Learn more about the Best Places to go Bird Watching in Ontario.

Paddle to a Scenic Waterfall

Spring through early summer is the best time to canoe, kayak or paddleboard area rivers and view Muskoka’s numerous spectacular waterfalls. In Bracebridge, join a guided canoe, kayak or SUP paddle on the Muskoka River to scenic South Falls, the region’s highest vertical drop waterfall. Self-guided options and equipment rentals are also available.

On the edge of Algonquin Park, enjoy a half-day wilderness paddle from Oxtongue Lake to spectacular Ragged Falls.

Starting in Arrowhead Provincial Park, Find Your Wild leads a full-day guided standup paddleboarding adventure to Stubb’s Falls and continuing down the sandy meanders of the Big East River.

Camp in a Provincial or National Park

Of all the fun things to do in Muskoka in summer, camping is a top choice for families and adventure-seekers alike. The region boasts 11 provincial parks and a prized national park, so there’s no shortage of outstanding places to pitch your tent.

One of my favourites is Georgian Bay Islands National Park, 63 islands nestled in the heart of the UNESCO Georgian Bay Biosphere, the world’s largest freshwater archipelago. I love that the Park is only accessible by water; you can paddle out to the largest island, Beausoleil Island (about an hour), or take a 15-minute ride on the Park boat from Honey Harbour.

Campers can then paddle, hike or cycle (rentals available) to secluded campsites, oTENTik glamping tents and waterfront cabins. It feels like a totally different world out here. The island’s varied landscapes support the highest diversity of reptiles and amphibians in Ontario, making this a fantastic escape for nature lovers.

Learn more about the Best Provincial Parks in Ontario and Best National Parks in Ontario.

Crank the Canadian Shield

Bracebridge is Muskoka’s newest mountain biking mecca, containing two picturesque and flowy trail systems with plenty of variety for riders of all skill levels. Both systems are managed by the passionate cyclists at the Muskoka Off-Road Cycling Association (MORCA).

The Bracebridge Resource Management Centre (BRMC), is situated near Bracebridge just off Highway 11 North. With 25 kilometres of woodland trails winding along the Muskoka River, the centre offers a great variety of technical and more relaxed trails. Expect mellow flow trails through pine forest and punchy climbs and descents on exposed Canadian Shield.

In 2024, MORCA also began managing the South Monck multi-use trail system—located at the north end of Bracebridge—and have been working on making updates ever since. While the BRMC trails largely run across granite rock, this location has more dirt and sand. You can expect a mix of beginner and intermediate trails that offer a number of ups and downs as they weave around Beaver Creek.

In addition to maintaining the area’s trail networks, MORCA also hosts group rides for all riding abilities weekly on Mondays during the summer, capped by a celebratory fall event called the Granite Grind: a large group ride and barbecue event.

The trails are open spring through fall and once the snow flies, they change to single-track groomed trails for fat biking and snowshoeing.  

Learn more about the Best Mountain Bike Trails in Ontario.

Find more adventures

Need more exciting ideas for your next visit to Ontario’s Near North? Visit Discover Muskoka for even more great trails, adventures and excursions.

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