Boating On The Other Muskoka Lakes

For more than 150 years, Ontario’s Muskoka region has been a summer escape. And summer escapes invariably include boats when you’re in a region with so many lakes. The Big Three: Lake Joseph, Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau get a lot of love. A disproportionate amount of it, if you ask those who love the other lakes in Muskoka. 

Admittedly, they have the largest communities (Gravenhurst and Bracebridge) and the historical-and-still current luxury pedigree (JW Marriott The Rosseau and Windermere House). But there are other lakes that deserve the same love and are more than worth a visit.

Here are a few of the must see’s outside the Big 3: 

Lake of Bays

Lake of Bays is a boater’s paradise, clear deep waters ringed by forested shorelines and dotted with more than 400 islands, yet getting on the water is remarkably straightforward. The township maintains over a dozen public launch sites – from the well-equipped Baysville Boat Launch at 13 North Road to the sheltered ramps at Baysville Dam Park and Baysville East Dock – all offering paved access, docks, parking and washrooms. Whether you tow a runabout, hitch a pontoon or load a canoe, you’ll find a ramp within a 15-minute drive of every major hamlet.

For those who prefer to leave navigation to the pros, SS Bigwin Cruises delivers a historic twist. Climb aboard the lovingly restored 1910 steamship at Dorset’s town docks and glide past granite cliffs, whispered legends and uninhabited islands. Public departures run May through October, and ticket holders gain free entry to the adjacent Marine Museum for a deep dive into local nautical lore. Private charters and weddings are also available, making it easy to craft a bespoke lake experience.

Lake of Bays Marina in Dwight and Dorset offers a turnkey option with pontoon and bow-rider rentals, guided fishing trips and full-service docking. With two locations just off Highway 35, the marina’s rental fleet and on-water tours cater to families, anglers and sightseers alike. Launch directly into Trading Bay for a cruise under the Dorset Lookout Tower or point east toward Bigwin Island’s championship golf course.

From self-drive boat ramps to century-old steamers and bespoke pontoon charters, Lake of Bays blends accessibility with adventure. Pack a picnic, load the paddleboard or simply grab your lifejacket. As soon as your bow slides into the blue, you’ll understand why this lake remains a Muskoka icon.

Peninsula Lake

Peninsula Lake sits at the heart of Huntsville’s waterfront, its emerald basin ringed by resorts, marinas and wooded parks. Long before roads reached these shores, voyageurs and steamboat passengers crossed the narrow neck of land at Dwight on foot or canoe – a 1.8-kilometre portage carrying them from Peninsula Lake’s steamers onto Lake of Bays. In 1905 that hand-hewn trail gave way to the Huntsville & Lake of Bays Railway (the “Portage Flyer”), a narrow-gauge line that hauled visitors, freight and tanbark across the grade for 55 years. Today you can still ride a replica Portage Flyer at Muskoka Heritage Place, but the waterfront is defined more by leisure than labor.

Just west of the old portage docks, Deerhurst Resort anchors Peninsula Lake’s south shore. Since opening its doors in 1896, Deerhurst has grown from a rustic lodge into a full-service destination, offering lakeside villas, championship golf, a four-season spa and a private marina. Summer guests launch Hobie Cats or kayaks from its sandy beach; winter visitors swap the bow for skis at the adjacent Hidden Valley Ski Hill.

Hidden Valley Resort’s slopes rise just above the Deerhurst shoreline, providing 16 runs of groomed trails and a night-ski canopy that lights the pines after dark. Its ski-in cabins and chalet dining overlook Peninsula Lake, so you can carve fresh powder at dawn then dip into the heated outdoor pool by afternoon.

Fairy Lake

No need for a railway here, a natural connection between Peninsula Lake and Fairy Lake was expanded to make room for steamships heading to Deerhurst and the Portage from Huntsville. Today it’s a well travelled route for boaters. Go slow and remember it gets shallow at the sides so be patient and no wake!

Years ago the sprawling Grandview Resort was on the shores of this lake, but now there it’s almost entirely private cottages. Almost! You can spend a few days on the shores of this beauty of a lake at the Fairy Bay Lake House. It began life in 1997 as a charming lakeside guesthouse and was fully renovated in November 2021 to become a nine-room boutique retreat on two acres of prime Huntsville shoreline. Guests enjoy 240 ft of sandy beach access for canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming, all framed by the rolling hills and cliffs of the Canadian Shield. Situated on Fairy Lake’s southwest shore, it offers direct water-trail links via boat to Peninsula Lake, Lake Vernon and Mary Lake, making it a hub for both land- and lake-based exploration. With private en-suite bathrooms, in-room climate control, smart-device connectivity and a waterfront lounge stocked with books and board games, Fairy Bay Lakehouse blends Muskoka cottage comfort with upscale amenities.

Downtown Huntsville (Muskoka River) 

 

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While not a lake, it is a large body of water that connects Fairy Lake to Lake Vernon.  And it’s home to one of the larger communities in Muskoka. Huntsville offers more than 150 curated activities year-round, from hiking and paddling to arts and live events. You can paddle into adventure with same-day canoe, kayak, or SUP rentals from Algonquin Outfitters right off the town docks. The free Huntsville Town Docks welcome day cruisers to tie up and explore downtown’s shops, galleries, and festivals.  The old swing bridge doesn’t move anymore but remains a vital link.  Both sides of the river have waterfront restaurants and shops a short walk away.

Lake Vernon

Similar to Fairy Lake, this has no major hotel or resort like Deerhurst on Pen Lake (as locals sometimes call it). But that makes it closer to a hidden gem than an over-run lake.  And if you’re land-based and like the beach – I’m speaking to my fellow parents in particular here – you’ll want to make the super short trip from downtown Hunstville to Hutcheson Beach. Spanning just over 100 m of sandy shoreline on Lake Vernon, it boasts shallow, warmer waters, an accessible ramp, and abundant play amenities such as floats, play structures, swings, picnic areas, and a covered pavilion. Nestled amid shaded grass and mature trees, it offers stunning views of Centreview Island and even floatplane spotting.

Mary Lake

Mary Lake is a glacially carved basin covering 1,065.5 ha at an elevation of 280.7 m with a maximum depth of 56.3 m and eight islands, likely ancient volcanic pipes, including Crown Island, Dead Man’s Island and the Isle of Pines . The lake drains via the North Muskoka River and connects at its southern end to Fairy Lake through navigation locks. Renowned for fishing, its waters host lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, burbot and brook trout. 

Mary Lake Marina provides rentals of pontoon boats, bowriders, fishing boats and personal watercraft for daily use. Since 1885, the same family has run Clyffe House Cottage Resort. In 2025 they welcome guests in nine cottages set within a 20-acre valley, featuring a soft sandy beach with firm shallows allowing children to wade safely over 100 ft and inclusive packages offering tennis, beach volleyball, canoes, paddle boats, electric fishing boats, kayaks, firewood and BBQ propane . Established in 1927, 3 Pines Lodge features superior suites with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, refrigerators and continental breakfasts served lakeside plus a bar, terrace, private beach area and fire pit for evening gatherings. 

The nearby town of Huntsville, on ancestral Anishinaabe territory, was first settled by Captain George Hunt in 1869, saw the construction of Brunel Road locks in 1876 to improve navigation, was incorporated as a village in 1886 and as a town in 1901. A historical marker commemorates the 1880 dyke built to prevent North Muskoka River siltation of the lake channel. Muskoka Bible Centre marks its 95th anniversary with carnival games, golf-cart parades, community BBQs, prayer-garden dedications and archival displays reflecting nine decades of ministry, tracing its origins to a 1930 youth camp and the 1931 purchase of a 117-acre farmhouse property where early chapel sessions were held on the porch Whether seeking boating adventures, angling excursions or a tranquil retreat steeped in history, Mary Lake delivers an authentic Muskoka experience.

Whether you stay for a multi-day stay at a waterfront resort, rent a boat or trailer your own, the Muskoka region has seemingly endless opportunities for you to get out and enjoy the sparkling waters. 

There are some boat tours and rentals available but also plenty of public launches that you can find here.

And you can sort through the best hotel options in the region here for you here. 

Author Steven Bull is the host of Water Ways TV

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Destination Ontario