Enjoying Fiery Fall Colours

Autumn is a great time to hit the open road: sunny blue skies, crisp air, gorgeous colours and less

traffic. If you’re planning to visit Muskoka this fall, here are some classic drives, tours and hikes you should try out.

Classic fall drives

Lake of Bays tour:  approx. 90 km (1.5 hours or more, depending on the number of times you stop)

• From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 east through Dwight to Highway 35.
• Turn right onto Highway 35 to Dorset. (If you have time, the hike up to the Dorset Fire Tower provides a beautiful vantage point over Lake of Bays.)
• Right onto Highway 117 to Baysville. (If you detour along Old Highway 117 to Norway Point, you can arrange for a water taxi to Bigwin Island.)
• Right onto Brunel Road in Baysville.
• Right onto South Portage Road (Muskoka Road 9).
• Left onto Highway 60 and back to Colonial Bay.

Huntsville Chain of Lakes tour: approx. 100 km (2+ hours, depending on the number of stops)

• From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 East to South Portage Road (Muskoka Road 9).
• Right on South Portage (Muskoka Road 9) to Muskoka Road 23
• Right on Muskoka Road 23 back to Highway 60 (You have just circled Peninsula Lake)
• Left on Highway 60 to Highway 11 (Passing Fairy Lake)
• Left onto Highway 11
• Right on Ravenscliffe Road
• Left on E Fox Lake Road
• Left on Hoodstown Road (Muskoka Road 45)
• Right on South Drive (still Muskoka Road 45)
• Left on Etwell Road
• Left on Aspdin Road (You have just circled Lake Vernon)
• Right on Highway 11 to Port Sydney
• Right on Muskoka Road 10 through Port Sydney (Passing Mary Lake). Consider stopping for a picnic lunch at the public beach in Port Sydney.
• Left on Brunel Road to Huntsville (If you have time, stop at the Brunel Locks and watch the boats or at Lions Lookout above the Canada Summit Centre for a sweeping view of Fairy Lake and the Town of Huntsville)
• Right on Main Street
• Right on Highway 60 and back to Colonial Bay

Algonquin Park Tour: approx. 180 km to the East Gate of Algonquin Park and back (3+ hours depending on how often you stop)

• From Colonial Bay, take Highway 60 East to Algonquin Park (a visitor’s pass is required for the park - you can purchase one at the West Gate) 
• The drive through the park is beautiful and offers abundant opportunities for short hikes or viewpoints.

Hiking

The viewing deck at the Algonquin Visitor’s Centre (at km 43) will give you the most accessible panoramic view in the park or check out these trails: Hardwood Lookout (13.8km); Track and Tower (25km); Centennial Ridges 37.6km); Lookout Trail (39.7km) and Booth's Rock Trail (40.3km). For other hiking trails in the area, check here.

Guided Tour

Don’t like to drive but still want to take in the scenery? Check out this tour offered by the Town of Huntsville during Thanksgiving:

Guided Tour of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery, Saturday October 12^th – Thanksgiving Weekend!!

Photo courtesy of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery

Take a guided bus tour of the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery in Huntsville and outlying communities.  This tour will feature a collection of world-class re-production murals celebrating the unique artwork of Canada's Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven.   The tour travels through Huntsville, Dwight, Port Cunnington, Dorset, Baysville and back to the Town of Huntsville.  Includes lunch at Port Cunnington Lodge and a stop for brewery samplings.  All of this with the spectacular backdrop of nature's fall colours.  Meet at Algonquin Theatre, Tom Thomson statue at 8:45am. Tour Guide and transportation included.  Bring visiting family and friends on this fabulous Thanksgiving weekend event.  Tour Guide: Gerry Lantaigne, Artistic Director.  Seats are limited, so register early!

8:45am-5:30pm

$95.00 per person

LINK for more information: http://huntsville.ca/en/living/LeisurePrograms.asp

LINK to Register online:

https://onlineca.activecommunities.com/huntsville/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp and click on Adult Programs. Online registration number: 12682.

Classic Cars

Photo via the Downtown Huntsville BIA

If you’re not up for the drive but want to see some classic cars, check out the Shades of Autumn Antique, Classic and Custom Car Show this weekend on Huntsville’s Main Street:

If four wheels are your passion, this one day car show is an adventure that will accelerate your heart rate. 300 exhibits up and down the main drag, trophies and door prizes – this is one automotive competition that you can take in on two feet.

We hope to see you soon, or if you’re just driving past give us a honk on your way by. There are still some waterfront cottages available for the Thanksgiving long weekend. If you’ve never visited Muskoka in the fall, why not now?

The Howell Family

Fall in (love with) Muskoka

You love Muskoka, don’t you? We know that if you’ve visited us once before (or many times), then you must. We don’t think it’s possible to come here and not be touched by Muskoka's natural beauty, charming towns and fabulous people. 

If there were ever a best time to fall in love with Muskoka, Autumn is probably it: warm days (mostly…), cool nights, a show of colour that gets better with each passing day and lots to see and experience without the crowds of summer. 

If you're planning to visit this month, here’s a taste of what’s happening for the rest of September in Muskoka:

• The display of gorgeous fall color has started but isn’t at its peak yet (that means there’s still time for you to get here to see it). In Muskoka, most areas are reporting 5-20% change while Algonquin Park is reporting 40% change. If you’re on Facebook, watch our page for photos or check out Algonquin Park’s photo stream for theirs.
• Film North, the Huntsville International Film Festival, presents a selection of Canadian and international films at the Algonquin Theatre from September 20-22.
• The Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour runs the next two weekends, September 22-23 and 29-30. Visit with local artists in their studios and see them in action!
• Culture Days celebrates the arts and cultural life in communities across Canada on September 28-30. There are creative events and activities happening across Muskoka. Check out the calendar of events to see what’s on.
• Northwords Muskoka Literary Festival runs from September 28-30 with author presentations, workshops and special events. If you love books, this event is for you!
• For all you cyclists out there (of both the road and mountain variety), The Muskoka Bicycle Festival celebrates all things bikes on Saturday, September 29.

As always, we’re happy to see you any time of year but if you’ve never come for a visit in the Fall then check out the availability of our waterfront cottages and experience what some call Muskoka’s most spectacular season.

The Howell Family

Fabulous Fall in Muskoka

Fall 2011 at Colonial Bay

Huntsville Fall Fair
September 21-23, 2012 at the Huntsville Fairgrounds, Ravenscliffe Rd.
-Midway, Live Music, Horse and Livestock Shows, Exhibits, Contests and More!
Huntsville Fall Fair
September 21-23, 2012 at the Huntsville Fairgrounds, Ravenscliffe Rd.
-Midway, Live Music, Horse and Livestock Shows, Exhibits, Contests and More!

While it’s not yet officially Fall (September 22 gets that honour), the cooler nights, shorter days and changing leaf colours signal that the change in seasons is not far off. It’s a beautiful time to visit Muskoka – the busy-ness of summer has subsided but the weather is still warm enough for hiking, biking, boating and swimming.

It’s also a time to celebrate the Fall harvest at one of our region’s annual Fall Fairs. With everything from horse shows and tractor pulls to artists and local growers, a fall fair is an excellent way to glimpse the diversity of rural life in Muskoka. Here are the local fairs happening in September:

South River Fall Fair

September 7-9, 2012 at the South River Community Centre, 1A Lincoln Ave (West off Hwy 11 & Ottawa Ave)

-Variety Show, Mutt Show, Exhibits, Western & Light Horse Show, Heavy Horse Pull, Parade, Lumberjack Competitions, Horseshoe Pitching Contest, Poultry Show, Livestock Displays, Children’s Games

Stisted Fall Fair "A Little Country Fair, with a Big Country Heart"..

September 8, 2012 at the Stisted Fairgrounds, Etwell Rd.

-Exhibits, Horse Shows, Egg Toss, Swede Saw, Nail Driving, Shoe Kick, 3-Legged Race, Corn Roast and more 

Bracebridge Fall Fair

September 14-16, 2012 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds, 331 Fraserburg Rd.

-Midway, Live Music, Tractor Pull, Horse and Livestock Shows, Exhibits, Chainsaw Carving and more!

Whether you choose to take in a Fall Fair or not, the Fall colors are worth a visit to Muskoka all on their own. Mother Nature follows her own calendar so be sure to check the Fall Colour Reports for Muskoka and Algonquin Park before you head out. And if you’ve ever wondered why the leaves change colour, check out this article by HuntsvilleAdventures.com.

We hope you’ll come to visit us this month, particularly if you’ve never experienced Fall in Muskoka. It’s an amazing sight! You can view the availability of our waterfront cottages here.

Happy Travelling,

The Howell Family