Picturesque Muskoka

Muskoka is a photographer’s paradise. There are opportunities for gorgeous shots at every turn, in every season and in any type of weather. The attached photos were taken by our very own (and talented!) Ben Howell.

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Here are some tips for capturing your own amazing photos in Muskoka:

1. Listen with your eyes. Some shots will leap up and shout “look here” while others are more subtle. Look beyond the obvious and you’ll find some stellar shots in unexpected places.
2. Love the light. Early morning and dusk are the golden hours of photography. The light is soft and casts gentle highlights on your subject making your pics look like they were taken by a pro. And there’s the added bonus of a gorgeous sunrise or sunset.
3. Remember the rule of thirds. Your subject doesn’t have to be centered in your lens but it should be balanced. By imagining that your photo is divided in threes (both vertically and horizontally) and aligning your subject either with one of the lines or where they intersect, your photo will automatically look more balanced.
4. Find a new angle. Getting closer to ground level or finding other unusual angles can add interest to your shots.
5. Remember your memory (card). The beauty of digital cameras is that you can take lots of photos and trash the ones you don't like. The more photos you take, the more likely you are to come away with one you like.

Check out these spots near Colonial Bay for some fun photo ops:

• Our beach and dock, naturally (it doesn’t get much closer than that!)
• Oxtongue Rapids, just up highway 60 past Dwight
• Ragged Falls, just outside the West gate to Algonquin Park
• Lions Lookout, in the heart of Huntsville behind the Canada Summit Centre
• Algonquin Park, along the Highway 60 corridor – wildlife can often be spotted from the highway and there are many short trails and scenic viewpoints that offer instant gratification if you’re in a hurry (but you’re on vacation so you’re not in a hurry, right?)

If you have some favorite photos taken while you stayed at Colonial Bay, share them with us on our Facebook page. We’d love to see them!

Just a reminder that Father’s Day and the July long weekend are fast approaching. You can book rooms online here.

See you soon!
Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben and Addie

Summer’s Here! (Shhhh…don’t tell anyone)

It’s seems that summer has arrived in Muskoka. After some wet and gloomy days, we’re enjoying summer temperatures (30C yesterday!). The lake is warming up, the dock is out and the boats are in the water. The only thing missing is you! (Insert you in one of the chairs at right.) Here’s what you can look forward to at Colonial Bay and the surrounding area in June.

• All month long: swimming, boating, and relaxing by the water!
• June 1 Reel Paddling at Algonquin Theatre
• June 18-19 Model Railway Exposition at the Canada Summit Centre (hosted by the Huntsville Train Station Society)
• June 19 Father’s Day – take Dad fishing, golfing, canoeing, or hiking in Muskoka!
• June 21 National Aboriginal Day at Muskoka Heritage Place
• June 25-26 Muskoka Triathlon & Duathlon - There’s still time to register for both the sprint and long course races! Or come out and cheer on the competitors.
• July 1 Canada Day Celebrations & Fireworks

Did you know we're on Facebook and Twitter too? Follow us to see new pictures and get updates on what’s happening at Colonial Bay.

From our family to yours,
Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben & Addie

Victoria Day Long Weekend at Colonial Bay

The long weekend is behind us and our guests tell us they had a fantastic time. Some golfed at Grandview, others visited Algonquin Park or sampled the yummy treats at Henrietta's Bakery, but most spent the weekend hanging out at Colonial Bay. On Saturday, a flotilla of canoes and a rowboat ventured out onto Pen Lake. Some brave souls tested the water with some swimming. They said the water was great! (The warm afternoon sun helped to keep the chill off). And lots of people were fishing from the canoes and the dock. Saturday night ended with the annual Wight family fireworks display.

Missed out on the fireworks? The July long weekend is just over a month away. There are celebrations across Muskoka including fireworks in both Huntsville and Dwight and an old-fashioned Strawberry Social at Muskoka Heritage Place. Come and celebrate Canada Day in Muskoka!

Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben and Addie

Take a Hike! (in Muskoka)

While Muskoka is known for its abundant waterways, opportunities abound to get out on the trails and enjoy nature from dry land. From trails at the water’s edge to those deep in the forest, hiking offers the chance to get up close and personal with Muskoka’s beauty. There are several trails just a short distance from Colonial Bay:

• Oxtongue Rapids Hiking Trail – 15 km east of Colonial Bay, just off Highway 60. This gem is just a short drive away and is a beautiful spot for a picnic. (The photo above was taken there in the Fall.)




• Ronville Hiking Trail – 15 km southeast of Colonial Bay off Highway 35. This 1.2 km cliffside hike offers views of Lake of Bays.




• Fairy Vista Trail – 7 km west of Colonial Bay alongside Highway 60. This 3.4 km paved trail is suitable for both walking and cycling. It offers varied scenery including forest, farmland and views of Fairy Lake.




• Huntsville Mural Walk – 12 km west of Colonial Bay in the heart of Huntsville. For a more urban experience, this walk takes you through Downtown Huntsville to view the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery.




• Limberlost Forest Reserve Trails – 10 km north of Colonial Bay on Limberlost Road. This network of 70 km of trails is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 8pm (check in at the office before heading to the trails).

For maps and directions to these trails and more, visit these links:
Lake of Bays trails
Huntsville trails
Limberlost Reserve trails

There are also an abundance of trails in both Arrowhead Provincial Park and Algonquin Provincial Park (park fees apply). You can find information about the trails here:
Arrowhead Park trails
Algonquin Park trials

Whether you prefer an easy stroll or a challenging hike, Muskoka offers it all. The next time you stay with us, why not check out a few of them and then head back to Colonial Bay for a refreshing swim.

We had a fantastic long weekend and will post some photos soon.

From our family to yours,
Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben & Addie

The Call of the Wild

The mournful call of the loon is one of Muskoka’s most recognizable sounds. In late April or early May (almost as soon as the ice is out), the return of the loons is a sure sign that Spring has arrived even if Mother Nature is trying to convince us otherwise.

We’ve been fortunate to have a pair of mating loons visit us at Colonial Bay and thought we’d share some interesting loon facts with you.

• Loons mate for life and build their nests close to the water’s edge, affording both adults and newly hatched young a quick escape. Chicks can swim and dive within hours of hatching but will sometimes ride on a parents’ back when they are tired or cold.


• While a loon’s streamlined body and strong webbed feet make it an excellent swimmer and diver, on land they are capable of only a slow waddle using their wings as crutches. Their flying talents aren’t much better: with dense bones and short wings built more for swimming, a loon must run and flap at the surface for a long distance, between 20 and 400 meters, to get enough speed for lift off. Their manoeuverability in the air is equally limited. They do, however, have enough stamina to fly to the Atlantic coast where they overwinter.


• Loons are exceptional divers and can remain underwater for up to 3 minutes, often resurfacing a long distance from where they submerged. They dive 2-5 meters below the surface to catch perch and minnows. The attached video (from Minnesota, not Muskoka, unfortunately) shows rare footage of a loon swimming underwater with scuba divers.

• They have four distinct calls which can be heard 2-3 kilometers away.


• The loon is Ontario’s official bird.


• 5,000-year-old loon pictographs have been found on cliffs scattered around the Great Lakes region.

The next time you visit us, listen carefully for the distinctive calls of these beautiful creatures.

Up next: May long weekend, the ‘official’ beginning of cottage season, starts Friday. We still have a few cottages available – why not join us?

Let the fun begin!
Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben and Addie

Water, Water, Everywhere

Muskoka is renowned for its abundance of lakes. Roads meander all over the map avoiding water here and water there so that sometimes it seems the most direct route anywhere is not “as the crow flies” but as the canoe glides.

If you do want to get out on the water, there are many options for canoeing and kayaking in Muskoka, whether you launch from our own beach or travel further afield to explore some of the region’s other waterways. You can find a detailed map of local canoe routes here. (The map covers Algonquin Park, Lake of Bays and north Muskoka as far west as Huntsville.)

Prefer something with a little more speed? Larger watercraft can be rented from local marinas. (But remember that you’ll need a BOATsmart license to operate any type of powered watercraft.)

However you choose to experience Muskoka’s waterways, here are some safety tips to help ensure your trip is pleasantly memorable:

• Wear a life jacket. The law requires you to have one per person in the boat, but remember that a personal floatation device is only helpful if you’re actually wearing it.


• Watch the weather and plan accordingly. Wind and rain can be more than just an uncomfortable inconvenience. High winds can topple a small craft. Heavy rain can quickly fill a hull. And if there’s any sign of lightning, get off the water. In hot weather, hats & sunscreen will help to prevent sunburns and heatstroke.


• Stay within your limits. Keep both your boating skills and the swimming ability of everyone onboard when you plan your route.


• Keep additional safety equipment onboard: a spare paddle, a bailer or water pump, a whistle, navigation lights if you plan to travel after sunset, a throw-line, and a water-tight first aid kit. Duct-tape can be useful for repairs.

As always, we’re happy to answer any questions you have about local activities. Just ask!

The May long weekend is fast approaching and we still have a few cottages available. Call us at 1-800-916-2008 or you can book online here.

We look forward to seeing you this Spring!
Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben & Addie

Beavers and badgers and bears...oh my!

Spring is an ideal time to view wildlife in Muskoka. Some of our local critters are just coming out of hibernation, the ones that endured the winter conditions can now move more freely with the snow and ice gone, and others are moving back into the area after heading south for the winter. And with leaf cover just starting to come in, it’s easier to spot them as they go about their daily lives.

Here are some tips for viewing wildlife in Muskoka (and anywhere else, really):

• Get up early. While it’s possible to see animals at any time of day, many are most active in early morning or late evening (dusk).




• Be patient and observant. Walking slowly or sitting quietly for a few minutes can make smaller animals in particular easier to spot.




• Go where the animals are. You can sometimes see wildlife from the highway, but for the best views you’ll need to get out of your car. Visit local trails or get out in a canoe.




• Look for specific wildlife habitat and signs. Moose are forest animals but can often be found in marshy areas in the spring and where there’s a beaver lodge there’s bound to be a beaver.




• Keep your distance. They are wild animals, after all, and cute doesn’t necessarily mean cuddly. Bring binoculars for a close-up view.




• Don’t forget your camera. You never know where an animal might pop up. Be prepared and you’ll have a picture to show off to everyone at home instead of just having a story to tell.

The Algonquin Visitor Centre is a good source of information about local plants and animals. You can also see orphaned or injured animals that have been rescued and rehabilitated at the Muskoka Wildlife Center and Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Be sure to call ahead for hours of operation.

Here at Colonial Bay, the loons are back on the lake, deer are pruning the shrubs for us, and we eagerly await visits of the human kind (that means you!). We still have some cottages available for the May long weekend and beyond.

From our family to yours,
Bruce, Nicolle, Luke, Ben and Addie