Free
Lake of Bays
A big, many-armed lake between Dorset, Dwight and Baysville.
Home / Guides / Dorset and Lake of Bays
Muskoka and Haliburton, Ontario
Dorset and Lake of Bays
Lake of Bays, with its long arms and islands, seen from the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower. Dorset's old general store, the Frost Centre trails and Ragged Falls are all close by, and Algonquin's West Gate is about half an hour away.
Photo: Lake of Bays from Baysville, Maestroso simplo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake of Bays lives up to its name, with long arms, islands and a shoreline that seems to go on forever. The best way to take it all in is from the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower, perched on a ridge high above the village.
Down in Dorset, Robinson's General Store has sold everything from hardware to groceries for generations. Baysville sits at the lake's south end, and Highway 35 and Highway 60 lead on to Ragged Falls and Algonquin. Be adventurous: bring a paddle.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Frost Centre trails
Hiking and ski trails on the former Leslie M. Frost Centre lands south of Dorset.
Free
Ragged Falls
A powerful falls on the Oxtongue River near Oxtongue Lake, with a short trail.
Free
Highway 35 fall drive
The road from Dorset through the Haliburton Highlands is famous for fall colour.
Cheap
Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower
A lookout tower on a ridge above Dorset with wide views over Lake of Bays.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Dorset village
A small lakeside village on a narrow channel of Lake of Bays.
Free
Bigwin Island
An island in Lake of Bays, once home to the grand Bigwin Inn.
Free
Algonquin Park West Gate
The start of the Highway 60 corridor, about 30 minutes from Dwight.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Baysville village
A village at the south end of the lake, with a dam and shops.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower
Tower admission.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Part of our Muskoka guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Fall colour from the tower is best in the early morning light.
- Algonquin's West Gate is about 30 minutes from Dwight, so make it a two-day trip.
- Evenings on the lake are quiet, starry and well worth staying for.
Nearby and worth the drive
Huntsvilleabout 30 min · Guide ↗
Murals and Lions Lookout.
Algonquin Parkabout 35 min · Guide ↗Highway 60 trails and lookouts.
Haliburtonabout 40 min · Guide ↗Lakes and the sculpture forest.
Ready-made trips with Dorset and Lake of Bays
Good to know
- Tower: The lookout tower is seasonal: Township of Lake of Bays.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Lake of Bays from Baysville, Maestroso simplo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park, Helena Jacoba, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dorset Ontario, P199, CC BY 2.5
Photo: The West Gate of Algonquin Park, Mac Armstrong, CC BY-SA 2.0