Free
Lions Lookout
A short drive up from downtown to a rocky lookout over Fairy Lake, the town and the hills. One of the best views in Muskoka.
Muskoka, Ontario
Huntsville
Muskoka's northern town: a downtown full of Group of Seven murals, a lookout over the lakes, and Algonquin Park's west gate about 45 minutes away.
Photo: Huntsville and the river seen from Lions Lookout, Huntsville Ontario, CC BY 2.0
Huntsville sits between Fairy Lake and Hunters Bay on the Muskoka River. Its small, walkable downtown is painted with dozens of murals recreating Group of Seven paintings, so a coffee run doubles as an art walk.
The big adventures are just outside town. Arrowhead Provincial Park is on the edge of Huntsville, and Highway 60 runs through Algonquin Provincial Park past lookouts and short trails. Keep your eyes on the ditches, because moose like it there too.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Hunters Bay Trail
An easy town trail along the water and through woods, linking parts of town. Good for a short walk.
Cheap
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Just north of town: Stubb's Falls, Big East River trails, a beach, and in winter a skating trail through the forest.
Cheap
Algonquin Park: Highway 60 trails
Short trails along the Highway 60 corridor, Lookout Trail, Track and Tower, Beaver Pond and more. A day-use permit is required.
Cheap
Algonquin Visitor Centre
Exhibits on the park's wildlife and history, with a viewing deck over a wide valley. Inside Algonquin on Highway 60.
Paid
Canoe Lake paddle
Rent a canoe in Algonquin and paddle the lake made famous by painter Tom Thomson. Rentals are seasonal.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery
Dozens of large murals recreating Group of Seven paintings on downtown walls. Wander and find them.
Free
Downtown Main Street
A compact riverside main street with shops and cafés, beside the swing bridge.
Cheap
Algonquin Logging Museum
An outdoor trail through logging history inside Algonquin, with a camboose camp and an old alligator tug.
Paid
Muskoka Heritage Place
A pioneer village and museum in Huntsville, with the Portage Flyer steam train running in season.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Fall colour drives
In late September and early October, the drives around Huntsville and along Highway 60 are among Ontario's best-known fall colour routes.
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.
Algonquin canoe rental
Rent a canoe, kayak or gear for a paddle in Algonquin Park.
Algonquin day-use permit
Daily vehicle permit for the Highway 60 corridor. Reserve ahead in fall colour season.
Portage Flyer steam train
A short ride on a restored steam train at Muskoka Heritage Place.
Season Train and village open roughly mid-May–mid-Oct (check before you go).
Part of our Muskoka guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Algonquin's Highway 60 trails deserve a full day, and Huntsville is the closest town with plenty of beds.
- Arrowhead's Stubb's Falls and the Lions Lookout are made for an evening wander or an early morning.
- In fall colour season, the roads and trails are calmest at sunrise. You need to be here already.
Nearby and worth the drive
Bracebridgeabout 35 min · Guide ↗
Five waterfalls and a riverside downtown.
Algonquin Park (West Gate)about 45 min · Guide ↗Lookouts, short trails and moose country along Highway 60.
Ready-made trips with Huntsville
2 days · Bracebridge → Huntsville
Muskoka waterfalls and Algonquin
Five waterfalls around Bracebridge, then Lions Lookout and the Highway 60 trails of Algonquin.
3 days · Gravenhurst → Bracebridge → Huntsville
Muskoka lakes loop
A steamship from Gravenhurst, Bracebridge's waterfalls, then Huntsville's lookouts.
3 days · Huntsville → Algonquin Park and Whitney → Haliburton Highlands
Through Algonquin on Highway 60
West Gate to East Gate: lookouts, moose and canoe lakes, then south to the Haliburton lakes.
Good to know
- Tourism: huntsville.ca and discovermuskoka.ca.
- Algonquin: Day-use permits are needed in the park; check algonquinpark.on.ca and Ontario Parks for reservations in peak fall colour.
- 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: Huntsville and the river seen from Lions Lookout, Huntsville Ontario, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Fall colour from the Centennial Ridges Trail lookout, Algonquin Park, Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Canoe Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park, Mykola Swarnyk, CC BY-SA 3.0