On summer evenings, Huntsville bustles with the Canadians who live in Muskoka. The small town is the hub of the Muskoka region, with cultural institutions, restaurants and transportation connections. Visit Huntsville to gather supplies for a backwoods vacation or linger to appreciate the atmosphere and get a sense of the region’s cultural life.
Stroll slowly down Main Street, which features art, restaurants and handcrafted souvenirs. Tour on foot or by tourist bus through the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery, whose 90 mural-size replicas of the septet’s most famous works provide an introduction to the art as well as the region’s natural beauties. Explore the long history of the district at Muskoka Heritage Place, with a museum, a replica village and even a train.
Huntsville is surrounded by natural beauty. Spend the day hiking, biking or even snowshoeing on miles of the Limberlost Trails and be home in time for dinner. In the winter, enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the ice-skating trails of Arrowhead Provincial Park, which offers hiking and beachside relaxation in warmer months.
At the end of the day, climb to the top of the Lions Lookout in town for panoramic views of the towns and the surrounding hills as the setting sun turns the sky red and purple.
In the center of Muskoka, Hunstville is easily accessible from most parts of the district. Drive from North Bay or Barrie in just over 1 hour or from Toronto in about 2.5 hours. The closest major airport is in Toronto. Bus services provide connections between Pearson International Airport and Huntsville. There are smaller airports in the vicinity, namely in North Bay. A very limited regional bus network operates in Huntsville and the surroundings, but the area is generally best explored with a personal vehicle.
Once you’ve visited the delights of Huntsville, use it as a base for daily explorations of nearby Algonquin Provincial Park, whose miles of trails would take a lifetime to explore.
