This February I decided it was time to visit Muskoka – after hearing from everyone in Toronto how beautiful the area is and how it is a ‘must-visit’! We traveled up for the long weekend, completing the 2 hour or so drive from downtown Toronto.
Accomodation –
We stayed in Port Sydney, conveniently located between the towns of Gravenhurst and Hunstville. Whilst not much to do in the near vicinity, it offers an excellent central point between many parks and activities.
3 Pines Lodge was a perfect accommodation for us, with a simple but cozy room to keep us out of the snow storm. It was also a comparatively cheaper option compared to some of the more luxury hotels in Muskoka.
For a full gallery of the Lodge click here!
Trip Activities –
The highlight of the trip, and I would highly recommend a visit in whichever season you are in the area. The Winery has a host of activities, and in the winter season this included a skating trail, snowshoeing, various wine tours and tastings.
We started our visit with a wine tasting, where we were able to sample 8 Wines, a Port and a Cider and learn about the history of the winery. The unique aspect is that it is a cranberry farm, so the wine tastes very different to what you may expect. It was my first experience of Cranberry Wine and I loved it! My personal favorite was a cranberry/blueberry wine. For $25 per person this is a great activity.
After this we rented snowshoes and followed a trail through the forest, which was much needed after the alcohol! There are a variety of trails for those of all abilities to attempt. Rentals are available on-site. There are also fires near the car-park, which in -20c weather were gratefully received.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to skate the ice trail as we hadn’t booked in advance. On Saturday evenings, they light the trail up for a unique experience.
For all the photos from Muskoka Lakes Winery, see here.
Arrowhead in the Winter offers a range of activities fro, snowshoeing to cross-country skiing. The highlight for many people is the 1km skating trail which winds through the forest. In order access the park, you will need a half-day or day pass which can be purchased online here.
We visited on the morning of Family Day and were surprised to not be overwhelmed by cars in the car park and people skating the trail. It was worth the early start to miss the crowds!
The trail is a short walk from the Visitor Center Car Park, along a snowy trail that requires suitable footwear. At the start of the trail, there are fires to keep warm and huts to keep personal belongings. This was much needed in the -22 degree weather we were faced with.
The trail itself is a stunning trip through the trees, so whilst it may be fun to fly around, it is also worth taking it slowly to take in the scenery. The loop takes around 10-15 minutes at a leisurely pace.
Give yourself time to complete the trail a couple of times; I am not a strong skater so found some of the uphills quite tricky. Thankfully there were people of all ages and abilities so I didn’t feel too out of place!
Unfortunately due to an unforeseen snowstorm during the weekend, we missed the chance to visit the Aspen Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is home to a host of animals including moose, arctic fox and bears. They offer two tours a day that costs $35 and last around 90 minutes. I was really looking forward to the opportunity to see the animals up close, but sadly the Sanctuary had to close for two days.
It is definitely on my list for a return trip in the summer!
Huntsville is the largest of the three towns in Muskoka, situated North of both Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.
Despite the snow, a few of the shops and restaurants remained open on limited hours. To avoid the weather, we stopped by Threshold Cafe and Collective, who offered excellent coffee and breakfast snacks.
We then visited the Lions Lookout Skating Rink, which is situated just up the hill from the Canada Summit Center – home to the local ice hockey team and public swimming pools.
Due to the snow, the outdoor rink was a far smaller size than usual and we had to shovel off the snow to skate. However, for the views alone, skating here is worth the extra effort. You are surrounded 360 degrees by trees and feel completely disconnected from the town below.
Definitely add this to your winter activities list!
Conclusion –
Despite the horrible weather conditions and closures of many facilities, we still had a great trip around Muskoka. I would recommend a Winter visit in less tricky conditions, but there are still some fantastic activities like those listed above to be busy with.
I will be back in the Summer to enjoy everything Muskoka has to offer.
1 thought on “Muskoka Winter Trip 2025”
Good shout.