Best in Canada
If you needed any more reason to choose Muskoka as your leaf peeping destination! Aside from the stunning colours, Muskoka is praised for the fun and exciting ways to experience the fall colours, including boat cruises, helicopter tours, ATV tours, zip line excursions, and kayaking adventures.
Fall Colour Guide
These dates are our best guess for when to see the fall colours this year. Please note, these are just educated guesses based on historical trends. There are many factors that affect when the fall colours will be best for viewing, and these conditions and dates may change slightly from year to year.
- Early fall colour viewing opportunities: September 24 – September 30
- Peak maple fall colour viewing opportunities: October 1 – October 12
- Peak golden encore fall colour viewing opportunities: October 13 – 21
If you plan on visiting Muskoka this fall, bookmark this page so you get the most up-to-date report.
By the Water’s Edge
Book a stay at one of Muskoka’s incredible Resorts or Inns like Bayview Wildwood, Beachside Cottages on Lake Muskoka or Patterson Kaye Resort. While you’re there, kick back with a cold drink (like a local seasonal one) and get to relaxing. Drink in the colour changing scenery as you drink in a delicious brew. Here are a few good suggestions:
Muskoka Brewery’s Harvest Ale
Lake of Bays Brewing Co Pumpkin Ale
Take a Cruise
Muskoka boasts six fall cruises that will take you out to view the colours by water. Witnessing the majestic colours aboard one of these masterful vessels that ply the beautiful Muskoka waterways is an experience worth reliving again and again.
- Muskoka Steamships in Gravenhurst
- Sunset Cruises in Port Carling
- Muskoka Cruises in Port Carling
- Island Queen Cruise in Parry Sound
From the Trails
Fall is perfect for hiking: the cooler temperatures and natural beauty combined create the ideal hiking season. Fall is fleeting, so take the opportunity to experience a fall hike in Muskoka before it gets too chilly to be outdoors for extended periods of time. Here are 5 breathtaking hikes that allow you to fully appreciate Muskoka’s autumn glow.
Huckleberry Rock Lookout Trail – Milford Bay
Cranberry Hiking Trails – Bala
Hardy Lake, Outside of Torrance
Oxtongue River – Right outside Algonquin Park
Beetle Lake Trail – Dwight
Serene Morning Paddle
There is no better time to go for a canoe or kayak than a crisp Autumn morning. The mist slowly clears away, and the beautiful fall colours appear to be on fire with the burning sun finally touching down on them. We’ve got a number of outfitters right on the water that rent canoes, with recommended routes for you to take:
Liv Outside in Bracebridge
Algonquin Outfitters in Huntsville & Oxtongue Lake
The Portage Store in Algonquin Park
Swift Outdoor Centre in Georgian Bay
Stay at a Resorts in Muskoka – offer kayaks and canoes
From the Highest of Heights – Muskoka’s Lookouts
The best vantage point to see the colours is from above, and the best way to catch a view is from a refreshing hike. A few of the most popular lookout points are:
Lion’s Lookout in Huntsville
Huckleberry Rock in Muskoka Lakes
Track and Tower in Algonquin Park
Walker’s Point Lookout Trail in Walker’s Point
Dorset Lookout Tower in the Township of Algonquin Highlands
On the Links
Muskoka is widely renowned as the best golf destination in Canada, and with good reason. Stay and Play rates in the fall are the best of the year, and so too are the views from a colourful fall background.
However you choose to enjoy the fall colours, the best place to do it is here in beautiful Muskoka!
In the Trees 
Zip lining through a canopy of coloured leaves is a remarkable feeling! The crisp fall air tickles your face and a blur of colours passes you by as you zip from tree-to-tree.
Treetop Trekking in Huntsville.
High in the Sky
Cottage Air Inc. Cottage Air Inc. offers clients throughout Ontario a secure and private charter flight to cottage country.
HovR Aviation based out of the Muskoka Airport in Gravenhurst, offers sightseeing helicopter tours to visitors and guests to the area. Their state of the art fleet and experienced crew is ready to treat you and your guests to a spectacular view of Muskoka’s fall colours.
Georgian Bay Airways can take you on the ride of your life, flying over the beautiful fall landscapes of Muskoka and Parry Sound, as well as the rugged coast line of Georgian Bay’s 30,000 islands, home of the world’s largest freshwater archipelago.
FlyGTA will get you into Muskoka from Downtown Toronto in 20 minutes, A convenient way to get to Muskoka with stunning views.
On The Road
Sometimes there is nothing more gratifying than a drive around the lakes when the colours are at their peak or a drive through a tunnel bursting with colour on one of Muskoka’s awe-inspiring country roads. Check out our Fall Driving Tours for your own self-guided tour.
On a Horse and Wagon Ride
Back of Beyond Equine Centre (just outside of Huntsville) offers a unique way to admire the colours with their horse and wagon rides. These fall wagon rides are great for families, from kids to grandparents and everyone in between. The experience has proven to be very popular with couples as well with a smaller, more intimate wagon for lovebirds.
As the Backdrop to your Perfect Day
Bala is the Cranberry Capital of Ontario, highlighted by their weekend celebration, the Bala Cranberry Festival, always the weekend after Thanksgiving. The celebration isn’t just confined to this weekend. This tart little berry is celebrated throughout its harvest.
You can visit Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery throughout the cranberry harvest. They offer three tours daily, wine tasting, shopping, tasting, hiking, wagon rides, helicopter rides, and the ever popular photo opt of you walking in the berries.
