This vibrant township in Ontario is home to North America’s first dark sky preserve

Rural areas, country settings and stunning waterfronts – Muskoka Lakes in Ontario has it all! The township is made up of hamlets and villages in the province’s cottage country and is so beautiful that it draws in visitors from around the world.

Muskoka Lakes also has a pretty cool claim to fame – being home to North America’s first dark sky preserve.

Getting to Muskoka Lakes in Ontario

If you’re driving to Muskoka Lakes from Toronto it will take you around two and a half hours.

The area is anchored by the larger communities of Bala, Minett, Port Carling and Windermere, Ontario.

Things to do

While visiting Muskoka Lakes, there’s one stop you’ll want to make once the sun goes down.

The Torrance Barrens Reserve is North America’s first dark sky preserve, “world-renowned for its night sky”.

The nighttime spectacle is far from light pollution and if you want to see the best views the area has to offer, The main dark sky viewing area is found on the smooth granite outcrop immediately behind the Ministry sign on Southwood Road.

Time to get some steps in!

Huckleberry Rock has been known for over 100 years as a stunning scenic lookout.

Rocks on this trail are up to a billion years old! The effects of glaciation, timber harvesting, erosion and fire “have removed the thin mantle of soil, exposing the surface of the pink granite rock.”

The trail is a 2.5km loop, a perfect distance for a hike during the day.

There’s also a fun self-guided tour for visitors to take advantage of.

There are ten unique Muskoka Chairs to act as a living visitors guide highlighting the best views across Muskoka Lakes! The map can be found here and don’t forget to snap photos along the way.

Muskoka Lakes awaits, Ontario!

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