5 Best Day Trips from Huntsville, Ontario: A CreakingON Guide
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Provincial parks, waterfalls, backroad sculptures, and a very good brisket sandwich. Muskoka's best day trips start in Huntsville.
Huntsville makes a smart base camp. Arrowhead Provincial Park sits 7 km from downtown. Algonquin's West Gate is about 45 km east. Burk's Falls is 34 km north, and Bracebridge is about 35 km south. Most of what follows is under an hour behind the wheel.
We've camped here, hiked here, and eaten smoked brisket here. This guide covers five day trips from Huntsville, with distances, trail lengths, permit rules, and the stops worth building a day around.
Quick overview
Base: Huntsville, Ontario (Muskoka)
Drive from Toronto: About 217 km, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours
Day trips: Five, most within an hour's drive of town
Permits: Advance day-use reservation for Arrowhead, a day permit for Algonquin
Best for: Hikers, cyclists, paddlers, RVers, and road-trippers who plan their route around lunch
Where to Stay in Huntsville
Huntsville Lagoons RV Resort. We spent three nights here and wrote a full review of Huntsville Lagoons. It has a private sandy beach on the Big East River. Arrowhead is a five-minute drive, and downtown Huntsville is ten minutes away.
Arrowhead Provincial Park. Camp inside the park at the East River, Roe, or Lumby campground and walk to the trails. Reserve through Ontario Parks well in advance.
Deerhurst Resort. The resort has its own hiking trails, plus the Hidden Valley and Deerhurst mountain bike trails.
Best Western. A standard hotel option for anyone who would rather skip the tent or trailer. This is our choice when we visit Huntsville.
Getting to Huntsville
Huntsville sits about 217 km north of Toronto on Highway 11. From the GTA, take Highway 400 to Highway 11 and stay on it. On our trip, Google quoted 2 hours 20 minutes.
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Day Trip 1: Arrowhead Provincial Park
Distance from Huntsville: 7 km
You can hit the trail five to ten minutes after leaving town. We hiked to Stubbs Falls, stopped at Big Bend Lookout for panoramic views, and spent time by the lake.
The Stubbs Falls Trail runs about 2 km along the Little East River to a footbridge above the falls. A side path drops below for a second angle. Swimming at the falls is unsafe, so save your swim for one of the park's three sandy beaches. The Big Bend Lookout trail is short and ends at a deck above a loop of the Big East River.
Cyclists can take the 3 km Lookout Trail and the 4.5 km Arrowhead Lake Trail, both moderately challenging, mainly because of the hills. Paddlers can launch on Arrowhead Lake or Mayflower Lake.
In winter, a 1.3 km skating trail opens, and Stubbs Falls Trail becomes a snowshoe and cross-country ski route.
Reserve a day-use permit in advance. Your licence plate is your permit, so nothing goes on the dash.
Plan your visit: Arrowhead Provincial Park
Day Trip 2: Explore Huntsville
Distance from Huntsville: 0 km.
Start at Lions Lookout for a view of the surrounding lakes and town below. There is parking available near the lookout. On the way up or down, stop at the Heritage Place Train Station.
Then walk one of Northern Ontario's best main streets. Shops, cafés, and galleries line it. As you explore on foot, you'll see the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery, which displays large reproductions of the painters' work around downtown. The waterfront stays busy, with boats on the water and patios full on sunny days.
For lunch, we picked up some smoked brisket sandwiches to go from the Smoke ON the Water food truck. Then we crossed the street to Canvas Brewing Co. for our favourite brew. It's a lunch we'd repeat.
Plan your visit: Explore Huntsville
Day Trip 3: Algonquin Provincial Park
Distance from Huntsville: about 45 km to the West Gate, then east along Highway 60
Algonquin's Highway 60 corridor is the easiest way into the park. The West Gate is 43.6 km east of the Highway 11 and 60 junction in Huntsville. Inside the park, everything is located by kilometre marker counted from that gate.
Pick your stops by marker:
Km 20, Algonquin Art Centre. A gallery of art inspired by the park.
Km 25, Track and Tower Trail. A 7.5 km loop with a lookout over Cache Lake. Plan about four hours.
Km 39.7, Lookout Trail. A 1.9 km loop, steep but short.
Km 40.3, Booth's Rock Trail. A 5.1 km loop. During peak fall colour, Ontario Parks has required a special permit for this one, so check when you reserve.
Km 43, Algonquin Visitor Centre. It has exhibits, a lookout, and a bookstore.
You need a day-use permit to stop in the park. As of my last check, it was about $21 per vehicle, and you can buy it in advance online or by phone. Driving straight through on Highway 60 doesn't require one. If daily permits sell out, the gates turn visitors away, so book before you leave.
On the way, Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park sits on the park's border with a short trail from the lot to a lookout over the falls.
If moto touring, our guide to cottage country motorcycle roads covers Highway 60. We also wrote up a nine-day Algonquin trip with a pop-up camper.
Plan your visit: Algonquin Park day-use fees and permits | Algonquin Provincial Park
Day Trip 4: Go North on Highway 11
Distance from Huntsville: 34 km to Burk's Falls, 30 to 40 minutes to Sundridge
This one rewards slow driving.
Start in Burk's Falls, where small cascades run along the Magnetawan River. Pulled Smokehouse & Welcome Centre makes an easy lunch stop and a good first stop for local info. Then head to the Screaming Heads, where retired art teacher Peter Camani has built more than 100 sculpted faces, some 18 feet tall.
Magnetawan is a lakeside village with a heritage centre and a good place to swim. Cyclists can link Burk's Falls, the Screaming Heads, and Magnetawan on a 48 km loop. About 4.6 km of it is gravel, and it suits intermediate to advanced riders.
In Sundridge, Copperhead Distillery pours small-batch moonshine, rum, vodka, and liqueurs, with a complimentary tasting at the retail store. It closes on statutory holidays. Finish at the Crystal Cave Mineral Exhibit & Crystal Shop for minerals, gems, and fossils.
Plan your visit: Screaming Heads
Day Trip 5: Go South to Bracebridge
Distance from Huntsville: about 35 km, roughly 30 minutes
Bracebridge is built around the Muskoka River. You can take it in on foot, from a boat, or from a bike seat.
Hike, ride, and chase waterfalls
Start at the Bracebridge Resource Management Centre, 5140 Highway 11 North, 2.5 km north of the Highway 117 turnoff. There's no fee to use the trails, and 16.5 km of them cover hiking, mountain biking, and winter cross-country skiing. The Muskoka Off Road Cycling Association builds and maintains the single track, which ranges from rocky and technical to mellow pine-forest riding.
Hikers can take the easy 4.2 km Wilson's Falls loop, which takes about an hour. Wilson's Falls runs as a long cascade where the river bends, and a picnic area sits beside it. The trail crosses the river above the falls on a long metal bridge.
Next, drive to High Falls Park north of downtown. Little High Falls is a smaller cascade near the main drop, and Potts Falls sits beneath the walking bridge. Both lie along the Trans Canada Trail.
Plan your visit: Muskoka Off Road Cycling Association
Paddle the Muskoka River
Liv Outside runs the Bracebridge waterfront from 271-1 Ecclestone Drive, with a dock right on the river. Self-guided kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals come in 1-, 2-, and 4-hour slots, and a 15-minute instruction course helps first-timers. Prefer a guide? The two-hour tours include a canoe waterfall paddle, a kayak waterfall paddle, a kayak nature paddle, and a stand-up paddleboard tour.
Rent an e-bike
Liv Outside also rents bikes, including electric ones. The E-Touring bikes suit scenic waterfront rides, and the E-MTB handles trails. Helmets and a refillable water bottle come with the rental. New to e-bikes? Here are 10 reasons to add an e-bike to your cycling adventures.
Book online. You can often book self-guided trips the same day, but guided tours fill up ahead of weekends. Online reservations are non-refundable, so lock in your date before you pay. Hours change by season, and at last check, the fall waterfront hours were Wednesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM, with Monday and Tuesday by reservation. The site doesn't list rental or tour prices, so check at booking or call 705-646-0492.
Book your paddle or ride: Liv Outside
Wander downtown Bracebridge
Leave an hour or two to explore downtown on foot. It's an easy way to wrap up the day, and you can view Bracebridge Falls from Bracebridge Bay Park right in town.
Day Trip Need-to-Know
Arrowhead: Reserve your day-use permit in advance. Your licence plate is your permit.
Algonquin: Buy a day permit before you drive in. Don't park on the Highway 60 shoulder.
Booth's Rock: Check whether a special permit applies during fall colour season.
Cell coverage: Download offline maps before Algonquin. Coverage inside the park can be limited.
Fuel: Fill up in Huntsville before heading out.
Stubbs Falls: Don't swim below the falls. Use the park's beaches instead.
Copperhead Distillery: Closed on statutory holidays.
Resource Management Centre: No fee for trail use, and no cross-country ski rentals on site.
Liv Outside: Book paddles and e-bikes online. Guided tours fill up ahead of weekends, and online reservations are non-refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Huntsville from Toronto?
About 217 km by road, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours depending on Highway 11 traffic and construction.
How far is Algonquin Park from Huntsville?
The West Gate sits about 45 km east on Highway 60. The Visitor Centre is another 43 km inside the park.
Do I need a permit for Algonquin Park?
Yes, to stop. A daily vehicle permit is required for day visits, and you should buy it in advance. Driving through on Highway 60 without stopping doesn't require one.
What are the best things to do in Huntsville?
Climb Lions Lookout, walk the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery, and eat on the waterfront. Then add Arrowhead Provincial Park, just 7 km away.
Can you rent a kayak or e-bike in Bracebridge?
Yes. Liv Outside on the Muskoka River rents self-guided kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards in 1-, 2-, and 4-hour slots, plus bikes, including electric models. Guided paddles run two hours. Book online, and check the current hours before you go.
Can you do these day trips in winter?
Several, yes. Arrowhead has a skating trail plus ski and snowshoe routes; in Algonquin Park, you can cross-country ski, snowshoe and fat bike and the Bracebridge Resource Management Centre grooms cross-country ski and fat bike trails. Check hours before you go. For more cold-season ideas, see our guide to 10 Ontario winter adventures that won't break the bank.
Which stop stole the show for you? Tell us, and tag @CreakingOn on your next Muskoka trip.
Looking for traffic-free cycling in Ontario? Explore 5 car-free rides on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail from Toronto to the 1000 Islands.