Finding the Prettiest Ontario Fall Colours in Muskoka

If you’re searching for the best place to view some Ontario fall colours, look no further than the Muskokas. Close enough to be a day trip from Toronto, the area around Huntsville is perfect for a scenic drive and a hike in Arrowhead Provincial Park.

In the Muskokas, you’re spoiled for choice of scenery. It sounds like a place where you have to own a cottage to experience it, but trust me, there are plenty of publicly accessible places in the Muskokas. It’s surprisingly accessible and can be very budget-friendly.

Even though it’s a popular option for weekend breaks and day trips, it’s still easy enough to find a little piece of this place just to yourself. I did a day trip here at peak fall colours and found it to be a very relaxing experience seeing only a few other tourists with the exception of Stubbs Falls in Arrowhead.

Autumn is the perfect time to spend a weekend in the Muskokas. There are so many great viewpoints and hikes to take here. The summer crowds have dissipated and you’re left with the cool crisp air of October and red and golden leaves as far as the eye can see. It’s one of my favourite Ontario road trip destinations.

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When to Visit to See Red Leaves in Muskoka

Visiting the Muskokas in peak autumn colours is always a moving target. Try to be flexible in your plans for visiting and aim for around the end of September to mid-October. All of the photos in this article are from October 5 but from year to year, this will vary. Check out the fall leaf colour tracker here and look at the report for Arrowhead to help plan your trip. The leaves do change earlier in the Muskokas than Toronto.

Leaf colour change can happen very quickly so be sure to keep an eye on the colour tracker. If you see that it’s going to peak soon make sure to check the weather report. If there’s rain and wind in the forecast, it might take down some of those brightly coloured leaves so head up before then.

Renting A Car for the Muskokas

If you’re in need of a rental car for visiting the Muskokas, make sure you book in advance to ensure availability. I use Discover Cars to find the best deals. Even though it can be tempting to book the cheapest option, make sure you compare ratings to book with a reliable company.

Where to Stay in Huntsville

Huntsville is a great weekend destination for autumn. You have camping and lodge options here as well as traditional style hotels.

Deerhurst Resort– Located outside of Huntsville, Deerhurst is a great option if you want to add on a visit to Algonquin Park to your weekend. It has onsite restaurants and is on a lake so you can enjoy the fall colours right from the resort.

Holiday Inn Huntsville is a great option to be central to Huntsville. Yes, it’s a chain, but the good thing about chains is a reliable experience knowing you will have a nice, comfy, and clean room.

Arrowhead Provincial Park is a great option for camping. Open until mid-October, there are several campsites to choose from. There are also rustic cabins here to rent if you want a cozier option.

Limberlost Forest has basic campsites available for rent as well as cottages and lodges.

How to Experience Autumn in Muskoka

Take a Scenic Drive

On your drive up to Huntsville, there are many options for scenic roads to drive that are full of autumn colours. One of my favourites is to take Hwy 117 towards Baysville and then Hwy 9 north. This road will meet S Portage Road which is a very scenic winding road that will take you through brightly coloured trees and along the lakeside. After you can continue along up to Limberlost Lodge. The road to Limberlost Lodge was the prettiest one for fall colours that I drove in the Huntsville area.

Alternatively, you can drive your way around the other side of the lake and visit the Dorset Fire Tower and then head up to Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park. This route takes a bit longer but is also a great option for an autumn drive in Ontario.

With either route, you can visit Arrowhead Provincial Park at the end. I’ve included a map below with the best places to stop and the two different driving routes. If you are taking a day trip, you likely will only have time to do one of these drives.

Visit Limberlost Forest

Only a 25-minute drive from Huntsville is Limberlost Forest. This private forest and wildlife reserve offers up 10,000 acres of forest that you can explore. Limberlost Forest is a great free alternative to Arrowhead Provincial Park.

While you can spend the night at one of the lodges here, it’s also perfect for taking a short hike. There are multiple hiking trails here that will take you to scenic views of the red and golden colours of the trees. For the best views, head to Echo Rock on the 5.5 km trail. Another great hike for scenic views is the 5 km Lookout Trail that gives views over Buck Lake. Both of these scenic trails are great options for fall hikes but there are lots of other hiking routes to explore as well as canoeing routes at Limberlost

Autumn in Arrowhead Provincial Park

Arrowhead Provincial Park is a great year-round destination, I’ve even visited Arrowhead for skating and winter hiking. Each season brings something special to explore. Autumn in Arrowhead brings beautiful colours and great views.

If you are stopping at Arrowhead, make sure to book your vehicle permit in advance. The permit can be booked up to 5 days in advance and it ensures your entry. Arrowhead is quite popular and busy during autumn weekends so it can sell out. You can purchase your permit here.

One of the must-dos at Arrowhead Provincial Park is visiting Big Bend Lookout. Big Bend is right next to a parking lot so no hiking is required to view it. This spectacular viewing point looks out over an a curve in the river and is especially beautiful with the bright fall colours.

After viewing Big Bend, the not to miss hike here is Stubbs Falls. This easy 3.9 km hike has a really beautiful payoff at the waterfalls. Though they aren’t the most spectacular waterfalls to ever exist, the bridge and waterfalls combined with the autumn colours really are special. This is the most popular hike in Arrowhead so expect that you will be sharing the falls with quite a few people.

Muskoka Fall Colours

Just a short drive from Toronto and you can be immersed in some of Ontario’s best fall scenery. It’s definitely a location I’m going to be visiting again and again to find new viewpoints, scenic drives, and off-the-beaten path gems.

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