Muskoka

Area: over 650 sq.km (250 sq.mi)

Access

Take Highway 400 north out of Toronto to Coldwater, then continue on Highway 69; the roads around Muskoka are Highways 118 (Glen Orchard-Port Carling-Muskoka Falls) and 169 (Foot's Bay-Gravenhurst).

Landscape

Muskoka, about two or three hours' drive north of Toronto, is one of North America's prettiest lake districts, bounded by Georgian Bay in the west and the Severn River in the south.

Geologically, Muskoka is part of the Pre-Cambrian Canadian Shield, its granite and gneiss shaped by the last Ice-Age, which left behind hundreds of lakes as the glaciers receded. This allowed a slight rise in ground levels as the weight of the ice was removed. This lake district is very reminiscent of parts of central Sweden, with a landscape of lakes and islands, rocky outcrops and crags amidst pine forests with occasional groves of mixed woodland.

Recreational area

Thanks to its relative closeness to the cities on Lake Ontario and Toronto Muskoka has become a place for holidaymakers and weekenders, with many marinas and holiday homes to prove it. Its waters are full of fish and ideal for angling, canoeing and in many cases even sailing. There are some beautiful trails that can be followed on foot or mountain bike. It is a landscape that is particularly attractive in winter as well.