Toronto to Muskoka Autumn Self Driving Tour Guide: One day Tour of Maple Leaf Scenery and Lake District Scenery
During the golden autumn season in Canada, maple viewing has become one of the most popular outdoor activities. Especially in the Muskoka region of Ontario, the colorful red, orange, and yellow maple leaves cover vast forests, lakes, and hills layer by layer, creating a picturesque autumn scene. From late September to mid October every year, maple leaves gradually enter their best viewing period, attracting countless tourists to experience this annual natural wonder. Whether strolling along lakeside paths, crossing cranberry wetlands, or taking a steamboat tour of the lake, Muskoka provides visitors with the ultimate autumn visual enjoyment, making it an excellent place to admire maple leaves.
With the gentle autumn breeze, the color of maple leaves gradually changes from green to orange yellow and fiery red, indicating that the beautiful autumn in Canada has arrived.
The following is a detailed travel itinerary and related information from Toronto to Muskoka, including various attractions, schedules, driving routes, and other travel tips.
Departure location: Toronto
Total journey: Approximately 200 kilometers, about a 2-hour drive
Starting from Richmond Hill, you can drive along Highway 404 North and turn onto Highway 11 North, heading north towards the Muskoka area. Along the way, passing through the towns of Barrie and Orillia, you can choose to make a brief stop and enjoy the scenery of the lake area and the charm of the town.
Toronto is a convenient starting point for transportation, not far from Muskoka, especially suitable for one-day or weekend travel
Location: (Click to open map)
1. Arrival at Norman Bethune's former residence: 1 hour and 40 minutes (requires ticket purchase)
2. Honeymoon Lake Steam Cruise Arrival: Approximately 30 minutes (ticket purchase required)
Meal time: (recommended stay: 1.5 hours)
Recommended restaurants: The Boathouse Eatery
Recommended restaurants: Turtle Jack’s Muskoka Grill
3. Park trip to Torrance, Ontario: approximately 25 minutes
4. Cranberry maple viewing itinerary arrival: approximately 20 minutes
5. Travel time to Hakelbury Rock Observatory: approximately 20 minutes
6. National Park itinerary in Huntsville, Ontario: approximately 30 minutes (admission fee required)
Tourist route details:
1. Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site
Address: 235 John St N, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1G4
Travel time: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes
Suggested dwell time: 45 minutes
Details: This is the former residence of the famous Canadian doctor Norman Bethune. The former residence showcases his contributions to healthcare and international humanitarian causes, with rich exhibition content suitable for visitors of all ages. Tickets can be purchased on-site
Opening hours: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Appointment hotline: 705-687-4261
Official website: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/bethune/activ
2. Honeymoon Lake Steamships (Lake Muskoka – Muskoka Steamships)
Address: 185 Cherokee Ln, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1Z9
Details: Taking a historic steamboat tour of Muskoka Lake is an excellent experience, especially under the autumn maple leaf colors. The cruise ship passes by lakeside villas and a maple forest interwoven with red and yellow.
Suggested dwell time: 1.5 hours
Opening hours: Open all year round, please book the cruise in advance (it is recommended to book in advance and pay with a credit card)
Call 1-705-687-6667 or 1-866-687-6667 to make a reservation, or use the online booking system www.realmuscoka.com. The available seats displayed for online booking are the same as those used by ticket office agents.
Appointment hotline: 705-687-6667
website: https://realmuskoka.com/
Cost: The ticket price is approximately $15+HST.
3. Lake Muskoka -45 minute lunch break
Details: One of Muskoka's iconic lakes, with multiple restaurants and cafes by the lake. You can choose to have lunch at a restaurant by the lake,
Recommended restaurants:
Lakeside Bala Restaurant
Address: 3067 Muskoka District Road 169
This high-end restaurant is located in Bala Bay and offers exquisite dishes such as delicious steak and seafood, combined with beautiful lake views, suitable for family gatherings or romantic dates
4. Hardy Lake Provincial Park in Torrance, Ontario
Address: Hardy Lake Provincial Park, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1R2
Details: This provincial park is famous for the trail around Hardy Lake, especially in autumn when the maple leaves by the lake are brightly colored. The hiking experience is simple and suitable for family outings.
Suggested dwell time: 45 minutes
Opening hours: Open year-round, no tickets available
Contact information:+ 1-705-789-5105
5. Cranberry Maple Viewing (Johnston's Cranberry Marsh&Muskoka Lakes Winery)
Address: 1074 Cranberry Rd, Bala, ON P0C 1A0
Travel time: approximately 25 minutes by car
Details: Cranberry Farm not only offers cranberry picking activities, but also allows visitors to stroll through the wetlands covered in autumn maple leaves, enjoy the beautiful scenery of maple viewing, and visit local wineries to taste specialty wines made from fresh cranberries. Autumn is the best season for enjoying maple and cranberry harvests.
Suggested dwell time: 1 hour
Opening hours: Open all year round, the maple picking and viewing season is from mid September to the end of October.
Cost: Admission is free, some activities are charged.
Contact information:+ 1-705-762-3203
Website: Cranberry Farm Official Website
6. Huckleberry Rock Lookout
Address: 1057 Milford Bay Rd, Muskoka Lakes, ON P0B 1E0
Travel time: approximately 20 minutes by car
Details: Huckleberry Rock Lookout is one of the famous viewing points in the Muskoka region, offering a panoramic view of the autumn scenery of the entire lake area, making it perfect for photography. The trail is short and easy to walk, and after reaching the summit, you will enjoy the layered maple leaves and beautiful lake scenery.
Suggested dwell time: 45 minutes
Opening hours: Open year-round
Cost: No tickets available
Suggestion: The trail is slightly steep, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes.
7. Arrowhead Provincial Park in Huntsville, Ontario
Address: 451 Arrowhead Park Rd, Huntsville, ON P1H 2J4
Travel time: approximately 40 minutes by car
Details: This is a scenic provincial park that offers multiple trails and picnic areas. You can hike to Big Bend Lookout, which is one of the best attractions to admire autumn maple leaves.
Suggested dwell time: 45 minutes
Opening hours: Open year-round (requires ticket purchase)
To purchase tickets, you can purchase a daily vehicle pass through Ontario Parks' online booking system to ensure advance reservation of access rights. Tickets can be purchased five days in advance and are applicable to each vehicle and all passengers on board.
You can visit the Ontario Parks booking page to purchase tickets online, or call 1-888-668-7275 to make a phone reservation
It is recommended to book in advance during peak periods (especially during winter and autumn maple viewing) to avoid being unable to enter the park when arriving.
Contact information:+ 1-705-789-5105
website: https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/arrowhead
Ticket: Approximately $12- $20 per vehicle.
Through this detailed travel route, you can experience the most beautiful autumn scenery in the Muskoka region and enjoy a comfortable self driving journey.