Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Fall/Winter 2019 | Page 13

Another must-do for our family in the off-season is to
visit some of the many beautiful waterfalls in the region. We
decide that Bracebridge will be the perfect starting point;
there are three notable waterfalls all within a 10-minute
drive of the downtown area. The sky is clear, so we park the
car and start with an urban hike around Bracebridge Falls
at the Silver Bridge and follow the route marked by historic
plaques. The path isn’t long, but the weather quickly turns and
we experience more water than we were counting on—our
waterfall hike becomes a washout.
With the rain cascading down, we decide to chase the
next waterfall, Wilson Falls, by car. Only a few minutes from
our hike location, Wilson Falls is at the end of River Road, a
great little road that curves and juts along the Muskoka River.
We continue along Cedar Lane, saving the best for last. The
clouds retreat long enough for us to step outside and enjoy
the scenery.
There are actually several waterfalls at this site: Potts Falls,
Muskoka Canyon Falls, Little High Falls and Big High Falls.
Although beautiful at any time of year, the autumn foliage
surrounding the falls makes this location truly spectacular.
The area offers hiking trails from the moderate to the
challenging, ideal waterfall viewing opportunities, and ample
space to play and picnic.
You’re never far from the water in Muskoka, even when
you’re on dry land—or behind the wheel of your car or
motorcycle, touring around the region. Fortunately, there
are countless great driving roads in the area, thoroughfares
that encourage a leisurely pace and plenty of picturesque
stops along the way.
There are the so-called Circle Tours that circumnavigate
the Big Three lakes and others that venture around the Lake
PHOTOS: GT THOMSON
of Bays and the Chain of Lakes closer to Huntsville. These
driving experiences are made up of great roads that provide
glimpses of the water and ample opportunity to enjoy the fall
colours—they’re also just plain fun to drive.
During the part of the Circle Tour around Lake Muskoka,
we venture off-piste part of the way, choosing to duck into
the charming port town of Windermere for a look at the
renovated Windermere House. A grand example of the classic
Muskoka estate that dates back to the 1860s, the property
was destroyed in a fire during the filming of a movie in 1996
and was rebuilt in its original image.
Closer to the town of Gravenhurst, we take another
detour off the main road to enjoy the incredible canopy
of trees along Muskoka Beach Rd. The drive features tight
corners, dips in the road and side visits to two notable stops,
the celebrated Muskoka Brewery and Taboo Golf Resort.
Eventually, we arrive at our home for the next two
nights, the aptly named Tiny Haus, some five kilometres
outside of town. One of the very few Muskoka locations
listed on the prestigious website, glampinghub.com, the
loft-like house is designed to minimize disruption to the
natural landscape.
Nestled in the woods, we’re well on our way to enjoying
another of the region’s natural gifts: the land itself. On one
of the evenings, we visit the nearby Muskoka Drive-In, the
oldest operating drive-in theatre in Canada, with the original
screen mounted atop a giant rock formation.
In these surroundings, it’s little wonder that the famed
Group of Seven and their source of inspiration, Tom
Thomson, found so many unforgettable scenes to capture
in and around Muskoka. Whether you’re walking, hiking
or driving in the area, you’re enveloped by densely forested
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