Cottages For Sale in Muskoka
Muskoka is Ontario's best known cottage district. Six municipalities share about 1,600 lakes, from the big three of Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph to quiet family lakes and the Georgian Bay shore.
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Buying a cottage in Muskoka
The District Municipality of Muskoka sits on the Canadian Shield north of Orillia, between Georgian Bay to the west and Algonquin Park to the east. It is made up of three towns, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville, and three townships, Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays and Georgian Bay. Bracebridge is the district seat. Highway 11 runs up the east side and Highway 400 up the west, so most lakes are a short drive from a four-lane road.
Buyers find a wide range of water here. Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph are joined by locks and a short canal, and they carry the large boathouses the area is known for. Huntsville has its own chain of four connected lakes. Lake of Bays is deep and clear with long sightlines. Smaller lakes such as Kahshe, Three Mile, Leonard and Wood offer a quieter setting. Shorelines are mostly granite and pine, with some sand in the bays.
Most cottages run on a septic system and a drilled well or a lake intake, so ask for septic records and a water test. Check whether the road is municipal, private or seasonal, and who plows it in winter. Some properties on Go Home Lake and Georgian Bay are water access only. The shore road allowance may or may not be owned. Several Muskoka municipalities license or limit short-term rentals, so read the current bylaw before counting on rental income.
Getting there: About 2 to 2.5 hours from Toronto.
- Lake Muskoka
- Boathouses
- Granite and pine shoreline
- Port Carling locks
- Four-season towns
- Steamships
Muskoka questions
How far is Muskoka from Toronto?
Gravenhurst, at the south end, is about a two hour drive from downtown Toronto in normal traffic. Bracebridge and Port Carling take a little longer. Huntsville is about 215 km north of Toronto, or roughly two and a half hours. Friday evenings in summer are slower, so many owners travel early or late.
What are the big three Muskoka lakes?
Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph. Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau are linked by the Indian River and the locks at Port Carling. Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph meet at the Port Sandfield narrows and the Joseph River. A boat can travel all three without leaving the water.
Which towns in Muskoka are open year round?
Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville are full service towns with hospitals or health centres, grocery stores, building supply yards and schools. Smaller centres such as Port Carling, Bala, Baysville, Dwight, MacTier and Port Severn cover day to day needs. Some shops in the smaller villages keep shorter hours in winter.
Are all Muskoka cottages reachable by road?
No. Most are on municipal or private roads, but island properties and parts of Go Home Lake and the Georgian Bay shore are reached only by boat. Water access owners usually keep a slip at a marina. Private roads may not be plowed, so ask about winter maintenance and road fees before you buy.
Lakes in Muskoka
Pick a lake to see what it is like and what is for sale on it.
Shop Muskoka by type & budget
- Waterfront Cottages
- Cabins
- Log Homes
- Chalets
- Island & Water Access Cottages
- Four-Season Cottages
- Seasonal Cottages
- Waterfront Land
- Building Lots & Acreage
- Resort Condos
- Fractional Ownership
- Luxury Cottages
- Cheap Cottages
- Fixer-Upper Cottages
- Cottages with a Boathouse
- Cottages with a Sandy Beach
- Cottages with a Bunkie
- Investor-Friendly Cottages
- Under $500,000
- Under $750,000
- Under $1 Million
- Under $2 Million
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