Huntsville and South Almaguin Lakes

Popular Lakes

Huntsville Area

The Big Four

Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pike, Lake trout

Lake Vernon is another classic Muskoka cottage country lake. It is busy and is well developed with cottages given the many access points to the lake and its proximity to Huntsville. Vernon Shores is a particularly cottage area at the west end of the lake. Etwel Road to the south and Ravenscliffe Road to the north take you around the lake with numerous service roads going right into the lake.

Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake trout, pike

Peninsula Lake is a popular Huntsville area lake. Access it via Hwy 60 or Route 23 North Portage Road. Hidden Valley is located at the north end of the lake offering golf and downhill skiing. There is a public boat launch at Hwy 60 and Limberlost Road and a swimming beach at the bay near Hillside. Paddlers can find a canoe drop in point at the south end of Peninsula Lake of Portage Road near Wolf Bay. From this end of the lake you can paddle to Fairly Lake, then right on through to Mary Lake. This is a busy lake with cottages throughout the area.

Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake trout, pike

Fairy Lake is a beautiful lake that forms the backdrop for the historic Muskoka town of Huntsville. From Huntsville get to the lake by two major roads, Brunel Meadows Road to the south end and Hwy 60 along the north waterfront of Fairly Lake. There is boat launch at the south end of the lake near Timber Bay and another on the north shore as well.

The south waterfront of Fairly Lake has several service roads accessible by Browns Road. Grandview trail which is a popular hiking, biking and cross country ski trail runs parallel to the lake just north of Hwy 60. Fishing is popular on the lake given its proximity to Huntsville.

Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pike, lake trout

Mary Lake is a larger lake just south of Huntsville. It is one of the classic Muskoka cottage country lakes. Port Sydney is located at the south end of the lake. Take Hwy 11 and exit at Route 10. There are numerous service roads accessing the entire waterfront of the lake. Muskoka Lodge is on the east side off Route 10. There are public boat launches at the north and south ends of the lake. There is also a public swimming beach just north of Port Sydney near the Utterson Bike Route. The bike route is popular as are the Port Sydney cross country ski trails.

Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pike, Lake trout

Lake of Bays is a large lake in the District Municipality of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Township of Lake of Bays, which is named after the lake. Ontario Highway 35 runs north and east of the lake. Port Cunnington is a community established on a peninsula reaching out deep inside the lake. Other settlements on the lake shore include Dwight, South Portage, Baysville and Dorset.

The lake is fed by Oxtongue River, as well as other rivers and creeks flowing from the north-east (Boyne River and its tributary Sixteen Mile Creek, Ten Mile Creek, Hollow River, St. Mary Creek).

Bigwin Island is the largest island in the lake; other islands include Burnt Island, Fairview Island, Langmaids Island, Pancake Island, Raynor Island, Rock Island, Haystack Island, Millichamp Island, Reuben Island, Crown Island and Peanut Island. The irregular shape of the lake is defined by many bays such as Rabbit's Bay, Burnt Island Bay, Whitehouse Bay, Montgomery Bay, Portage Bay, Haystack Bay, Ten Mile Bay, Dwight Bay,Trading Bay and Murky Bay.

Lake of Bays is a deep, cold, infertile lake which forms an important part of the Muskoka watershed. Despite its size and basin shape, low fertility and a short residence time combine to make it only moderately productive. Lake of Bays water is clear, and the maximum secchi disc reading obtained was 8 m (26 ft).

Lake of Bays is fished by cottagers, local residents and many visitors to the area. Lake trout and smallmouth bass are the main sport species and the lake has produced a number of trophy lake trout in excess of 20 pounds. These trout are difficult to catch, and require heavy trolling equipment once the lake warms up. Smallmouth bass are often found in the shallower water around the shores and on shoals. During the winter, the lake provides fishing for lake trout, whitefish, smelts, and burbot.

Traditionally, this area has been settled by cottagers who could not afford to purchase land or a cottage on one of the larger lakes or preferred to live on or have a cottage on a smaller lake. If there were one word that could be used to describe Lakes Waseosa, Ripple, Palette, and Jessop lakes, it would be "stability". Changes do occur. Houses are built on existing lots. People build new docks, or change their lake frontages from time to time. Evolutionary changes are expected; the nature of the use of the lake has changed, homes change, lake use within the limits of a small lake changes. What has not changed is the small lake "natural" setting feel and the sense of community in the area. There are no formal restrictions on the types of boating that can take place on these lakes.

However, because they are small lakes and had no obvious "destinations", they have not attracted large fast boats. Similarly, personal watercraft only appear occasionally on the lakes, in part because of the nature of community and the social pressure (expressed informally from time to time at Annual meetings of the Lake Association) to limit their use. On summer weekends, however, there is a marked increase in boat traffic. (e.g., for waterskiing). There are a number of legally established lots that have not yet been built upon and their inevitable development will increase the traffic use on the lakes. In addition, smaller homes are expanded or torn down and larger homes take their place. In order to protect the existing character, it is imperative that all development and redevelopment be controlled to minimize impact on the vistas and water quality and the right of other residents to peaceful enjoyment of their properties.

Lake Waseosa is the largest of the four, but still a small lake (approximately 157 hectares). The average depth is about 20 feet throughout much of the lake, but there are 4 significantly deeper basins descending up to 70 feet making it a cold-water lake with a native population of lake trout and cisco. Waseosa has relatively little flow of water. There is one small stream that flows out through a culvert under North Waseosa Lake Road into Ripple Lake so the lake has a very low flushing rate. There are two wetland areas from which a very small amount of water flows to Lake Waseosa from two other lakes (Jessop and Clark) as well as several smaller wetland areas near the shore and a few streams draining nearby wetlands. There are also a number of springs that feed the lake.


South Almaguin Highlands Area Lakes

Fish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pike, Lake trout

Foote Lake, lies about 8 kilometers by road east of Novar Ontario. The Lake is located at the boundary of the District of Muskoka and the District of Parry Sound and straddles four municipalities including the Townships of Perry and the Town of Kearney in Parry Sound, and the Town of Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays in Muskoka. The Lake is approximately 1.6 kms long with an area of 1.25 sq kilometers and is comprised of numerous bays , points and inlets. About 40% of the shoreline area is comprised of undeveloped Crown Land.

Access to Foote Lake is via Savage Settlement Road from Highway 592 at Novar Ontario in Perry Township. According to Perry Township, “the beginnings of settlement in the south end of the Township were at old “Cyprus”. There was a store (opened by George Savage), a post office (with William McCormick as the first postmaster), a church, a hotel, a school and several dwellings. When the railroad came through the area two miles to the southeast of Cyprus in 1884, the entire settlement either moved or rebuilt their homes along the tracks, calling their new settlement “Novar”. The townspeople named their new settlement after the Scottish hometown of the picturesque “Clear Lake”. With a booming logging and lumbering industry, Novar became the site of many saw mills, including the one operated by the McGillivray family.” Foote Lake also was home to one of these early logging operations and evidence of lumber operations are still visible today in the small inlet in the north west corner of the Lake. The local name for the Lake for many years was Kate’s Lake and some locals still refer to the Lake by this name. Kate was thought to be the lumber camp cook. The name Foote Lake is as old as 1876 in the official Ministry of Natural Resources records, but the person or family it was named after is not known at this time.

Beautiful Clear Lake is located in Emsdale, Ontario. Just 15 minutes north of Huntsville. Clear, or Schamerhorn Lake as it is locally known, is a small coldwater lake in Perry Township.

We all love Bay Lake! Here are some interesting facts:

  • Coordinates of Bay Lake (approximately): 45° 30′ 17.1″ N, 79° 12′ 26.4″ W
  • Length of Bay Lake: 2.5 km
  • Length of “the bay”: 820 m
  • Width of the entrance to “the bay”: 100 m
  • Width of the channel behind Bucktooth Island (the big island): 60 m
  • Narrowest width of Bay Lake (Maple Drive point): 283 m
  • Width of Bay Lake at the boat ramp: 370 m

Fish: Lake Trout and Small Mouth Bass

Small, spring fed, deep, clear water Lake located 6 km’s south of the Township of Kearney Ontario in the District of Parry Sound. 29 cottages on the lake, shoreline development is low, only half of the lake is developed. Quiet lake with portage trails to other small lakes surrounding the Lake. Town amenities are close by and 30 minutes to Huntsville.

Three Lake system that surrounds Kearney the biggest little Town in Ontario offering six miles of boating. Boat in to town for ice cream, liquor, beer or visit the General Store. Kearney is a town and municipality in the Almaguin Highlands region of Parry Sound District of Ontario, Canada. With a landmass of 531 square kilometres and a year-round population of 841 in the Canada 2011 Census.

Kearney is a gateway to Algonquin Park wilderness with three access points - one at Tim Lake, one at Magnetawan Lake and most popular, at Rain Lake. Both canoe and hiking routes can be accessed from these park entry points. In the early years, the train took visitors right into the park, with many side trips available from there. Today the roads run right back into the park's three access points. Kearney is well known as a tourist centre, not only because of its proximity to Algonquin Park, but for its swimming, water sports, camping and fishing. Within the town boundaries, lakes such as Clam, Fisher, Beaver and Sand with their many cottages, resorts, and campgrounds are vacation destinations for many visitors. Bear, moose and deer hunting provides sport for hunters coming to the area.

Located eight km’s south of Kearney near the gateway to Algonquin Park. Small, Lake offering moderate shoreline development. Entrance to Little Clam Lake is through a large culvert to explore both lakes.

Fish: Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass

Small quiet Lake located 10 minutes from the Town of Kearney and 35 minutes to the Town of Huntsville Ontario in the District of Parry Sound. There is so much to explore here…offering many trail systems and the lake beckons you to swim or canoe in its clear waters.

Are connected and both offer crystal clear deep water with beautiful shorelines, islands and rock outcroppings. Located 20 minutes east of Kearney Ontario.

Sand Lake is a lake in the town of Kearney, Almaguin Highlands, Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada.[2] An unincorporated community of Sand Lake, Ontario could be found just north of Sand Lake[3] prior to the amalgamation with Kearney in 1979. Sand Lake is also host to only one camp, and much of the shore of the lake is Precambrian rock of the Canadian Shield.

Sand Lake is part of the Magnetawan River system. The river enters the lake at the north shore and flows out of the south end of the lake. There are two islands in the lake. Blueberry Island is located near the northern shore of the lake, close to the mouth of the Magnetawan River. The larger Emerald Island is located in the west bay of the lake, west of Rock Point.

The Sand Lake region is a favorite destination for many because of its many beautiful beaches. As a major tourist destination, Kearney offers the usual amenities such as resorts, cottages, lodges, bed and breakfasts, stores services and fuel.

Location: Katrine and Burk’s Falls, ON Canada
Coordinates: 45.5573, -79.3876
Depth (max): 96 Feet
Distance: Acres

Doe Lake is the largest lake in the Almaguin Highland area of the Magnetawan River system. It actually consists of three bodies of water: Little Doe Lake to the north connected by a narrows (Mid Doe Lake) to Big Doe Lake to the south. Doe Lake is medium deep with a predominantly sandy bottom. The deepest area being in Little Doe Lake (max. depth 29 m/96 feet). It is ringed with wooded hills and rocky bluffs interspersed with sandy beaches and gravel shores. Many good fish producing weed beds are scattered thru out the lake. The water is unpolluted and clear. The lake was originally known as Buck Eye Lake. This is a prolific warm water lake that produces good catches of walleye, bass and northern pike. An interesting fact about fishing here is that it is the general rule and not the exception to catch all three species of game fish in the same location. Trophy fish are here for the successful angler. Northern pike, up to 25 pounds (11.5 kg), are taken every year. Walleyes and northerns are particularly plentiful in the spring. In the spring, rough water, snow, rain and cold seem to go hand in hand with lake trout. More and bigger trout are taken during these conditions than when the weather is good.

Pickerel (or Walleye), Bass, Small Mouth Bass and Northern Pike are caught in our three lake system.

Conveniently located in the Almaguin Highlands region, Three Mile Lake is one of several lakes of the same name in Ontario. This particular Three Mile Lake is just outside the village of Burk's Falls in the Township of Armour in the Parry Sound District. Conveniently located 30 minutes north of Huntsville and 60 minutes south of North Bay.

Three lake chain offering 40 miles of boating. Lake Cecebe is a lake in the Almaguin Highlands region of the Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Lake Cecebe is part of the Magnetawan River waterway. The lake has over 20 miles of shoreline. The village of Burk's Falls is located upstream of Lake Cecebe on the Magnetawan River and the historic village of Magnetawan, Ontario is located where the river exits Lake Cecebe and flows into Ahmic Lake. The communities of Midlothian, Cecebe, Rockwynn, Port Carmen, and Magnetawan can all be found on the lake.

Ahmic Lake is a lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, part of the Magnetawan River waterway in the Almaguin Highlands region. Ahmic Lake is approximately 19 km long and connects to two smaller lakes, Neighick (nicknamed Beaver Lake) and Crawford Lake.

Wealthy American tourists have been visiting the area since the 1860s and bought large tracts of land around the lake. With most cottages staying in family hands, the lake's shores have been kept intact over the years, making Ahmic a lake with only moderate shoreline disturbance or alteration.[2] Around the beginning of the 20th century, a number of fishing camps were built on Ahmic Lake, including Cedar Croft which stayed in business until the late 1950s.

The little village of Ahmic Harbour is listed in the Ontario Road Map of 1989 as having 61 inhabitants. By actual count in the spring of 1993, there are 85 permanent residents living in the village. There are 30 cottages with residents who come regularly each summer.

Ahmic Harbour is situated at the end of the most westerly arm of Ahmic Lake in Croft Township in the District of Parry Sound. It has two stores, post office, Hotel (tavern), restaurant, fire hall, recreation hall, and ball field still operating.

Whitestone Lake is located northeast of Parry Sound, Ontario along Hwy 124 in Hagerman Township. The lake is actually bisected by Hwy. 124 at the village of Dunchurch. It is an irregular shaped lake with lots of narrow long bays and channels maximum depths reach 59' the major fish species include walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and black crappie there is a good concrete boat ramp at Dunchurch. Whitestone Lake lies within Fisheries Management Zone 15.

Horn Lake is located north of Burk's Falls on the west side of Hwy. 11 in Parry Sound District. The lake has an irregular shoreline offering a number of bays some of which offer shallow weedy cover while others are deeper and have quick dropoffs at the points the perimeter of the lake is 22 km (13.8 miles) while the lake reaches depths of 114', the average depth is 38' there are a number of inflowing streams. Water exits the lake on the north side via Sollman Creek a public boat launch is located at the end of South Horn Lake Road major fish species include smallmouth bass, lake trout whitefish and perch Horn Lake is located in Fisheries Management Zone 15. Low shoreline development, lots of shoreline crown land.

Pickerel Lake is located on the east side of Hwy. 11 northeast of Burk's Falls in the Parry Sound District.

the North Magnetawan River enters the lake on the east side of the lake and exits on the northwest end. The lake is part of the Magnetawan River drainage system the lake reaches maximum depths of 125' the inflow areas, especially the Magnetawan River area are key walleye locations at the start of the season. Points, shoals, drop offs, underwater humps and rubble shorelines will cough up good smallmouth bass as well as walleye the major fish species include walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass Pickerel lake is situated within Fisheries Management Zone 15.

Lake Bernard is a freshwater lake two-and-a-half hours north of Toronto in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, between Huntsville and North Bay. It measures roughly 2.5 km (1.5 mi) across and 7 km (4.3 mi) long. The village of Sundridge lies on the northern shore of this clean, clear lake, which is otherwise surrounded by the municipal township of Strong and six km west of spectacular Algonquin Park.

Lake Bernard is the largest freshwater lake in the world without an island. Large in comparison to the majority of Ontario’s thousands of lakes, it is surprising that Lake Bernard is also not connected to any other lake: "The lack of any islands and the fact that it is not connected to any other lake are both very curious since, just to the south, the Muskoka Lakes region is famous for its hundreds of lakes that are full of islands, and most of these lakes are interconnected."[3] Part of the charm of Lake Bernard is also its more peaceful, less developed nature, 50 km removed from the hubbub of the busy Muskokas.

It is also an exceptionally deep lake, charted to depths of 150 feet but rumoured to have deeper spots of up to 400 metres, leading to speculation that the lake may have been formed by a meteor. For tourists looking to vacation now, much of the lake has sandy beaches and many areas feature a beautiful sandy bottom and shallow waters that are wonderful for families with small children.

Fish species in the lake include smallmouth bass, lake trout, whitefish, yellow perch and rock bass. Because Lake Bernard is large and deep, fishing for bass is limited to some areas, but lake trout and whitefish are plentiful in this unstocked lake.

Fish: Pickerel (Walleye), Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass

Medium size lake located in McMurrich/Monteith Township, watershed the Seguin River. Bear Lake Ontario, formerly called Jarlsberg, in the old township of Monteith, is a quiet community originally colonized by Norwegian settlers in the late 1860's. The east half of Monteith joined with McMurrich to form the present day McMurrich/Monteith township in 1998.

Some of the original buildings, the church, schoolhouse and first barn built in the area, are not only still standing and easily seen by the passing traveler, but if you stop and ask, you may view them during the summer months.

The Seguin (Park to Park) Trail follows the old J.R Booth Exploratory Rail line. It runs just north of the village and skirts the bottom of the Bear Lake Peatlands Conservation Reserve, a large area designated as a protected zone by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Just to the south of the lake is the newly designated Monteith Forest Conservation Reserve, a large forest of eastern hemlock growing on gently rolling hills of deep glacially deposited sand.