Huntsville
Huntsville, a town with a population of about 21,100 (2021), is the largest community in the Muskoka District of Ontario, Canada, making it the hub for many vacations and outdoor adventures in cottage country.
The town, at the junction of Highway 11 and Highway 60, is west of Algonquin Provincial Park. Access to the park is via Highway 60, between Huntsville and Maynooth.
Understand
[edit]Huntsville was named after Captain George Hunt. He arrived in 1869 and settled on the east side of the Muskoka River.
The town plays host to thousands of tourists in the summer season, mostly from Toronto and surrounding cities. Huntsville's numerous lakes and rolling hills make it a beautiful and ideal summer destination.
In 2010, Huntsville hosted the 36th G8 Summit, attracting much international attention.
Climate
[edit]Huntsville has warm, humid summers and cold winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons, with considerable variance in day to day temperature, particularly during the colder weather season. Huntsville is in the snowbelt region of Central Ontario, near the Great Lakes, so experiences snowy winters. The city has comfortable summer temperatures and occasional heatwaves accompanied by high humidity and active thunderstorm weather. Huntsville and the Muskoka region have the highest annual precipitation of any region in Ontario.
Visitor information
[edit]- Town of Huntsville
- 1 Huntsville Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information, 37 Main St E. M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The closest major airport is Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto. Northern Airport Service offers scheduled shuttle service from Pearson to Huntsville.
By car
[edit]Huntsville is on Highway 11, a major highway in Ontario. Toronto is 217 km to the south and North Bay is 128 km to the north. Huntsville is also the western terminus of Highway 60, which is the main road to Algonquin Provincial Park (40 km east of Huntsville).
By bus
[edit]- Ontario Northland, toll-free: +1-800-461-8558. Operates primarily in Northern Ontario. Between North Bay and Toronto including stops in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago (some trips), Orillia (stop trips), and Barrie.
Get around
[edit]
You can get almost anywhere in Huntsville by walking.
The Corridor 11 Bus is provided by Hammond Transportation and the local government, making local stops on Highway 11 between Huntsville and Orillia. The bus makes three trips a day, Monday to Friday; no services are available on holidays, or in the last weeks of December.
See
[edit]- 1 Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery, 37 Main St E (downtown Huntsville). An outdoor trail that features over 90 mural replicas showcasing the works of the Group of Seven painters and Tom Thomson who inspired them. This is a mobile tour of locations throughout Muskoka and Algonquin Park through which you can experience the art of these important early 20th-century Canadian artists. The tour begins in front of the Algonquin Theatre. See the map on the website. Free.
- 2 Lions Lookout. Provides spectacular views of the town and the rolling hills of Muskoka.
- 3 Muskoka Heritage Place, 88 Brunel Rd, ☏ +1 705-789-7576 (ext. 3214). Museum: 10AM-4PM -- May-Oct: daily, Oct-May: M-F. Pioneer Village: mid-May to early Oct: daily 10AM-4PM. Portage Flyer train Mid-May to June (diesel locomotive): Tu-F 1PM; Sa noon, 1PM, 2PM & 3PM; Jul-Aug (steam engine): Tu-Sa noon, 1PM, 2PM & 3PM; Sep (diesel electric): Tu-F 1PM; Sa noon, 1PM, 2PM & 3PM. The primary historical centre in Huntsville, featuring two museums, 18 authentic pioneer buildings, and a genuine open-aired train ride, on a 90-acre site. Full site pass: adult $17.90, senior (65 and over) $16.10, child (3-12) $12.15 (lower prices for individual sites).
Do
[edit]- 1 Algonquin Theatre, 37 Main St E (Downtown), ☏ +1 705-789-4975, toll-free: +1-877-989-4975. Catch one of the many performances in downtown Huntsville.
- 2 Arrowhead Provincial Park, 451 Arrowhead Park Rd. Large, year-round park with hiking, swimming, mountain biking in the summer, and cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating on a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) ice trail that also hosts night skating events. Several hundred campsites for car or RV camping are available in three campgrounds; several areas are designated "radio-free" for peace and quiet, and many provide electrical hookups.
- 3 Limberlost Trails, 1088 Buck Lake Landing. The private forest reserve contains more than 70 km (43 mi) of hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing trails made available to the public at no charge. No snowmobiles or ATVs. Lodges, cottages and camping available.
- Huntsville is on three beautiful lakes so, naturally, the town has many public beaches for swimming and relaxing. Some of the options include:
- 4 Avery Beach, 8 Yonge St N (Downtown). Shallow beach on Hunters Bay, located along the Trans Canada Trail.
- 5 Port Sydney Beach, 540 Muskoka Rd 10. Also provides a boat launch, dock, and washrooms.
- 6 Skeleton Lake Beach, 180 Camp Newport Rd. A smaller, shallow beach, for a quieter day on or in the water.
- 7 Treetop Trekking, 1180 Hwy 60. May-Oct. Ziplining and aerial obstacle course.
Buy
[edit]- Take a stroll down Main Street and check out all the little shops where you can find clothing, local art, fine dining and desserts.
Eat
[edit]- 1 That Little Place by the Lights, 76 Main St E, ☏ +1 705-789-2536. Tu-Sa 11:30AM-8:30PM. Pizza and pasta. Lunch dishes $10-12, dinner mains $15-20.
- 2 Tall Trees Restaurant, 87 Main St W, ☏ +1 705-789-9769. Tu-F 11:30AM-2PM, Tu-Sa 5PM-9PM.
- 3 Westside Fish & Chips Family Restaurant, 126 Main St W, ☏ +1 705-789-7200. M-W noon-7PM, Th F noon-8PM, Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 9AM-7PM. Your choice of haddock, white fish or halibut. Breakfasts $8.50-11, sandwiches and burgers $4-12.
Drink
[edit]- 1 On the Docks, 90 Main St E, ☏ +1 705-789-7910. Daily 11AM-midnight. Restaurant and pub with good Muskoka River view. Mains $16-19, sandwiches $14.
- 2 Huntsville Brewhouse, 59 Main St E, ☏ +1 705-789-7931. Brewery: M-Th 10AM-7PM, F 10AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 11AM-5PM; tours: Sa Su noon-3PM; restaurant: daily 11AM-11PM. Extra-small batch brewing facility includes a full kitchen with a seated capacity of 100 people.
- 3 Moose Delaney's Sports Bar and Grill, 3 Cann St, ☏ +1 705-787-1025. M-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-midnight. Casual pub fare, full menu until 1AM, Wi-Fi. Burgers and sandwiches $20-15, mains $16-20.
Sleep
[edit]Room rates at hotels in Huntsville are higher in the summer months than in the spring or fall.
The town also has many quaint bed & breakfasts.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Econo Lodge, 117 Main Street W, ☏ +1 705-788-5051. Free coffee, free continental breakfast, pet-friendly hotel. From $80.
- 2 Rodeway Inn King William, 23 King William St, ☏ +1 705-789-9661. From $80.
- 3 Motel 6, 70 Howland Dr (Highway 11 at Highway 60), ☏ +1 705-787-0118. Free morning coffee, pets allowed, accessible rooms, coin laundry, free Wi-Fi, indoor pool, kids stay free, smoke free. From $105.
- 4 Comfort Inn, 86 King William St, ☏ +1 705-789-1701. From $130.
Mid-range
[edit]- 5 Hidden Valley Resort, 1755 Valley Rd, ☏ +1 705-789-2301. Sandy beach with boat rentals and ski hills. Indoor and outdoor pools, onsite restaurant. From $160.
- 6 Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 100 Howland Dr, ☏ +1 705-788-9500, toll-free: +1 877-660-8550. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Wi-Fi, coffee and tea. Free breakfast buffet. Smoke-free. From $160.
- 7 Best Western Plus, 86 Howland Drive, ☏ +1 705-788-3345, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Exercise facilities, wireless Internet connection in public areas, 100% smoke-free hotel, free full breakfast, indoor pool, hot tub, cable satellite television 42-inch. No pets. From $130.
Go next
[edit]- Algonquin Provincial Park - the west gate of the park is about 40 km (25 mi) from downtown.
- Bracebridge - another popular Muskoka town, 35 km (22 mi) south, on the way to Gravenhurst and Barrie.
- Haliburton Highlands - a somewhat quieter, more rural cottage country area.
- Parry Sound - in Ontario's Near North about 75 km (47 mi) west, a town en route to Sudbury. A gateway to the Georgian Bay, and several large provincial parks and nature reserves.
| Routes through Huntsville |
Cochrane / Timmins via  ← North Bay ← |
N  S |
→ Bracebridge → Barrie |
ENDS at  ← |
W  E |
→ Algonquin Provincial Park → Renfrew |