I have a massive soft spot for Huntsville, Ontario. I grew up on Skeleton Lake. The lake sits right between Huntsville and Bracebridge. This beautiful slice of cottage country always feels like home.
We pondered where to go on vacation with our dogs. We wanted to see the area during peak autumn colors. Ultimately, we decided on a full week of exploring Huntsville.
We timed our arrival to catch the local fall festival. Our week was packed with hiking, paddling, and plenty of treats. Here is our ultimate, unified guide to a dog-friendly week in Muskoka!
🏨 Finding the Perfect Dog-Friendly Basecamp: Home2 Suites by Hilton
Our usual go-to spot is the Comfort Inn in Huntsville. It is a wonderful, dog-friendly hotel right in town. It sits right next to the legendary Henrietta’s Pine Bakery. We love their ground-floor rooms with private sliding doors.
However, the Comfort Inn lacks a kitchen. A kitchen is an absolute necessity for a full-week stay with dogs.
That need led us to try Home2 Suites by Hilton. It was a phenomenal choice! The weekly rate was much cheaper than renting a cottage. It was exceptionally accommodating for pets. Plus, we got a full complimentary breakfast buffet every single morning.
The Suite Breakdown
Our room was incredibly comfortable. It was fully equipped for a week away:
- The room featured two queen beds, a TV, a cozy couch, and a table with a chair.
- The kitchenette included an apartment-sized fridge, a sink, and counter space.
- It came with a full set of dishes, utensils, and pots.
- They provided a dishwasher, paper towels, a scrubby, soap, and dishwasher pods.
- The bathroom was wonderful and featured a luxurious shower.
The hotel officially checked in the dogs. They placed a sign on our door to alert the staff. They even thoughtfully provided extra sheets to cover the couch or beds. The sheets allowed the girls to cuddle up guilt-free.
Hotel Amenities & Dog-Friendly Perks
The hotel boasts a fitness center, a laundry area, and an indoor pool. The pool area is not dog-friendly. Outside, there is a great patio area with a fire pit and two BBQs.
🐾 Pet Parent Tip: We asked the front desk if we could leave the dogs in the room while we went for a swim. We filled out paperwork with our cell numbers in case of issues. Because of this, the staff had absolutely no problem with it.
The breakfast buffet had everything you want. It featured oatmeal, waffles, and egg sandwich fixings. The absolute best part? We were allowed to bring the dogs to breakfast with us. They curled up right in front of the fireplace and slept while we ate.
(Apologies for the lack of photos here. The breakfast area was packed with children, and I wanted to respect everyone’s privacy!)
🍂 Chapter 1: Festival Vibes & Fall Festivities
We kicked off our vacation by diving straight into the local autumn celebrations.
Huntsville’s Harvest Feast
We hit downtown Huntsville as soon as we arrived. The town completely shut down Main Street for the Harvest Feast. They filled the street with vendors and live entertainment. The festival was amazing!
The food choices came from all over the world. The vendors also offered endless tables of sweets and freshly baked bread. Retail stalls featured local brick-and-mortar shops and independent artists.
Of course, we could not pass up the adorable fall-themed photo opportunities. Maze and Nyx did an amazing job posing by the tractors and scarecrows.
The local breweries were out in full force. The town executed this part perfectly. We bought tickets from the Town first. Then, we visited our breweries of choice to get our beer. We were actually allowed to walk around the entire open festival with our beers in hand!
Sandhill Nursery Fall Festival
Later in the week, we visited Sandhill Nursery. This is personally my favorite place to go. This stop was technically a treat for me. However, the nursery welcomes dogs with open arms.
Their Fall Festival was in full swing. The entire nursery was stocked with autumn plants, mums, pumpkins, and seasonal decor.
In the back field, they went all out. They featured mazes, oversize local art installations, and live entertainers. They also had food trucks and a beer garden.
You can easily spend hours here getting lost in the fun. There is absolutely no entrance cost but donations for their charity was welcomed! It is a true Muskoka autumn staple.
🥾 Chapter 2: Wilderness Hikes & Stinky Situations
Getting “Lost” in Limberlost Forest
For our first big hiking day, we visited Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve. This massive, privately owned reserve covers 10,000 acres of wilderness. It boasts private lakes, campsites, and dog-friendly trails.
We grabbed day passes to explore the trails. The forest and autumn scenery are utterly exquisite. However, a quick heads-up for fellow hikers: the trail mapping system is not the greatest.
We got turned around and lost several times throughout our hike. Thankfully, we met some incredibly nice people along the way. They pointed us back in the right direction. In total, we hiked for hours. We believe we successfully looped Clear Lake and Turtle Lake.
After the long trek, we hit the beach area by the entrance. We let the girls play and cool off in the water. The views were magnificent, and the dogs had an absolute blast.
The Aftermath: Surviving the “Muskoka Swamp Smell”
What we did not expect was the smell of the dogs. When they came out of the lake, they were incredibly stinky! We towel-dried them as best we could.
Next, we made a quick stop at the Limberlost General Store to browse souvenirs. We love collecting badges. We picked up two awesome badges for our camp bags! After that, we realized we could not put these stinky pups back in the hotel room.
🧼 Life-Saving Discovery: We drove straight to the self-serve dog wash at the Pet Valu in Huntsville. Self-serve dog wash stations are truly the best invention ever. For just $10 per dog, they supplied the soap, towels, and even treats. There was no time limit on our wash. It saved our car and our hotel room!
Essential Ice Cream Stops
After the wash, the dogs smelled much better. We headed out to get some ice cream. You simply cannot visit Huntsville without stopping at Kawartha Dairy.
They make traveling with a pup incredibly seamless. The service window is located outside. The list of choices sits right above the window. You can order your treats without ever leaving your dog’s side.
Best of all? Dog cups are free! Maze and Nyx were thoroughly spoiled with their own vanilla ice cream cups.
🛶 Chapter 3: Smooth Paddling & Unexpected Visitors
Canoeing with Labs at Arrowhead Provincial Park
Day 3 brought us to Arrowhead Provincial Park. This is my absolute favorite park ever! It was not exactly warm enough for humans to swim. However, the dogs are always down for the water.
We decided to try something adventurous. We wanted to canoe with two crazy Labradors. Plus, my husband had never paddled a canoe before in his life!
To prepare, we hit the Arrowhead dog beach first. The girls needed to blow off some steam and burn energy. They were so excited, and the water was perfect.
Next, we picked up our gear from the visitor center. We had called ahead to book the canoe. We gathered our life jackets, safety container, paddles, and canoe key.
We carried the canoe to the water and buckled the life jackets onto the dogs. Swimming was not our goal. We just wanted them safe if we tipped in the middle of the lake.
🛶 Canoe Lesson Learned: The life jackets actually backfired at first. Because of the bulky jackets, the dogs would not settle down. We almost went swimming more than once! We quickly shifted plans. We decided to hug the outer rim of the lake. We also took the life jackets off the girls.
That did the trick! Within minutes, the soothing sound of the paddles put both dogs to sleep. We spent a gorgeous two hours on the water total.
I grew up with a paddle in my hand. Watching my family embrace the peace of the lake meant the world to me. They loved listening to the birds and watching the wildlife. My husband had a great experience and already wants to go again! We finished our day relaxing at a park picnic table with a packed lunch.
🍻 Chapter 4: A Quiet Day in Bracebridge & A Brewery Rescue
Exploring Bracebridge
Day 4 was a very quiet day for the dogs and us. We decided to head to Bracebridge to start our day. Our first stop was Annie Williams Memorial Park.
This dog-friendly park covers 10 acres along the Muskoka River. It has a playground, picnic areas, and a dock. The park features wonderful walking paths. It also boasts massive open fields for fetch. After a lovely stroll, we played a fun game of “catch the treat”.
The Bracebridge Shopping Verdict
After the park, we headed into town to check out the shops. Honestly, we found Bracebridge a bit tougher to navigate with pets. A lot of the stores were not dog-friendly. A strange number of them were closed over the weekend.
However, I did score a major victory. I found a shop selling a beautiful topographic map of Skeleton Lake. Skeleton Lake is where I grew up. Overall, though, Huntsville is far more dog-friendly for shopping.
Drama at Muskoka Brewery
All that walking made us thirsty, so we checked out Muskoka Brewery. This is not just a small-town operation. If you drink beer in Ontario, you have likely seen it at the store.
The brewery was very welcoming to humans and dogs. We got beer, and the staff brought out water bowls for the dogs. You can choose from beer, spirits, or non-alcoholic options. The staff are incredibly attentive. We learned this firsthand!
While we were enjoying our beer, a situation exploded. Out of nowhere, a massive, hyper dog came charging onto the patio. Maze and Nyx are incredibly gentle, submissive girls. This visiting dog was not calm at all.
Our dogs reacted very badly to the intrusion. No owner was in sight. In a panic, our solution was to lift our dogs onto the picnic table.
The brewery staff ran out instantly to help us. The dog had gotten loose down the road. It had just come over for a surprise visit.
The staff secured the dog safely. We took a deep breath and put our dogs back on the ground. It was very eventful! The staff were so apologetic and bought us a round on the house. Excellent customer care proves you are in a wonderful establishment.
🏖️ Chapter 5: Sunsets, Steamships, and Hidden Marketplaces
A Golden Afternoon at Arrowhead Dog Beach
By Day 5, we were ready to dial back the pace. We headed back to Arrowhead Provincial Park. This time, we skipped the canoe paddles. We headed straight for their wonderful dog beach instead.
We spent the entire afternoon splashing and playing. The girls loved chasing their favorite water disc on the sand. Maze and Nyx were in pure Labrador heaven. To top off a perfect day, we stayed on the shoreline. We watched a magnificent sunset reflect off the water.
Exploring Steamships in Gravenhurst
On Day 6, we set out to explore Gravenhurst. Our first stop was the historic wharf. We went to see the R.M.S. Segwun. The ship is North America’s oldest operating steamship. The girls looked like seasoned sailors posing by the hull!
After walking the waterfront, we explored downtown. That is where we hit the absolute jackpot. We found an amazing indoor market called The Shipyards Muskoka Marketplace.
The marketplace features a massive collection of local makers and artisans. Best of all, it is completely dog-friendly! We spent hours browsing the stalls and finding unique pieces. It was a great break from the autumn sun.
🌲 Chapter 7: Tired Paws in Algonquin Park
Being based in Huntsville means you are close to Algonquin Provincial Park. However, non-stop exploring finally caught up to our pack. By the latter part of the week, the girls started their days a little tired. They looked completely cozy snuggled into their back-seat hammock.
Still, you cannot visit the region without stepping foot in Algonquin! We decided on a low-impact trail. We visited the Algonquin Logging Museum.
This spot features an easy 1.3 km loop trail. The path begins and ends at the visitor reception building. It is packed with fascinating historical exhibits.
As you walk, you get to explore logging history. The trail features a reconstructed camboose camp and a logging locomotive. It was the perfect pace for a sleepy day. It gave the dogs plenty of mental stimulation on an easy walk.
After the museum, we decided to check out another easy loop nearby. We headed over to the Spruce Bog Boardwalk. This trail is a flat, 1.5 km loop that is perfect for tired dogs. It features wide gravel paths and beautiful wooden boardwalks. The boardwalks take you right across two massive, open spruce bogs. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful. Maze and Nyx loved sniffing along the edge of the boardwalks. The flat terrain was exactly what our sleepy pups needed to stretch their legs. It was a beautiful, relaxing trek through a very unique ecosystem.
We capped off our day back in Huntsville. We enjoyed dinner on a dog-friendly outdoor patio right on the main street.
🍒 Chapter 7: The Grand Finale at the Bala Cranberry Festival (Day 8)
We saved an incredible experience for our final day. We attended the famous Cranberry Festival in Bala. This event is absolutely fantastic. It is a true bucket-list item for autumn in Ontario.
Your admission ticket grants you access to the entire property. You can hike the gorgeous perimeter trails. You can also join in on all the events happening throughout the day.
The property is stunning. It features giant, eye-catching local art installations. The girls loved posing beneath a massive metallic statue built into the rocks.
Our day was packed with classic fall fun:
- We hopped on a scenic wagon ride around the farm.
- The humans got to enjoy a local wine tasting.
- We experienced the main event: walking right out into a vibrant cranberry marsh!
Standing in a sea of floating red cranberries is an experience we will never forget. The girls were total champions all day. They found shade under the wooden structures when they needed a break. They panted happily and soaked up attention from everyone passing by. It was the ultimate ending to an unforgettable week.
🐾 The Ultimate Weekly Lesson: Life is Better with a Dog
Reflecting on our full week away, changing our strategy was a total game-changer. Booking a dog-centric suite at Home2 Suites worked perfectly. It gave us the ideal home base to see the best of Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Bala.
Muskoka is always beautiful. However, experiencing it through the eyes of our dogs made this vacation special. We loved watching them conquer their first canoe ride and explore the trails.
If you plan a trip up north with your pups, pack plenty of towels! Map out your self-serve dog washes ahead of time. Finally, do not forget to claim those free vanilla cups at Kawartha Dairy!
Make sure you check out our other road trips for some great ideas!
