The District of Muskoka is hoping to reconnect southern Ontario cottage country with Toronto cottage owners and would-be visitors.
Porter Airlines was the last to offer commercial flights to Muskoka Airport with 35-minute service from Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport during summer 2019 and 2022. Yours truly was able to try the flights a couple times, and thought they were outstanding.
The route was suspended during the pandemic and officially cancelled in early 2023,
As reported by my friends at Open Jaw, “with travel patterns shifting and demand for domestic getaways rising, local officials say the time is right for a carrier comeback.”
“It’s still top priority,” District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman told muskokaregion.com. “We’re hoping that this change in tourism patterns and spending will stoke some new interest in bringing a scheduled route here.”
A ride on the Wenonah II on Lake Muskoka. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Lehman referenced tourism patterns and spending less than two months after industry reports indicated more Ontario residents are considering vacationing closer to home, due to the ongoing trade war with the U.S.
It’s a nice idea, as driving from downtown (or even North Toronto) to Muskoka can take an awfully long time in summer. A family with kids will want to have their car, but someone heading up to a family cottage might find the idea very attractive, and certainly a huge time saver.
Given the number of people who live in other parts of North America and have cottages in Muskoka, or like to vacation there, a Porter Airlines flight from Billy Bishop would allow them to fly in from cities such as Chicago, New York or Montreal.
Muskoka is one of the great nature playgrounds in all of Canada. I’ve spent many, many weeks in the region in the 44 years I’ve lived in Canada, and it’s one of my fave places in the world.
I’m a little biased, as we have many friends in the area and often get to stay at lovely cottages. But I’ve also stayed at a variety of resorts and inns in the region that don’t require cottage connections; including the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort and Spa, Deerhurst Resort, Sherwood Inn and The Residence Inn Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf. The latter is just a few steps from the marvelous, award-winning (full disclosure: I’m on the board of directors) Muskoka Discovery Centre, where you’ll find fabulous exhibits that explain local history, nature and culture. The centre also includes a wonderful exhibit called Misko-Aki: Confluence of Cultures, which helps visitors understand the rich, ancient history of indigenous peoples in the region.
Another great way to explore Muskoka is a ride one of the Muskoka Steamships and Discovery Centre’s majestic ships. The Wenonah II is a beautiful replica ship that plies the lakes of Muskoka in spring, summer and fall.
The beautiuful RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Segwun dates back nearly 140 years and is the oldest operating mail steamship in North America. It was originally called the “Nipissing II,” but was re-christened as RMS Segwun and launched in 1925. That means she’s celebrating her 100th birthday this year! She’s been getting a facelift and is scheduled to start sailing in July.
A third option, which should be available soon, is a trip on the magnificent Wanda III. It’s a former steamship that was once owned by the Eaton family and has been painstakingly converted to electric power. It’s a small, intimate ship with an amazing history that visitors from Canada and around the world will enjoy.
Take a ride on the RMS Segwun out of Gravenhurst. PHOTO COURTESY MUSKOKA STEAMSHIPS & DISCOVERY CENTRE
On top of a great sail, the purchase of a ship tour gets you a discount on a visit to the Discovery Centre.
TRAIN SERVICE COMING FROM TORONTO NEXT YEAR
It’s not available yet, but the Ontario Northlander train is set to start running from Union Station in downtown Toronto to Gravenhurst (and beyond) next summer. That will be an easy, hassle-free way to get to to Muskoka from the city.
“Operated by the provincially owned Ontario Northland Railway, the service was discontinued in 2012 and replaced with express buses,” BlogTO reports. “Now, it’s set to relaunch sometime next year with expanded service and new trains, and here’s a peek into what the experience will look like.
The reinstated Northlander will run a bi-directional route between Toronto and Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane.
The route is set to include 16 stops in total, including Toronto (Union Station), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake (Swastika), Matheson, Timmins, and Cochrane. The Washago, Bracebridge, and Huntsville stops also will be very convenient for Muskoka lovers.
The Northlander will operate using new Siemens Venture trainsets, which are currently in production and each includes one locomotive and three passenger cars. The fully-accessible trains include features like built-in wheelchair lifts, wide aisles, braille signage for key features, audio and visual onboard announcements, and accessible washrooms.
