Toronto 
Take the roughly 80km journey around central Ontario’s Lake of Bays this fall. The Lake of Bays Scenic Drive is arguably best during the fall season.
The weather is still warm enough to enjoy the beautiful outdoor areas with hiking, fishing, paddling, and boating. The location of the Lake of Bays within Ontario’s densely forested areas makes the scenery bright, warm, and colourful during the fall months.
The Scenic Drive is a loop around Lake of Bays using Highway 35, 117 and Muskoka District Road 2 and 9. Along the journey are several interesting stops, including the three larger communities on the lake: Baysville, Dorset, and Dwight.
Explore Dorset
Get some of the best fall colour views in Ontario’s Muskoka or Algonquin Highlands from Dorset! The town, on the far east side of the Lake of Bays, surrounds the smaller Trading Bay and is relatively close to Algonquin Park’s southern boundaries. A stop in Dorset can include those fall colour views, plus a dive into history, a boat cruise, and a handful of local dining or picnic options.
- Climb the Dorset Lookout Tower for one of the area’s best views of the fall colours. Tickets are required!
- Make time for another unique attraction in Dorset on your drive. The SS Bigwin and Lake of Bays Museum offer public cruises on the Lake of Bays until Thanksgiving Weekend (currently paused due to repairs).
- The Museum grounds are also a scenic setting for a picnic, with more space across the water at Cedar Narrows Park.
- Dorset offers a launch area for boating on the Lake of Bays. This expansive lake has dozens of kilometres of shoreline and island shorelines to explore. Otter Lake is opposite Lake of Bays on the other side of Dorset and offers a smaller, calmer paddling experience.
- Find the local spots to eat in Dorset for a fall picnic or a roadside stop. Local options include Pizza on Earth, Robinson’s Chip Stand, or Zachary’s Restaurant.
Explore Dwight
Explore the arts and culture of the Muskoka and Lake of Bays Region in Dwight! A few places offer a great selection of local handmade goods, art, and food items. Dwight is on the north side of the Lake of Bays, near where the Oxtongue River meets the lake.
- Grab a hearty breakfast, lunch, or dinner from Dwight’s Boiler Room Tap & Grill.
- The Lake of Bays Garden Centre in Dwight offers several reasons for a stop: the shopping, including fun holiday and home décor, events, workshops, markets, and the yummy treats from Din’s Fresh Cut Fries.
- Oxtongue Craft Cabin & Gallery offers the chance to browse and shop for an array of media, including glass, fibre, and metal art, as well as indoor and outdoor décor, gifts and cards, kids’ items, and more.
- Satisfy your sweet tooth in Dwight with Erika’s and the bakery’s freshly made tarts, squares, or donuts. The bakery also offers lunch items like soup, sandwiches, and pizza.
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Explore Baysville
Find Baysville on the south shore of Scenic Drive and Lake of Bays. The town offers great waterfront locations for picnics, fall colour walks, and taking in the lakeside scenery.
- Stop by Cast Iron Restaurant for elevated pub food for lunch or dinner.
- The Humble Pie Bakery & Pizzeria can provide the sweet or savoury treats for fall picnic with decadent sweet pies, or their pizzas piled high with toppings.
- The Lake of Bays Brewing Company in Baysville offers Brewery Tours by appointment on weekends, a tasting bar for the brews, and a stockpile of merch for souvenirs.
- With all these eatery options, you can find yourself a gorgeous picnic site nearby! Sit under the fall colours of the Grist Mill Park in Baysville with views overlooking the Narrows.
- The Murden Gallery & Studio is filled with a great deal of art from the owner, as well as other Canadian artists. In addition, the gallery offers portrait photography and preserves from local producers. Stop by to browse the art shop and meet Ziggy and Chester, the gallery cats.
Where to Stay around the Lake of Bays Scenic Loop
One does not need to leave the main Scenic Drive Loop to find excellent places to stay. These accommodations range in style and type and include everything from luxury cottages to campground tent sites.
- Find a bit of luxury after the drive with these cottage resorts: Muskoka Waterfront Retreat, The Landscapes, Bluewater Acres, Port Cunnington Lodge, or The Bondi Cottage Resort.
- Relax with a local bed and breakfast, and enjoy a hearty meal before starting the day at establishments like The Bread & Butter Inn or The Moose B&B.
- Camp near Dwight with the Algonquin Pines Family Campground, which also offers cabins and glamping.
Lake of Bays Scenic Drive Map
Credit: Lake of Bays
