Explore Huntsville with Your Four-legged Companion

Exploring the outdoors is part of the Canadian identity and there is no better partner for exploring than our four-legged furry friends. Nothing compares to the freedom of hitting the open road and heading out to discover something new and exciting. Why not explore the outdoors with your favourite four-legged companion?  If you’re looking for adventure combined with iconic cottage country landscapes, Huntsville and Lake of Bays offers a multitude of options, with hiking and outdoor adventures that lead you to sweeping vistas, crystal blue lakes and lush green forests that you can all enjoy with pets. Here’s a list to get you inspired on that next adventure along with the pet-friendly businesses in the area.

Huntsville

Freedom Dog Park is a great off leash park that is fully fenced and has separate areas for puppies and small dogs. It is a great spot for pets to exercise and socialize while also being right beside the McCulley-Robertson Sportsplex which has running water and bathrooms.

Arrowhead Provincial Park is one of the jewels of Ontario’s park system, located inside the Town of Huntsville’s borders. The park has 5 official hiking trails to choose from with varying levels of difficulty. The 2km Stubbs Falls trail is perhaps the most popular as it winds through the forest and ends with a view of the Little East River rushing down a rock chute. The Big Bend Lookout trail is a gentle walk that leads to a lookout platform high above the winding Big East River. Arrowhead has a large beach for swimming and offers canoe and paddleboard rentals for exploring the lake and river. The park is pet-friendly as long as they are on a leash. There is an area located near the north end of Arrowhead Lake where dogs can be off-leash. A small area near the main beach is also permitted for dogs to be off-leash for swimming purposes.

The Fairy Vista Trail is a 3.4km paved trail that wanders through fields, forests and wetlands. Just outside of Huntsville (with parking off of Highway #60), the trail has some moderate climbs and provides opportunities to see wildlife and waterfowl and to listen to a variety of songbirds along its multi-use route. This is a great trail to go on a leisurely walk with your furry companion.

The Hunter’s Bay Trail is part of Canada’s Great Trail (formerly known as the Trans-Canada Trail) and travels 5km along the Muskoka River and Hunter’s Bay, beginning in downtown Huntsville. A must-see attraction, the trail features two long sections of floating boardwalk where you can literally walk above the surface of the bay. The trail also wanders through a stand of white birch and a section of forest so lush it feels as though you are exploring a tunnel. At the centre of the trail, Huntsville’s Avery Beach Park offers swimming, a picnic area and a public boat launch. Both permit dogs to walk and even swim! A great spot to cool off in the summer for your furry friend.

If you’re looking for a day trip with lots to do for both you and your four-legged friend, Huntsville and Lake of Bays has it all: majestic scenery, hiking and walking trails, beaches and pet-friendly restaurants and shopping experiences.  Located in the heart of cottage county, a short drive can bring you to places where you and your furry companion can explore all year round. Use this guide to create your own outdoor adventure with your furry friend.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park was the first provincial park in Ontario and is world-renowned for its wilderness and adventure opportunities. Algonquin has 20 interpretive hiking trails of varying lengths and levels of difficulty. If you’re up for a challenge, the flagship Centennial Ridges Trail is a 10km loop with cliff-top views over the treeline and Whitefish Lake. For a gentler hike try the Spruce Bog Boardwalk Trail which runs 1.5km through two unique spruce bogs. From scenic lookouts to rushing rapids, Algonquin provides the opportunity to head into nature and explore the rugged terrain that has made the park famous. These trails can all be explored with your pets! The only trail that is not permitted for furry friends is Mizzy Lake Trail. There are even pet-friendly beaches with Lake of Two Rivers, Mew Lake, and Rock Lake all permitting pets. All pets must be on a leash and must not exceed 2 metres in length unless otherwise posted as an off-leash area. For more information please visit here.

Lake of Bays

Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is a publicly accessible, private year-round wilderness haven with 20 lakes and more than 10,000 unspoiled acres of mixed forest. The reserve contains more than 70km of multi-use trails that are available to the public free of charge. There are 8 principal trails that wind along shorelines and rise to scenic lookouts. Come enjoy the beauty of Limberlost with your furry-companion. Pets are permitted as long as they are kept under control at all times and remain on a leash. Download a trail map and fill out a safety waiver online before hitting the trails.

The Oxtongue Rapids Trail winds 2km along the shore of the Oxtongue River. The rugged terrain highlights the river and its many rapids as well as mature forests and provides excellent opportunities to see birds and wildlife. There is also a picnic area and a historical monument documenting the river’s history. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.

If you are looking for breathtaking scenery Dorset Tower is a place you have to visit. The attraction features a 30-meter scenic viewing tower that overlooks Lake of Bays and the Dorset area. The tower itself is not pet-friendly but the park and the beautiful area around the tower are.

The hike to Ragged Falls on the Oxtongue River might only be 1km long, but the views over the stunning waterfall have captured the imagination of settlers, paddlers and even Group of Seven painter A.J. Casson. Listen to the roar of the river and hike beside the falls to check out multiple vantage points. Snap a picture with your furry friend as long as they are on a leash!

Below is a list of pet-friendly businesses within the Huntsville and Lake of Bays area. It’s always best to call ahead or visit their websites for the latest information on their pet policies so you and your furry friend are not disappointed when visiting the area.  

Pet Friendly Accommodations

• Arrowhead Inn
• Bondi Village Resort
• Cedar Grove Lodge
• Comfort Inn
• Deerhurst Resort
• Fairymill Guest House/High Street
• Hidden Valley Resort
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites
• Killarney Lodge
• Knights Inn
• Huntsville Lagoons
• Lake of Bays Lodge
• Motel 6
• Northridge Inn
• Port Cunnington Lodge
• Rainbow Inn
• Rodeway Inn King William
• Tally Ho Inn
• The Pines Cottage Resort

 Pet Friendly Restaurants

• On the Docks Pub (Lower Patio only)
• Muskoka on the Rocks (Patio only)
• Moose Delaney’s Sports Bar & Grill (Patio only)
• Canvas Brewing (Lower Patio only)
• Lake of Bays Brewing Company (Baysville location)

Veterinarians

• Huntsville Animal Hospital
• Muskoka Animal Hospital
• Muskoka Lakes Veterinary Clinic