Welcome to my Big 3 Guide for Muskoka's most popular lakes: Lake Joseph, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Muskoka.
In this article, we'll explore all you need to know — from technical specs to lodgings to fun things to do — when it comes to Lake Rosseau.
Arguably Muskoka’s most well known and popular of the Big 3 Muskoka Lakes, Lake Rosseau has led the evolution of the Muskoka region into the 21st century.
Lake Rosseau showcases many modern, state-of-the-art, luxury lake houses, many of which also boast large, 2-storey boat houses with upper level accommodations. With direct lake access to neighbouring Lake Joseph via the Joe River or Port Sandfield channel, Lake Rosseau is ideal for socializing among old Muskoka families, and today’s upwardly mobile “Movers and Shakers” — from Canada and beyond.
Many celebrity sightings can be traced to Lake Rosseau — the lake is home to some 1,450 cottages, including those linked to big names like Tom Hanks, Cindy Crawford, and the Rogers Family — and new visitors can become acquainted with area via short-term stays at a plethora of rental cottages on the lake, or through stays at local hotels like the JW Marriot.
If you are looking for a unique boating tour, I recommend you circumnavigate Tobin Island, where you can view a range of quintessential muskoka cottages (including the massive Rogers family estate-meets-compound).
The Tech Specs
Where Is Lake Rosseau
Lake Rosseau is located in north central Muskoka, with the lake's north portion extending into the Township of Humphrey in Parry Sound District. Lake Rosseau can be accessed via Muskoka Roads 4, 7, 25, 27, and 28, and by Highway 141.
Maximum Depth
89 metres
Surface Area
6,390 hectares
Public Access
Public; public boat launches at Rosseau, Port Carling, and Skeleton Bay.
The Fun Stuff
Restaurants
These are the must-visit eateries in the region.
- Bala Falls Pub
Address: 1010 Bala Falls Rd, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-762-3035 - Beveragino
Address: 81 Joseph St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 905-616-0525 - Castle Blue
Address: 3063 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-331-2328 - Coop Wicked Chicken Port Carling
Address: 119 Medora St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-0429 - Crossroads
Address: 2 Cardwell Rd, Rosseau, ON P0C 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-732-4343 - Don's Bakery
Address: 3119 Muskoka District Road 169 #2, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-762-3937 - Em's Cafe
Address: 16 Coldwater Rd, Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-826-9967 - Knead Pizza Co
Address: 1 Lock St E, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 647-204-4019 - Nicolas Restaurant
Address: Honey Harbour Rd, Georgian Bay, ON L0K, Canada
Phone: +1 705-756-9092 - Pie Wood Fired Pizza Joint
Address: 114 Medora St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-1518 - Pizzaville
Address: 295 Wellington St Unit 10, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P3, Canada
Phone: +1 705-645-5557 - Tulo's Taqueria Muskoka
Address: 2 James Bartleman Way, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-6538 - Turtle Jack's Port Carling
Address: 123 Medora St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-1753 - Waters Edge Restaurant
Address: 1072 Elgin House Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-2040 - York & Mason
Address: 105 Maple St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-0770 - Boathouse Eatery
Address: 177 King St, Midland, ON L4R 3L9, Canada
Phone: +1 705-527-7480 - Chef Henrie Bistro & Café
Address: 339 High St, MacTier, ON P0C 1H0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-345-5042 - Jack and Stella
Address: 1004 Bala Falls Rd, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada - Lakeside Bala Restaurant
Address: 3068 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-641-9589 - Moon River Lookout Restaurant & Catering
Address: 1002 Walker St, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-762-2393 - Portside Fusion Restaurant
Address: 98 Joseph St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-0003 - Riverwalk
Address: 3 Ecclestone Dr, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1S4, Canada
Phone: +1 705-646-0711 - The Hook & Ladder Bar and Grill
Address: 3119 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-762-0707 - The Old Station Restaurant
Address: 88 Manitoba St, Bracebridge, ON P1L 2B5, Canada
Phone: +1 705-645-9776 - Wabora
Address: 295 Wellington St N, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1B8, Canada
Phone: +1 705-646-9500 - Waters Edge Restaurant
Address: 1147 Elgin House Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
Phone: +1 705-765-2040
Local Activities
Day trip? Don't miss the chance to enjoy these local activities.
- Diamond in the Ruff Golf & Vacation Resort
- Address: 1137 Old Parry Sound Rd, Utterson, ON P0B 1M0, Canada
- Phone: +1 877-385-3222
- Muskoka BeerSpa
- Address: 1006 Clear Lake Rd, Torrance, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-571-1814
- Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club
- Address: 1072 Shamrock Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-3166
- Muskoka Steamships
- Address: 185 Cherokee Ln, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1G7, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-687-6667
- Muskoka Zip Lines & Aerial Park
- Address: 1624 Golden Beach Rd, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-645-2512
- Port Carling Wall
- Address: 2-7 James Bartleman Way, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Santa's Village: Muskoka's Theme Park
- Address: 1624 Golden Beach Rd, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-645-2512
- Sugarbush Hill Maple Farm
- Address: 2389 Muskoka District Road 10, Huntsville, ON P1H 2J3, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-787-9787
- Taboo Muskoka Golf Course
- Address: 1209 Muskoka Beach Rd, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1R1, Canada
- Phone: +1 800-461-0236
- The Boathouse Yoga Co.
- Address: 1112 Juddhaven Rd, Minett, ON P0B 1G0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-394-8279
- The Fairways at Kirrie Glen
- Address: 1838 Kirrie Glen Road, Muskoka District Road 118 West, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-645-4520
*Image: Muskoka Zip Lines & Aerial Park, Instagram
Grocery Shopping
It's not the cottage without s'mores. Stock up here.
- Address: 1003 Mill St, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-762-1254
- Address: 3384 Muskoka St, Washago, ON L0K 2B0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-514-5000
- Address: 3173 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
- Address: 301 Westmount Dr N, Orillia, ON L3V 6Y4, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-325-9902
- Address: 1 Bruce Wilson Dr, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-1895
- Address: 10 Bruce Wilson Dr, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-3121
- Address: 861 Bay St, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1G7, Canada
- Address: 8 Harris St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-3936
- Address: 40 Bailey St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Address: 1 Rice St, Rosseau, ON P0C 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-732-4479
- Address: 1175 ON-141, Rosseau, ON P0C 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-767-3914
- Address: 1316 Peninsula Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-3361
- Address: 101 Entrance Dr, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1H3, Canada
*Image: Unsplash
Parks & Nature
Take a hike! No, literally.
- Address: Algonquin Park, ON K0J 2M0, Canada
- Address: 451 Arrowhead Park Rd, Huntsville, ON P1H 2J4, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-789-5105
- Address: Highway 169, Torrance, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-756-2746
- Address: Muskoka Lakes, ON P0B 1M0, Canada
- Address: 115 ON-141, Parry Sound, ON P2A 2W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-732-4313
- Address: Southwood Rd, Gravenhurst, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
- Phone: +1 800-267-9700
- Address: 3070 Muskoka District Road 169, Torrance, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
*Image: Arrowhead Provincial Park, Instagram
Sightseeing & Museums
Set your sights on these must-visit destinations.
- Address: Algonquin Park, ON K0J 2M0, Canada
- Address: 451 Arrowhead Park Rd, Huntsville, ON P1H 2J4, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-789-5105
- Address: Highway 169, Torrance, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-756-2746
- Address: Muskoka Lakes, ON P0B 1M0, Canada
- Address: 115 ON-141, Parry Sound, ON P2A 2W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-732-4313
- Address: Southwood Rd, Gravenhurst, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
- Phone: +1 800-267-9700
- Address: 3070 Muskoka District Road 169, Torrance, ON P0C 1M0, Canada
*Image: Muskoka Lakes Museum, Instagram
Bars & Nightlife
For when you're craving a night on the town.
- Address: 4700 Muskoka District Road 169, MacTier, ON P0C 1H0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-375-5440
- Address: 81 Joseph St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-5252
- Address: 2 Cardwell Rd, Rosseau, ON P0C 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-732-4343
- Address: 1004 Bala Falls Rd, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
- Address: 3068 Muskoka District Road 169, Bala, ON P0C 1A0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-641-9589
- Address: 98 Maple St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Address: 114 Medora St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-1518
- Address: 98 Joseph St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-0003
- Address: 3 Ecclestone Dr, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1S4, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-646-0711
- Address: 3142 Muskoka District Road 118 West, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Address: 2 James Bartleman Way, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-6538
- Address: 123 Medora St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-1753
- Address: 2508 Windermere Rd, Windermere, ON P0B 1P0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-769-3611
- Address: 105 Maple St, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-0770
*Image: Pie Wood Fired Pizza Joint, Instagram
Concierge Services
Sit back, relax, and get your summer tan on.
- Jayne's Gourmet Catering and Event Management
- Address: 3104 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 1Z8, Canada
- Phone: +1 416-406-4500
- Muskoka Massage Co
- Address: 193 Manitoba St Unit 4, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1S3, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-205-5337
*Image: Unsplash
Golf
There's nothing like practicing your swing in Muskoka.
- Lake Joseph Golf Club
- Address: 1072 Elgin House Rd, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-765-2000
- Rocky Crest Golf Club
- Address: Hamer Bay Rd RR 1, MacTier, ON P0C 1H0, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-375-4688
- The Fairways at Kirrie Glen
- Address: 1838 Kirrie Glen Road, Muskoka District Road 118 West, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8, Canada
- Phone: +1 705-645-4520
Image: Rocky Crest Golf Club, Instagram
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This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio.
