Know Your Lake
Lake Muskoka
Town of Gravenhurst; Township of Muskoka Lakes; Town of Bracebridge, District Municipality of Muskoka
Lake Muskoka is the largest of the three big Muskoka lakes in MNR data, with Gravenhurst and Bala on its shores. It is deep and cold. The shoreline is split between Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes and Bracebridge.
Lake facts
Surface area
120.4 km²
Public record · Ontario MNR Aquatic Resource Area (ARA) Water Poly Segment, Land Information Ontario open data (data used by Fish ON-Line) · checked November 5 2026Deepest point
66.0 m
Public record · Ontario MNR Aquatic Resource Area (ARA) Water Poly Segment, Land Information Ontario open data (data used by Fish ON-Line) · checked November 5 2026Boating rules
Schedule 5: 9 km/h within 30 m of shore, a dock, pier, raft, floating platform or another vessel (not for a water ski or kite take-off straight out from shore). 10 km/h on the Muskoka River from the forks to its mouth at Lake Muskoka. On this lake the 9 km/h limit replaces the general 10 km/h within 30 m of shore rule (Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations, s. 2(7) and 2(8)). No other lake-wide limit found in the schedules.
Public record · Transport Canada, Schedules of the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (TP 15587), 2nd edition April 2026 · checked November 5 2026Fish in the lake
Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Cisco, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Burbot, Brown Bullhead. These game and pan fish are recorded in MNR lake data; not all are common today.
Public record · Ontario MNR Aquatic Resource Area (ARA) Water Poly Segment, Land Information Ontario open data (data used by Fish ON-Line) · checked November 5 2026Fishing zone
Zone 15
Public record · Fisheries Management Zone 15, Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, ontario.ca · checked November 5 2026Water clarity
Lake Partner Program volunteer data: 2025 average water clarity (Secchi depth) 3.1 m from 8 readings; 2025 average total phosphorus 10.3 micrograms per litre from 3 samples.
Public record · Ontario Lake Partner Program open data, Secchi depth and total phosphorus files (2025 release), data.ontario.ca/dataset/ontario-lake-partner · checked November 5 2026Boat launches
Provincial data lists 26 boat launch or access points on or beside the lake (22 marked municipal, provincial or federal; others private or not stated). Named public sites include Gravenhurst Wharf, Bala Town Dock, Beaumaris, Milford Bay, Walkers Point, Torrance, St. Elmo's Wharf, Bowyers Beach. Check ownership, fees and parking locally.
Public record · Ontario MNR Fishing Access Point layer, Land Information Ontario open data (points within 400 m of the lake outline) · checked November 5 2026Parks on the lake
Also in provincial park boundary data: Hardy Lake Provincial Park (marked non-operating).
Public record · Ontario Provincial Park Regulated boundary layer, Land Information Ontario open data · checked November 5 2026Lake association
Public record · Muskoka Lakes Association website · checked November 5 2026
Lake ratings
Rated 1 to 5 by cottage owners on this lake (one rating per owner) and by renters after a Dock & Loon stay (one per stay). An average shows once 3 people have rated. Every rating counts, low ones included. Ratings and tags are opinions, not checks of water quality, algae or ice safety.
| Rating | Cottage owners | Renters |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Quiet and calm | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Fishing | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Paddling | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Boating and water sports | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Scenery and sunsets | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
General information only. Lake rules and conditions change: check the official source before you swim, boat or fish.