Lake of Bays
Big water, clear and clean, with 167 kilometres of shoreline to explore. One of Muskoka's finest lakes — and one of its most welcoming communities.
66 km²
Surface Area
167 km
Shoreline
22 m avg
Depth
70 m+
Max Depth
Lake of Bays is one of those lakes that doesn't need much of a sales pitch. The first time you're out on the water, especially on a calm morning when the lake is glass and the shoreline looks like it's been carved out of granite and pine, you get it. It's classic Muskoka scenery, but with a little more breathing room and a little less "crowded cottage corridor" than some of the more famous spots.
I've sold a lot of cottages on Lake of Bays over the years, and what always stands out is how sure people feel once they've spent a bit of time here. They'll show up thinking they're just "checking out" a few cottages and by the end of the weekend they're talking about favourite bays or where they'd extend the dock. It has that effect.
Part of the magic is the size. At around 66 square kilometres, it's big water, enough room to boat, ski, sail, or just disappear for an afternoon without feeling like you're on top of anyone else. And because the shoreline is so interesting, with long points, deep bays, islands tucked in all over the place, you can have the open-lake experience or find a quiet pocket. A lot of families love that mix: excitement when you want it, calm when you don't.
And then there's the practical side, which matters more than people admit. You're still close to Huntsville for shopping, dining, and the basics, so you can do the "quiet escape" thing without feeling isolated. Dorset, Dwight, Baysville, each of the little communities around the lake has its own vibe, and over time most owners end up with their favourite spots for breakfast, groceries, and that last-minute hardware run.
The cottagers' association is another underrated piece of the Lake of Bays experience. You can feel the pride here. People care about the lake, they care about keeping it healthy, and they care about the community, both the year-round folks and the seasonal crowd. It's welcoming, but not performative.
If you're looking for a lake that gives you the full Muskoka cottage lifestyle — big water, beautiful shorelines, strong community, and easy access to town — Lake of Bays is hard to beat. It's a lake people don't just visit. They settle into it.
The Numbers Behind the Lake
Lake of Bays is big water by any cottage-country standard, roughly 6,780 hectares (about 68 km²) with an average depth around 22 metres and pockets that drop to roughly 70 metres or more. What really surprises most people is how much shoreline it packs in: about 167 km of bays, points, and stretches of rugged edge that keep the lake feeling endlessly explorable.
Hydrologically, most of the lake's inflow comes from the Oxtongue and Hollow Rivers. Upstream, flows on the Oxtongue are influenced by the Tea Lake Dam, while the lake's level itself is managed at Baysville through the broader Muskoka River Water Management Plan. In plain English: water levels aren't random, there's an operating framework behind what you see at the dock from season to season.
Lake of Bays — From Working Landscape to Cottage Country
Before there were cottages, marinas, or even proper roads, Lake of Bays was already a working landscape with travel routes, hunting grounds, fishing waters, and seasonal camps used by Indigenous peoples, including Anishinaabeg communities in this broader Muskoka–Algonquin corridor, as outlined by the Ontario Heritage Trust.
When settlement started to push north in the late 1800s, it wasn't because someone "found" the lake, it was because more people finally had a way to reach it. With roads improving and rail service reaching the region in the 1870s, families began establishing roots in places like Dorset and Baysville. From there, Lake of Bays slowly shifted from "hard country" to a place people returned to on purpose, first for seasonal work and escape, and eventually for vacations and cottage life.
By the early 1900s, the lake had started building the reputation it still has today: big water, wild edges, and a feeling that you're close to something bigger than just a weekend away.
Tom Thomson & the Group of Seven Connection
That's part of why the Lake of Bays – Huntsville – Algonquin area shows up so often in Canada's art story. Tom Thomson is the name that gets mentioned most, and for good reason. Huntsville has leaned into that heritage in a very local way with a bronze Tom Thomson statue in Civic Square near the Algonquin Theatre, as highlighted in Destination Ontario's guide to Huntsville and the Group of Seven. On the Lake of Bays side, the township has the Tom Thomson Parkway and has hosted public art installations along it, documented by the Township of Lake of Bays.
What Brings People to Lake of Bays
Boating & Watersports
At 66 km², there's room to really move. Whether it's a morning cruise, waterskiing, wakeboarding, or simply anchoring in a quiet bay with nowhere to be, the lake earns its reputation as big water.
Fishing
Lake of Bays is taken seriously by anglers. Lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and whitefish are all present. The deep water and healthy lake ecology make for consistent, quality fishing throughout the season.
Paddling & Exploration
The 167 km of shoreline, with bays, channels, islands, and inlets, keeps paddlers busy for years. The Oxtongue River corridor heading toward Algonquin is a favourite for canoe tripping, with access points close to Dwight.
Hiking, Skiing & Limberlost
Limberlost Reserve is one of the real gems close to the lake, with well-maintained trails through old-growth forest that work in every season, including groomed cross-country ski trails in winter. Algonquin Provincial Park is less than an hour away, and there are strong local trail systems throughout the Huntsville and Lake of Bays area for all ability levels.
Local Communities
Huntsville offers full services, restaurants, and a vibrant arts scene. Dorset, Dwight, and Baysville each have their own character with hardware stores, bakeries, marinas, and the kind of local knowledge that only comes from people who've been there for generations.
Winter & Four Seasons
Lake of Bays is increasingly a four-season destination. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and skating are all part of the winter picture, and the communities around the lake stay active well past Labour Day.
Lake of Bays Waterfront Market
Lake of Bays is considered one of Muskoka's core lakes alongside Lake Joseph, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Muskoka and has generally held its own better than smaller or less-established lakes through the current correction. The luxury segment above $3M has remained comparatively stable, which continues to influence average and median price figures.
The chart below tracks Lake of Bays waterfront market conditions over time, with the ability to compare sales volume, new listings, and annual average and median prices. It covers all waterfront properties reported across multiple Ontario real estate boards a market-wide view rather than any single MLS® subset.
Data source: Habistat Analytics (compiled from multiple Real Estate Boards). Note: average and median price charts should be interpreted with caution given low sales volumes and the skewing effect of the luxury segment.
Thinking About Lake of Bays?
Our home turf is Muskoka and Parry Sound. We live and paddle here, and we know these lakes well. If you're considering a move in cottage country, give us a call.