2 Days in Huntsville Ontario: An Amazing Weekend Itinerary

Planning a weekend getaway to Huntsville, Ontario? This cute small town is a great homebase for fun-filled outdoor activities in Muskoka. This is our complete itinerary for how we spent 2 days in Huntsville, Ontario and the surrounding area for an amazing road trip adventure.

This is a well-rounded travel itinerary where we tried a number of exciting outdoor activities, like off-roading to a hidden gem of a provincial park and nighttime ziplining beneath the stars. With that said, this is not your typical Huntsville travel guide. We’ve provided some new and unique things to do in Huntsville and Muskoka to add to your bucket list.

We took a road trip from Huntsville around Baysville, Dorset and other little communities in Muskoka. Since our road trip involved a bit of off-roading, we needed a safe, reliable and durable vehicle to get from place to place.

Justin and I had the opportunity to test drive the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV S-AWC during our 2 days in Huntsville. And all of those initials stand for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Super-All Wheel Control.

First, we’ll tell you a little bit more about why this is an excellent vehicle to choose for outdoor adventures and daily commutes alike. Then, we’ll get more into the specific itinerary details for a trip to Huntsville, Ontario.

Test Driving the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the ideal vehicle for off-roading and outdoor adventures. Mitsubishi is a pioneer in electric vehicles, creating them since 1970. The hybrid combination between gas and electric power allows Mitsubishi to lead the charge in performance and efficiency.

Their Super All-Wheel Control system allow you to allocate power to the wheels in seven different ways instantaneously as you drive. No matter whether you’re driving in mud, snow, gravel or paved roads, you’ll feel confident in every situation.

We went off-roading on our way to Bigwind Lake Provincial Park on the first day of our 2 days in Huntsville itinerary. Driving down the unmaintained Old Wagon Road was a challenge, but we navigated across jagged rocks and deep mud puddles with ease.

Then, we tried out the “Innovative Pedal” feature as we drove down the winding paved Kushog Lake Road, which made driving an absolute pleasure. Haven’t heard of this before? Neither had I until we drove the Mistubishi Outlander PHEV. I’ll tell you all about it!

An Eco-Friendly PHEV

This is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that makes use of EV power and a gasoline engine. It’s really the best of both worlds. The vehicle alternates between electric and gas power based on the driving situation, though you can also manage the power manually by prioritizing electric-only driving or saving your Drive Battery by using the gas engine.

I loved not needing to scramble to find a charging station (which can be more challenging as you venture away from bigger cities). At the same time, I love getting so much farther on one tank of gas, thanks to this environmentally-friendly hybrid electric system.

When it comes to charging the Drive Battery, it’s a total breeze. Use a Level 1, Level 2, or DC Quick Charger with your plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. With the DC Quick Charger, it’s possible to recharge the Drive Battery back to 80% capacity in about 38 minutes. At the same time, I could also charge this vehicle using a standard outlet at home (Level 1).

Seven Driver Selectable Modes and Innovative Pedal

Every Outlander PHEV features their Super All-Wheel Control system that makes driving in all conditions a total breeze. In short, there are seven unique driver selectable modes for unique driving conditions: eco, normal, tarmac, snow, mud, gravel, and power.

These modes allocate power in different ways to each individual wheel depending on the terrain or situation. This affects the traction, cornering and stability of the vehicle. During our 2 days in Huntsville, we encountered paved and unpaved roads, as well as mud, gravel, rocks and more.

For example, gravel mode helps you drive across off-road terrain by delivering maximum traction on coarser roads. Find yourself driving over an unpaved, unmaintained, rocky and muddy path? Gravel mode saves the day!

The Outlander PHEV has a feature I’d never heard of before called an Innovative Pedal. It’s a new, fun way to drive and it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. Essentially, you’ll use the gas pedal on its own to accelerate and decelerate. While you will need to apply the brake pedal to bring the car to a complete stop, you’ll mostly rely on using only the accelerator pedal alone while driving.

The Innovative Pedal is another way that the Outlander PHEV remains an efficient choice. When decelerating, the regenerative brakes and friction brakes will recharge the Drive Battery on the go. As a hybrid electric vehicle, this means that you’ll drive farther on the same charge.

Spacious and Versatile

The Outlander PHEV is flexible and versatile. There’s an option to flip up the third row seats to comfortably fit up to 7 passengers. At the same time, there’s an ample amount of trunk space to fit your outdoorsy equipment, golf gear, or large suitcases. It’ll be able to fit whatever you choose to bring on your adventures.

I love that there’s a 1500 watt power supply that can power two common 120 volt household outlets. Power up any of your devices or bring along the comforts of home on your next camping trip. Having this kind of electric power supply really makes the overall experience outdoors more convenient and enjoyable.

For instance, while testing driving the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, we were able to see one of the vehicles outfitted with a little kitchenette in the back. There was a grill and even a coffee maker, taking full advantage of the roominess and power supply that comes standard in every vehicle.

A Comfortable Ride

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a very luxurious vehicle that offers a comfortable driving experience. In cold climates, there are heated seats in both the front seats and second row seating so everyone stays nice and toasty warm. Plus, there’s a heated steering wheel, too.

And who wouldn’t love this feature on a longer road trip or commute: there’s a front seat massage function with a few different settings for tense muscles. This helps you stay less stressed on the road while improving your overall well-being.

2 Days in Huntsville, Ontario: Day 1

For the first day of our weekend in Huntsville, Ontario, we set out on a little road trip in Muskoka. This included an off-roading adventure to Bigwind Lake Provincial Park and making our way to Dorset.

Dorset is home to the Dorset Lookout Tower, one of the best scenic lookouts in the region, and a delicious pizza place for lunch. Then, we participated in a unique spin on a fun outdoor activity in the evening.

Go Paddling at Bigwind Lake Provincial Park

Bigwind Lake Provincial Park is a non-operating park in Ontario, meaning that it’s free to visit but it’s day-use only and there are no facilities. However, there are plans in the works to transform Bigwind Lake Provincial Park into a fully serviced operating park over the next 40 years.

Bigwind Lake PP is comprised of low-lying swamps, marshes and meadows. The park is ecologically diverse with vast forests containing Hemlock, Yellow Birch and Sugar Maple trees. It’s a beautiful place to go paddling, so be sure to bring your kayak, canoe or standup paddleboard for an adventure on the lake.

To reach Bigwind Lake Provincial Park, drive down the unmaintained Old Wagon Road for a bit of an off-roading adventure before you reach the park. I’d be hesitant to attempt this drive in any old vehicle, so I was grateful that we were driving our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for the day. The vehicle’s gravel mode, plus some safe and careful maneuvering made it possible to get there without any issues.

Have Lunch at Pizza on Earth

After a morning of off-roading and paddling, I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite. Pizza on Earth in Dorset is a family owned and operated restaurant that’s also a local favourite. These are wood-fired, gourmet pizzas with thin crust and quality toppings. There isn’t any vegan cheese, unfortunately for this vegan gal, but I really enjoyed my pizza with loads of veggies on top.

Dorset Lookout Tower

The Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower offers one of the best views of the entire region. While it requires a little bit of effort to get to the top, as well as overcoming some fears of heights, this scenic viewpoint is sensational. It’s operated by the Township of Algonquin Highlands and it’s just north of the village of Dorset.

The Dorset Lookout Tower sits high up on a hill, and then allows you to venture up even higher. The original tower dates back to 1922 when it was used as a fire tower until 1961. Built in 1967, the current tower exists purely for visitors to soak up the natural surroundings from high up above.

Climb the stairs to the very top if you can manage! I’m not usually that fearful of heights, and this one had me feeling a little bit scared! Don’t let that put you off, it was well worth being brave and trekking up to the top. There’s an enclosed area at the very top that allows you to look off into the distance while feeling a bit more secure.

Treetop Trekking Huntsville (at Night!)

Treetop trekking is such a fun activity and we’ve done it numerous times. Climb up the ropes course and participate in the various activities. You may find yourself walking across tightropes or swinging from log to log. Fly across the air with ease on several ziplines, and there’s even an entire course dedicated to ziplines. It all happens high up above the treetops!

You may have gone treetop trekking before, but have you done it at night? This was a new one for us. Navigate through the courses in the darkness, just with a headlamp on. The forest gets quite dark pretty fast (we were surprised!). When you’re up on the ropes courses, you can’t really tell how high up you are because it’s impossible to see the forest floor.

Ziplines at night are even more thrilling. You don’t quite know where the platform at the end is located until you get quite close to it. Of course, treetop trekking is fun all day long. If you’ve done it before or you’re seeking something a little more adventurous, I highly recommend trying it at night.

2 Days in Huntsville, Ontario: Stay at Deerhurst Resort

Justin and I spent the night at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, a sprawling waterfront property that’s chock full of amenities. This resort is excellent for couples, families, and groups of friends. We’ve attended a wedding here in the past and loved it, so we were excited to spend some more time here.

We stayed in Deerhurst’s newest accommodation, Lakeside Lodge. It sits on the site of the original lodge on the property from 1896, it’s just a short walk to the main pavilion. If you’d rather, there’s also a shuttle service that can transport you back and forth between the buildings.

Our Room at Lakeside Lodge

Our cozy room at Lakeside Lodge was more like a little apartment. We had a living room, fireplace, TV, full kitchenette (with full-sized refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher), separate bedroom and bathroom. There’s also a balcony overlooking the lake with a couple of chairs, the perfect place to savour a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.

There are over 20 accommodation buildings at Deerhurst resort that are suited to all families and groups, though we felt as though our room at Lakeside Lodge was perfect for couples. There are studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom suites here that are ideal for larger families and families with kids.

2 Days in Huntsville, Ontario: Day 2

For the second day of this 2 days in Huntsville itinerary, there are a few options. You can choose to stay at Deerhurst Resort for the day, taking full advantage of the resort’s amenities. It’s easy to spend a day alternating between the beach and the pool, or perhaps you’d rather ride e-bikes or go paddling?

If you’d like to continue your explorations of Muskoka, we’ve come up with a couple of great things to do in and around Huntsville. This includes a couple of fantastic places to go hiking in Huntsville, as well some time around the town’s cute main street and waterfront.

Go Hiking at Arrowhead Provincial Park

Arrowhead Provincial Park is an excellent choice for a half day or full day visit, plus you can even go camping here and stay longer if you’d like. I suggest you go hiking here for a half day. There’s an incredible lookout point, a beautiful waterfall, a peaceful lake, and shaded paths through the woods. 

Don’t miss the famous Big Bend Lookout. There’s no hiking involved, just a short path to reach the lookout point. Then, embark on a short loop hike to Stubb’s Falls. Admire the rushing waters here from a bridge up above or walk across the flat rocks to get a closeup look.

Explore Downtown Huntsville, Ontario

We’ve spent most of this trip exploring the great outdoors all around Huntsville. It’s time to actually experience the town itself! Downtown Huntsville and its main street are quite charming and picturesque. Perched right on the waterfront, take a stroll up and down the main street, popping into little shops and cafes on the way.

Huntsville is home to a large public outdoor art gallery, the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery. It’s a free, year-round, public art exhibition where 103 masterpieces by the Group of Seven have been recreated.

While these works of art are scattered throughout towns in Muskoka, Huntsville is home to a large collection of them. 38 murals are on exterior walls throughout downtown Huntsville. Try to find them all!

Go for lunch and a pint in downtown Huntsville. While you’re spoiled for choice, we really enjoyed our lunch at The Mill on Main. There are also a couple of breweries in Huntsville, the Huntsville Brewhouse and Canvas Brewing Co.

Hike at Limberlost Forest

Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is a much beloved place to go hiking in Huntsville. It’s a privately owned wilderness property with twenty lakes and 10,000 acres of forest with trails to wander. In total, there are 70km of trails for hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing. And it’s completely open to the public and free to visit anytime.

If it’s your first time here, I suggest hiking the Solitaire Trail. It is a 6km loop trail that will take about 1.5-2 hours to circumnavigate the lake. There are multiple beautiful views along the way across boardwalks and beneath massive boulders. If you’ve hiked here before, there are numerous trails to trek for new experiences upon multiple visits.

And that’s how you spend 2 days in Huntsville…which could quite easily be stretched to 3 days in Huntsville, 4 days in Huntsville, and you get the picture! There’s no shortage of exciting experiences in Muskoka, though be sure to relax a while, too. There are some pretty stunning views to appreciate, and there are quite a few peaceful places to be alone with nature.

This post is brought to you by Mitsubishi Motors Canada.