Visitors are still flocking to Muskoka in big numbers, even after the Thanksgiving long weekend. There are plenty of reasons drawing people north well into the fall season. “I like this area for the people. It’s fresh, it’s very quiet, and it’s real and beautiful,” one visitor told CTV News. It’s an off day at Muskoka Steamships. The Segwun is docked for the season, while the Wenonah II will return Wednesday and operate through the end of the week, capping off what has been an exceptionally busy season on the water. “I think the policies of the United States keep more people in Canada and hopefully bring more people up to Canada,” said John Miller, president of Muskoka Steamships. “We have had amazing weather, and we just have one of the most unique products in Canada.” Miller says the company relies heavily on visitors from the GTA. Contrary to what some might expect, he says visits from Americans are also up about three per cent compared to last year. The fall colours continue to be a major attraction right through the end of the season, and many visitors say this is one of the best times of year to experience Muskoka. “Today (Tuesday) we’re going to walk a little bit and enjoy the views, just like every other tourist,” said visitor Matali Ruvinsky. “Our tourism industry relies on our season extending as far as possible,” added Val Hamilton of Muskoka Tourism. Hamilton says tourism numbers are showing strong growth across the region. She credits popular television productions such as Heated Rivalry and Sterling Point for helping put Muskoka in the spotlight, attracting attention from both south of the border and around the world. “We’re very excited that Netflix Asia is coming for a bit of a scouting mission this weekend,” Hamilton said. “We’ll be showing them different iconic Muskoka experiences and accommodations throughout the region. Hopefully it inspires the setting for a future TV show or movie.” Businesses along Highway 11 are also benefiting from the extended shoulder season. “We had a lot of inventory at the start of the season, and now we’re really low,” said Mike Ramsay of Swift Canoe and Kayak. “We’ve had a lot of people coming up to buy toys for the cottage.” Despite a slow start to the season because of the weather, tourism operators say 2026 has been one for the record books. Visitor numbers have surpassed what was already considered an exceptional year in 2025, and many businesses are already reporting strong bookings for next year.
