The 14 best parks and gardens in Gravenhurst

We had a wonderful family visit to the Bethune Memorial House! As soon as we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by a friendly lady with short hair, who kindly explained the visit route to us and gave the children their own little maps. The kids were thrilled to follow the map and find the marked locations and items throughout the museum. Once they completed the journey, they went back for a special stamp—and even received a meaningful souvenir! It was a short trip, but a deeply memorable one. The museum gives a touching look into the life of a truly noble man and the harsh realities of war. The beautiful little town itself is also worth exploring. Highly recommended for families and anyone interested in history and human spirit.

As National Historic sites go this is a small site but the story and history of Dr Bethune makes it worth the visit. There is a small visitor centre which covers the life of Dr Bethune, his accomplishments and his deep connection with China. There also displays of gifts to the museum from visiting delegations from China and Spain. Outside are a number of displays and then you can tour the house that he was born in. As a Victorian house it is interesting in its own right. There is 10 minute film about his life which is narrated in English, French and Chinese. Lots of dress up and kid friendly activities as well. The staff are super helpful and knowledgeable. I did not appreciate the full story and impact this man had to medicine and the world. Well worth the visit if you are in the Muskoka area.

Never knew about the great contributions of Bethune. Worth the visit if you are in the area.

Definitely a must-visit! Dive into the untold narrative of Dr. Bethune, from his upbringing to the beliefs that drove him. The calligraphy art that outlines his journey is a standout—especially cool if you've studied it in Chinese classes. Although most visitors are Chinese (no surprise given his status as an international hero who sacrificed his life to save people in China), it's a captivating experience for anyone interested in humanitarianism.

For me, It’s meaningful to visiting his hometown as I learn him from textbook when I was around 10yrs old. It’s not only about learning his spirits, but also connects myself to my childhood. Nice to visit. Free entry during summer btw.

This museum dedicated to Norman Bethune is quite good. It features exhibits in English, French, and Chinese, and the guides are also Chinese, so there are absolutely no language barriers if you're a Chinese speaker. You can easily get explanations and information in Mandarin. The museum does a great job of showing what the area looked like when Bethune was born, and the building itself is a nice example of Victorian-era architecture. What stands out is how accessible it is for Chinese visitors—almost all the display boards, item descriptions, and even the guides are in Chinese. It’s no surprise that about 90% of the visitors here are Chinese.

Canadian have Dr. Bethune to appreciate as one of the proponet who pushed the idea of universal health care to Canada, at minimum. He is also one of the famous Canadian known by average chinese joe, and is responsible for building the bridge with his action.

Took my 6 year old for something to do on a cold day -the kids section is good and kept her busy ( and worth $10 ) but paying $25 plus tax for adult (total of $40) for adult admission if you are with your kids and not actually seeing the adult section is not worth it .

Quiet in September, discounted with Steamboat cruise tickets. Had a fun encounter with a pop up exhibition of exotic animals. The museum is interactive and well laid out with an awesome indigenous section upstairs.

An educational place to learn about the history of Gravenhurst Ontario. They also provide cup cake during Canada Day holiday.

Have brought the kids here to play in the upper kids discovery room. There are plenty of toys perfect for toddlers and young children. Sandbox, colouring, Lego, etc. Great option to kill time on a rainy day when up north.

Absolutely a wonderful ride on a beautiful lake. And the meal was delicious

This is a place where you can get a lot of knowledge about the history of steamships. It has many engines on display, a Separate part for vintage racing boats and many more items on display. Also so many activities for kids and you might need aboit at least 2 hours to explore it. We did not have much time and ended up rushing through it. There is a discount if you have purchased tickets for the tour in the steamship. Wonderful experience.

Very nice displays with audio visual and tactile displays. Beautiful collection of wooden boats and great look into the history of the region. The new Indigenous section is very interesting.

Nice place to unwind and connect with water. Good ambience.

This is gravenhursts jewel. Is beautiful to walk along boardwalk around Muskoka Bay and then if lucky can get one of benches to sit and relax looking out over bay. Has good sized Boston pizza restaurant for meal or lunch and small little businesses for tea or coffee or ice cream. Worthwhile the drive. Robert w Martin Barrie Ontario Canada

Nice pitstop before heading to Algonquin

Quiet and peaceful wharf with several options for relaxing, dining and shopping. Muskoka Lake is naturally so serene so it’s a great place to walk around and take in all of the views with others or even by yourself.

Excellent afghan taste and hospitality.

You will find many interesting things here including a local marine museum and many restaurants many events take place at this location the Seguin and whinona boats are docked here you can book tickets to board them there is a lovely board walk and many fisherman enjoy fishing off the docks here

Amazing views, and the cruise ships are a must to go on the tour is totally amazing specially if you do the supper one you go out for 2 or 3 hours you get dinner in the midst of it the captain is very knowledgeable in the geographic and people that live around Lake Muskoka so you get a perfect tour guide announcing everything as you pass what it is who is there ect,,,,, ect,,,, lots and lots of interesting stuff you learn in a hurry, and like I say is dinner Cruise is very cool, as well as the midnight or sorry the evening Cruise goes in the Port Carling and back and First Sight it is amazing to take your camera and the things that you see the Homes, the other boats, the wild life that's very,, very, very, cool and to be able to get on one of the old cruise ships, the Seguin is my favorite, the wenonah and wenonah II, all are amazing cruise boats, with so much character to the vessels, its a great feeling just being on 1 of them, and the views over the lake are breath taking

Attempted to visit here on Saturday August2, 2025, upon arriving on site at around 9:00 p.m., was greeted by the opp police and private security that the place was full, no more room to park cars. Didn't know this place can be that busy. Was informed that the place was busy since 7:00 p.m. if you're going on a summer clear weekend I say it's very hard to predict whether it will be busy or not. But it's not very busy during the daytime.

I had a great first visit to this place, and it felt really special! Thanks to Mehrdad for his help and knowledge about astronomy, and for his awesome telescope that let me take a nice picture of the moon. Just a heads up, that night sky wasn’t clear because of smoke, so check the weather before heading to here. Parking space is limited and Ontario park police won’t let you park in the road. Make sure to use mosquito repellent! And, watch out for the Massasauga rattlesnake, the only venomous snake in Muskoka, Ontario, as they come out at night.

We really enjoyed our time here. There was an open flat area with lots of space to sit/lay down and look at the stars. The view was incredible, definitely worth the drive through the narrow windy road there.

Visited on October 25th. Follow the Google maps location and you will be right on spot. Parking is free and limited ( around 20 spots) , so come early to get a spot or park your car on the road side. We booked a star gazing event 'Home of stars' and the guide was awesome showing us the milky way and some of the constellations. Wonderful experience. Got really cold after some time. Portable washroom was available. No water on site. No shops near by so come prepared with all of your requirements.

Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve is absolutely breathtaking. The night sky here is unlike anything you can see near the city — crystal clear and filled with stars. We were lucky enough to see the Milky Way with the naked eye, which was an unforgettable experience. The preserve is quiet, peaceful, and the perfect spot for stargazing. If you want to connect with nature and witness the sky in its true beauty, this place is a must-visit.

A really sweet spot that I have hiked many times. The trails are well marked and the entire area holds special oaks, small lakes and wetlands. The small stream that runs through the trail is fun to jump over!

The experience was nothing short of spiritual! What an amazing view!! The stars went on forever!!! We stood out there in the cold for hours... not wanting ro leave or even move. We saw the Milky Way and a bunch of shooting stars!!

Great little park, there are a couple of chip trucks at the main entrance. A small beach and lovely views. The stone amphitheatre was surprisingly comfortable. There is a medium kids playground, and the only negative is there was goose crap everywhere. Don't bring a wagon, it's a slope down to the lake.

A lovely green park, it is not huge, but it is a favourite with locals. Summer events include movie and "music on the barge" nights. The beach has docks for fishing, an area for swimmers and swim lessons, and one spot for disabled parking. Unfortunately, at the moment (spring 2024), the main parking lot is under construction.

Lovely park near Gravenhurst. We by chance found this place when we were looking for a place to have our packed lunch while on the way to Algonquin. A quick search gave a lot of options but this place had good reviews and was also near the highway. A quick detour and we reached the park easily. Just as we parked, the park view gave us a good feeling about the place. It was clean, well maintained and right at the lake. Ample picnic tables scattered around the park which can be used for family picnics. There were few families who were enjoying the park already. A very small beach is also there in case you want to enjoy the waters. There are lots of trees and you get a good feeling. Lots of benches overlooking the lake to enjoy the view. There is also a performance area on the lake and I think the benches are specifically meant for that. Probably some seasonal performances happen here. Lastly the washrooms were clean. Overall a lovely park for a family get-together or lunch.

We drop by on a weekday. It's not big, but it has everything such as playground, picnic pavilion, beach, floating stage, trails, sport area. It's quiet and clean. There are many mature trees in nice setting. There are not so many people in the park.

We stumble upon this park on our way to Huntsville and we end up spending 2 hours. Such a beautiful view of lake and there was also a trail along the lake. There were washrooms and lot of picnic benches. There was a mini beach area and a park with slides & swings for kids.

Small little park with a tiny beach, volleyball pit, and floating stage. I went on a rainy morning, so wasn't able to enjoy the park to the fullest. If the weather was co-operative, I'm sure it would have been more enjoyable. Regardless, it's an easily accessible park close to the city that can be enjoyed wherever.

Had an excellent time at the Gravenhurst Car Show at Gull Lake Rotary Park June 17, 2023. Hundreds of cars. Owners have great stories. I loved the Shelby car and how he found the hood and fender in a box that had been sitting around for 50 years. Sweet, right! Excellent annual event for the whole family. Super beach.

It's a big park. The trails are easy, not much of slopes. Kids and pets friendly. Easily spend a few hours here. Our favorite part is the boardwalk to the mini island. Great picture!!

Leisure Walk - Hardy Lake Provincial Park 2 hours drive from Toronto This is my first hike on such a raw trail. There are no made-man roads, so you cannot see an obvious road and have to find and follow the signs on trees alongside. The terrain is generally wet and muddy, and mosquitoes and bugs are your tour guides. It rained after we had walked one-third of the 9km, but it stopped when we returned to the endpoint. Other than that, it’s a quiet and peaceful place. The trees are gorgeous and tall enough to keep away raindrops. The trail is average in difficulty and recommended to all nature lovers.

Great 10km loop with excellent views of the lake most of the way. A bit muddy in some places and lots of mosquitos. There's a portable toilet at the trailhead, nothing else. Parking is small and fills up early, people had parked along the side of the road.

Absolutely amazing trail to take. Recommend hiking shoes, as you will have a makeshift-like bridge from sticks to walk over to continue walking otherwise it's amazing views of the lake. The bugs are quite bad no matter how much bug spray you wear. We ran into an older couple who got a netted hat from the dollar store and honestly it was genius and wish I had picked some up!!! Definitely wear appropriate clothing and shoes and hope for that nice breeze/wind as it helped keep them a bit at bay. When you get to the bridge to the little island the scenic view is amazing. There's a bench where you can sit and relax. The water was nice and refreshing (later as we were leaving people across the way did go swimming and jump off rocks and they were yelling it's so cold! Haha). This place now holds a special place as not only when we went we barely saw anyone on a hike, so it was the peak time to go and we had the whole place to ourselves. With that we got engaged and made for a very intimate special moment.

Great park with amazing trails! I've done the 8km loop around the lake both in winter and now just recently in summer. In winter best to bring cleats/ice grippers and in summer best to use some bug spray. Bugs were not bad, only started to notice a few towards the end of the trail when further away from the lake. Porta potty at trail entrance and small rock bench in parking lot. Would definitely recommend, lots of frogs and mushrooms to see in summer! Give yourself at least 2-3hrs to complete if you take stops for photos etc. Nice and cool to hike in summer with all the tree coverage, so definitely an option to do on a really hot day.

Great place for active leisure! A lot of natural scenic spots for pictures. Choice of easy, medium and hard walking trails. We choose the hardest and in fact it wasn’t so complicated - just very long. The only thing is that you have to be ready to get surrounded by millions of mosquitoes 🦟 Make sure to bring a spray for protection 🙂

Some trees have become bright orange but it’s not full peak yet it seems. Trails are marked properly but boardwalks are all on the longer 8km trail.

Nothing here! This oversees the wharf but not a good view. There used to be steps down to the shore, but it’s closed as of now.

The view could be better if The trees in front of the lookout doesn’t block the view. There is a trail down to the lake but not much to see. The parking is limited at peak time.

Decent location. Mini hike. Good views but I wouldn’t come here for fall colours. The park for kids nearby is awesome though. Please see some of the pictures below to get an idea.

Not much to see there. There is a few parkings spots, but the people bringing the kids to the play park took 7 spots with 4 cars. The trail down the stairs ends up quickly and there is a big sign with Private Property stopping you from seeing more. 3/10

Stairs are closed to go down. Lookout has limited views. Playground is for younger kids.

Nice, peaceful lookout but trees are over grown. So I was a bit disappointed. Didn’t walk down stairs due to past comment.

The lookout is nice , but the view is a bit blocked by trees. Their is a nice kids park

Took 3 attempts to actually find the trailhead and then the trail was not well marked at all. When we found the trail it was quite nice although overgrown in some spots. Glad I did it but may not be one I'd come back to, the "bridges" are kind of sketchy but at least there was more than 1 log to use

If we could have actually *found* this place, I'm sure it would have been lovely. Or maybe not... Both Google Maps and Waze borked completely when we tried to find it. After driving in circles for an hour (during which Waze said "Uh-oh! Can't find this place!" and Google Maps tried to lead us to North Bay), we gave up and flagged down a local, who directed us to "that metal hangar back down a ways" and told us that Jevins was actually an ATV trail. Fearing that this horrible mystery might end with both our bodies being found months from now, wrapped in old carpeting and chucked behind a Dumpster, we pressed on and spent the day at a spot far, far away.

Taking doe lake road through to chickadee lane takes you a sealed gate that looked very much like a trail head with a "no trespassing" sign on jt. Which is lovely.

This is a beautifully scenic place in Bracebridge. You can walk just over top the falls and feel on top of the world. Or at least a small bit of it. Historical too, so there is that. Come here and stop for a walk if you happen to be in town.

Great place to visit during falls. The best attraction is the colourful maple leaf trees and lake. Best way to spend small trip with family and friends by watching natural waterfall in bracebridge. Worth travelling to this place... Definetly recommend location. Foods and ice cream store is nearby at 5mins. Muskoka cruise is nearby too..

Beautiful site, all though a smaller trail compared to the ones I've been to before. The view was truly breathe taking. Clean location with a small beach, diving deck, a park for kids as well as rental it's a great stop to make a day out off.

Its beautiful... simply put! With views and water flowing all around you. Located in the heart of Bracebridge. Literally this is the heart of the entire town. With the Bridges crossing. A restaurant close by you can dine and look over the falls - and more. Beauty.

A Blast out of Nowhere..Its Not Niagara Falls however it's look more Tamed and Serene. Seeing in Evening with Lights is Beautiful...From these Falls Walking along Manitoba St was Just Relaxing..Very Touristic! Come Visit Bracebridge! Gavenhurst is before Bracebridge Check Both Towns in one Go.....Loved it.

I was recently driving and had a blowout on highway 11. I went to Bricebridge on a donut. I couldn't get a tire until the next day. I found the park by accident. I spent the night in my suv here at the park. A definitely beautiful place to wake up in the morning. Quiet and serene.

It is a very quiet place, with a history going back in 1885. Must visit a place if you are in Muskoka.

Beautiful park to watch the sunset. Very quiet and peaceful. Good spot for photography

Great public park! Attended a regatta here and it was an excellent facility. Lots of room, lots of benches and seating areas. There is a beautiful beach that is perfect for children and families. Nice public change room and facilities. This is an excellent spot to go with friends, family, pets or just alone to watch the sun-rise.

It’s a nice spot for a picnic and a quick dip in the water. However, it’s not the cleanest spot and parking space is quite low. OSS you want to go for a picnic it’s ok but not good for getting in the water.

Music at the Barge is such a beautiful initiative at Gull Lake in Gravenhurst! We were lucky to catch the very first night of 2025 season and it was so beautiful! The setting itself is unique - with the stage set up on the lake, looking towards audience seated at the Lakeshore! Absolutely stunning! A must see for anyone visiting Gravenhurst in Summer!

Had a great time on June 11,25. Visiting family and this was one of our stops. The Farmers Market was on and it had alot of stuff. Bought some cheese, olives and coffee

Beautiful place to go paddling I highly recommend it

Lovely little spot.

Nobody checked my kids hight when we bought tickets. After 1 hour staying at 30C without any siting area we get information that my son is not possible to go. He is 46". Check before you go.

The fee is 10$ which is fine. The line itself is also ok for a small attraction but what is NOT ok...is for that 10 bucks you have to walk your equipment and harnesses back to the start of the line! The employee at the end, should be collecting the equipment since we paid to have the experience.

The website makes thi a seem amazing but 4 small ziplines isn't worth it....it is more of an aerial park so just don't get your hopes up. Glad we went and looked b4 we bought tix because we took a pass on it

Had a great experience! Challanging aerial obstacle course with zip lines. I would definetely go again

The price has increased dramatically, I have been there before just for the go karts. Now the price is $48, yes you can access all of it except treatop trucking, that's an extra $68. I guess it's expensive than wonderland for the price.

My children and I were looking forward to booking an aerial park adventure but no one answered the phone and when we drive over, were informed that all activities now require the purchase of a Santa's village ticket. After many years if visiting the village my kids are past that stage and really are.only interested in the aerial park and go carts. Too bad they changed the access rules.

Great time, instructional talk was amazing G, felt super safe and yet had lots of fun 9 year old did the whole course. You have the option to descend at any time with help, or at the end of stages 1 or 2

A beautiful trail, short, easy and quiet, parking is limited.

Recommend walking poles & decent footwear as there are a couple of steep, rocky sections on the trail.

This a relatively recent addition to the reserves of the Couchiching Conservancy. The trail is closed in the spring to protect wildlife - check the Conservancy web site for the exact dates of the closures ( Currently, March 20th to June 20). There is a loop trail with yellow markers that starts on the north side of Coopers Falls Road by a house ( 1900 Coopers Falls Rd, Washago) with parking for up to four cars. The return trail is there as well, with white markers. The yellow trail is well-worn, starting parallel to the road, going west, and then going north, around a large rocky outcrop. The trail follows the shore of a beaver pond then curves sharply away from the water with poor marking at that point (look around and you will eventually see a marker). Soon it comes to a place where there is clear evidence of tornado damage and downed trees that have been cut for the trail. Past the deadfall, the trail continues past vernal pools to a larger pond. Near this point, the trail crosses a bridge and continues with white markers via the higher elevation sections with some steeper descents. The trail is sufficiently well-marked but it doesn't always go the way you expect, so make sure you see the next marker. While the routes are scenic and pleasant, the trip is quite short (35 minutes round trip),

One of the most beautiful areas. Fairly short single track trail that takes you along a stream and up to two beautiful ponds. Download a trail map from the Couchiching Conservancy website.

Awesome place to go for a private hike, just make sure to bring bug repellent.

Private home but its been donated to the public. Dark place. Take the yellow trail and back.

I was confused where to park my car..... I wasn't expecting a private domicile to be right there

I'm sorry guys and girls. I personally haven't been there yet. But I plan on it for spring and if my plans happen even close I will let you know all about it. But if you beat me to it. Let us all know what the scoop is. Later Gator...

Great trail system, too bad a change in land ownership has taken place, there are "no trespassing" signs posted and the lot is now patrolled.

A well keep sports field