Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26
THOUSANDS FEEL LURE
OF CANADIAN WOODS
Resorts de Luxe in the Wilds
Across the Border in the Prov
inces Of King George.
LAKES, RIVERS. MOUNTAINS
AWAIT SUMMER TOURISTS
Muskoka, Abenakis Springs, st.
Catharine's Well and Digby Among
Favorite Resting Places.

From the very beginning of things.
when summer vacations were a luxury
afforded only by the very wealthy. the
mere mention of the Canadian woods has
been sufficient to stir the most sluggish
ina gination to dreams of a paradise on
earth. Primeval In their grandeur, the
Canadian woods afford just the degree of
change and rest which seems most
strongly to appeal to the needs of tie city
folks of this day and generation. And the
woods are not alone in the list Of recrea-
ton places across the border in the prov
inces of King George, because the modern
Canadian resorts include all kinds of va
cation places.
To the travellers over long distances
probably there is no more inspiring recol-
lection than that of their impressions of
Banff, with it's towering snow-capped
mountains-and not far away from this
and other semi-frontier towns there be-
gins the regions of 1.-The great silence"
where summer wanderers have little diff
ficulty In feeling themselves almost alone
in the world.
But the eastern half Of Canada is more
thoroughly within the knowledge of the
residents Of the Atlantic seaboard states.
Its lakes, mountains and valleys and the
an open book of summertime delights. In
the list should be mentioned the lakes at
Muskoka. the Abenakis Springs. ST. Cath
arine's Well and Digby and other places
In Nova Scotia.
In the Region Of Muskoka.
To those who wish to view natures
stellation Of her widest prodigality. ALI
nj nj
rock-ribbed ridges. wilderness of for
ests and a whole series OF babbling
brooks and miniature rivers and lakes.
The word "Muskoka" is derived from the
name of the great chief of the Hurons,
"MusaquadO" signifying clear sky" and
the district well merits its name. Situat-
ed 900 feet above sea level, its altitude
produces a modifying effect on the suns
brightness, and the climatic conditions
are most enjoyable.
Muskoka is a district. This means it
has not as yet been given the conven-
tlonal form Of municipal government. but
Is directly under the control Of the pro-
vfncial legislature. thereby presenting the
charm Of an unsettled territory. while at
the same time it's many towns and viii
lagos afford the conveniences Of more
thickly settled localities. such as postal.
telegraph. telephone and railway service.
The district. to which the general term
of "The Highlands OF Ontario has been
dred square miles in extent. It lies on
the eastern shore of the Georgian bay
between the middle tier Of counties of
Simcoe. York and Victoria on the south
and the district of Parry sound on the
north. In general formation the same
ruggedness which characterizes the great
Laurentian range Of which 1t forms a
part, is to be observed. It is thickly
wooded with stately pines. giant hem
locks. fragrant balsams and widespread
ing naples In fact, every variety OF
tree life is found to grow here in glorious
profusion. 1t is dotted with hundreds of
pretty lakes Of all sizes and depths. the
greatest and most beautiful Of which is
the group called the Muskoka lakes.
namely, Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and
Joseph.
The entire district is traversed by the
northern division Of the Grand Trunk
railway system from Toronto to North
bay. situated on Lake Nipissing.
The trip from Toronto IS an interesting
a continuous series Of hills and dales,
past lakes and over rivers until the more
rugged portion OF the country Is reached.
Many f1ourishing towns are passed on the
way, including Allandale. divisional
point on the Grand Trunk system; Barrie.
charmingly situated on the shores Of
Kempenfeldt bay, an arm of the large In
land Lake Simcoe: Orillia, q thriving
chiching, and Gravenhurst, a town Of
considerable Importance lying at the foot
of Lake Muskoka. the southernmost Of
the three Muskoka lakes
The Steamer Fleet.
The Muskoka Navigation Company
maintains on the lakes a fleet of eleven
up-to-date steamers ranging from the
natty, swift-running steam yacht Charlie
NJ. to the flagship SagamO, capable of
carrying hundreds Of passengers. These
| too well kent comfort a blv fur
nished. having large observation dining
saloons. and, in fact, are calculated to
meet the most eXacting demands OF the
twentieth century tourist Four steamers
make close connections with the Grand
Trunk trains, and on their way up the
lakes are met by others Of the feet at
junction points, which relieve the boats
from the trains Of part of their loads. and
by diverging routes are so run that all
parts OF the lakes can be reached twice
daily in either direction. Then there are
steamers which take up excursion routes.
lodging in and out among the islands.
threading their way through narrow and
intricate channels, revealing to the visitor
rare scenic beauties unseen from the
decks of the regular liners. In fact, both
the railway and navigation companies put
visitors trip to Muskoka and their stay
there the most enjoyable possible.
From Muskoka . wharf. the starting
point, to Port CARING. the junction Of
Lakes MQSkOkd du0 ItoSSSdu, tiiC oiotoASc
Is twenty-one miles; from the same start
ing point to Rosseau. at the head of the
lake Of this name. 1t is thirty-three miles.
while the farthest point on the three
lakes, Port Cockburn at the head of Lake
Joseph, is forty-five miles from Muskoka
wharf; the width Of the lake varies from
channels few hundred yards across to
open stretches of water about six miles
wide.
The lakes are fed by several rivers
and streams. chief among them being
the Muskoka river, which enters Mus
koka lake about midway between the
wharf and Beaumaris, on the eastern
shore OF the lake; the Dee river connect
| ing Three-Mile lake with Lake Rosseau;
Skeleton river. from Skeleton lake to
Lake Rosseau; Rosseau river, with its
pretty Rosseau falls, and Shadow river,
one Of natures gems, at the head OF the
lake Shadow river alone will repay the