Homeseeker Residences  ·  Muskoka River, Huntsville

Past a private gate near Port Sydney, a wood-panelled four-season cottage on the Muskoka River has turned its garage into a sauna and soaking room.

• 8Sleeps
• 3Bedrooms
• 2Bathrooms
• RiverWaterfront
• SaunaAnd hot tub
• 2 h 45From Toronto

Heat, hush and a river

There is a particular hush over the north branch of the Muskoka River in the hour before dusk. The water slows to glass, the spruce and pine darken at the edges, and the windows of a single cottage begin to glow against the trees. This is The Mara, a three-bedroom retreat on Balsam Chutes Road, just outside Port Sydney in the Town of Huntsville, built around one restorative idea: heat, cool air, water, rest. Then again.

You come in through a gate, and that detail matters more than it sounds. Beyond it, a tree-lined drive curves through the woods to a circular turnaround, a pair of red garage doors and a glassed-in front porch. Check-in is by keypad from 4 p.m., and a shoe and cloak room by the door sets the tone: shoes off, shoulders down.

Inside, the walls are lined in honeyed wood panelling, the living room is anchored by a stone fireplace, and sofas in teal and forest green carry the woods indoors. The dining room opens onto the deck. The kitchen is the brightest room in the house, with stainless appliances and generous counters. Bedrooms are calm and textural, one centred on a four-poster bed. Beds are a queen, a double and a set of bunks with a travel crib, plus a sofa bed in the theatre, so the house sleeps eight across two full bathrooms.

The wellness room

The heart of The Mara is a garage reimagined as a private spa. A sauna, a hot tub and a hanging hammock chair share one open space, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a full garage door that rolls up to the waterfront yard. A living wall of greenery and a softly glowing neon sign make it feel more lounge than utility room.

The ritual writes itself. A long round of heat, then out through the open door into cool river air. Into the hot tub as the light goes. Finish in the hammock with a glass of water, doing nothing at all. On grey days the glass keeps the woods in view; on clear nights the soak comes with stars.

The area is quiet, peaceful, and feels truly magical…

Katia, guest, January 2026

Evenings: theatre, games and the fire

When the sun goes down, The Mara turns convivial. The theatre pairs a 75-inch screen with surround sound, the right answer to a rainy afternoon. In the lower-level rec room, a neon sign above the pool table reads This Must Be The Place, and the room makes its case with air hockey, darts, a poker table and a shelf of board games.

Outside, the fire pit sits on the lawn above the water, firewood included and loungers turned toward the river. From June 1 to October 1, house rules hold outdoor fires until 7 p.m. or later, so the fire becomes the last chapter of the night. Dinner can happen on the deck, under the gazebo or beside the grill. Summer brings the private river beach, kayaks, canoes and water toys, with life jackets provided.

A long weekend from The Mara

• Friday, 4 p.m.

  Keypad check-in. Shoes off, first round in the sauna, the hot tub as the light fades.

• Friday evening

  Dinner on Main Street in downtown Huntsville, about 25 minutes by road, then back to the fire pit and a film in the theatre.

• Saturday

  Coffee on the deck, then a paddle by kayak or canoe. In the afternoon, Arrowhead Provincial Park is about 43 minutes away for forest trails. Dinner in, a long sauna circuit and board games.

• Winter swap

  Arrowhead’s 1.3 km forest skating trail usually runs from January to March, weather permitting. Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area is about 40 minutes away.

• Sunday

  One last round of heat and river air. Checkout is 10 a.m. Bracebridge is about 20 minutes south for lunch on the drive home.

Drive times are routed estimates for normal traffic. Check park hours, trail conditions and ski and skate dates before you go.

What guests say

• We accidentally chose the weekend it went down to -14 but the stunning view by the river, and tons of amenities kept us perfectly busy as we stayed in.

  Noor, March 2026

• It’s close to Huntsville and several provincial parks, which made sightseeing and hiking super convenient.

  Kristen, February 2026

• The game room was amazing and a highlight for our group, and the hot tub was very clean and well maintained.

  Gauri, March 2026

• Great place to stay. Beautiful surroundings!!! The cottage was clean and had nice amenities.

  Shereen, August 2026

4.6 out of 5 from 85 guest reviews, as recorded in our Hospitable account on October 5, 2026. Quotes are excerpts from those reviews, first names only.

More photos: see the full album on Airbnb.

The details

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Facts on this page come from our property records and were checked on October 5, 2026. Drive times are routed estimates for normal traffic; allow more on summer Fridays and long weekends. The street address is shared with confirmed guests.