Fall cabin and resort getaways in Ontario, Canada

Northeastern Ontario

Cabin Falls Ecolodge

The renowned wilderness canoeists and authors Andrea and Hap Wilson manage Cabin Falls Ecolodge in the heart of Temagami.

Accessed by float plane or two-day canoe trip, this three-season lodge embodies rather than contrasts the wild space it occupies. Much of the lodge was built with hand tools, and every piece of equipment was carefully portaged in. The cabins sleep two to three people, all with woodstoves and wool blankets for cool fall nights and a private deck.

This is a place to recharge or hike the old-growth forests that make Temagami special. There are hiking trails to wander and canoes available to explore the waterways. After a full day outside, relax in the sauna or on the cedar swimming dock before the hosts prepare meals with local foods. The lodge is open until October 20 each year, which leaves plenty of time to see Temagami’s peak colours.

Location: Temagami

Mattawa Adventure Camp

On the quiet upper Ottawa River, the Mattawa Adventure Camp has spacious cabins sleeping as many as 27 people or as few as four, making it a great spot for families or large groups.

It’s centred around fishing and ATVing, with boat rentals available, plenty of dock space and access to the bike-friendly Voyageur Multi-Use Trail System.

Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is a 10-minute drive away and has more than 15 kilometres of hiking trails. The Mattawa River Visitor Centre is open until October 15.

Location: 4601 ON-17, Mattawa

Killarney Mountain Lodge

Just outside of Killarney Provincial Park, the sprawling Killarney Mountain Lodge sits on the shore of Georgian Bay.

In Killarney, the fall colours erupt against the white quartz hills. The Lodge offers waterfront log cabins, executive suites, hotel rooms and dorm-style accommodation for travellers on a budget. Don’t miss the resort’s Carousel Lounge, which has live music, dancing and local craft beer.

Relax with a book lakeside, enjoy a guided sunset paddle, take a sailing excursion or join legendary expedition canoeist Mike Ranta for storytime.

Explore Killarney Provincial Park for day outings and hikes, like The Crack.

Location: 3 Commissioner Street, Killarney

Among The Trees

Located just 15 minutes from Manitoulin Island and 25 minutes from Espanola, Among The Trees’ two gorgeous glamping domes are nestled in a hillside maple forest.

These four-season yurts feature 180-degree panoramic windows, skylights for stargazing and spacious private decks. The peaceful domes are a cozy oasis in the woods and provide the comforts of home with a taste of the camping experience. There is also a shared sauna on-site.

Among The Trees offers marina access to Georgian Bay’s McGregor Bay, so guests can bring their own kayaks and explore the local shoreline.

Location: 131 McGregor Bay Road, Birch Island

Elk Lake Lodge

Easily accessible from the community of Elk Lake outside Temiskaming Shores, the four-season Elk Lake Lodge is a great option for large groups or families.

Outside the main lodge, there are six cabins with five to six bedrooms and kitchenettes. Inside the lodge, a restaurant serves delicious comfort food.

Family and getaway packages are available, with on-site amenities like hot tubs, sauna and barbecue rentals. Guests can rent bikes and canoes and relax at the end of the day around one of the many firepits on site.

Location: 119 Ontario Street, Elk Lake

Nature’s Harmony

Nature’s Harmony Ecolodge, nestled outside of Mattawa near the Ontario-Quebec border, is the perfect place for those looking for seclusion and reconnection to nature and family.

Two funky cabins that can accommodate six to 12 guests are tucked into a vast hardwood forest where fall colours paint the landscape. There is also a four-season, open-concept Pacific Yurt available, kitted out with a wood stove and featuring beautiful natural lighting.

On the property, enjoy 25 kilometres of nature trails, plus hammocks and a sauna. Canoes and kayaks are available for use on Bang’s Bay, which connects to the Ottawa River.

Location: 574 Snake Creek Road, Mattawa

Northwest Ontario

Beyond the Giant Nature Retreat

There are very few cabin accommodations available on the Sibley Peninsula, just north of where the famed Sleeping Giant lays.

Beyond the Giant offers three log cabins, sleeping two to eight people in upper lofts, all of which overlook the still waters of Lake Superior’s Black Bay. Enjoy morning coffee as the mist rises above the water and waterfowl fly by on their journey south. The Sibley Peninsula is in the boreal forest, and the fall colours here turn a dazzling gold, which stands out against the deep greens of spruce trees.

The cabins are a short drive from Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, which boasts more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails and nature-viewing activities, including biking, fishing and birding. The cabins have a beach for launching canoes or kayaks if guests bring them, or rentals are available at the park.

Location: 625 Portage Drive, Shuniah

Rose Valley Lodge

Forty minutes outside Thunder Bay, nestled in the pastoral foothills of the Nor’westers, the Rose Valley Lodge offers a slow dining experience in a cozy getaway setting.

Operated by Swiss hotelier Markus Hofmann and his wife Deborah, guests can stay in one of four cabins that sleep two to four. The stay includes a tasty five-course meal, served in “slow dining” style over two to three hours.

In addition to fine dining, the cabins are surrounded by meadows and forests, with hiking trails throughout the property. The property is home to a hobby farm with horses, cows, and pigs, adding to the country charm.

Location: 56 Rose Valley Road, South Gillies

Quetico’s Rustic Cabins

Quetico Provincial Park is just over two hours from the Ontario-Minnesota border.

A getaway to Quetico can be made much more cozy by booking one of the two rustic cabins available in the fall at the Dawson and Ojibwa campgrounds. The cabins sleep two to four, with the Log Cabin having a wood stove.

Hike to The Pines, a towering old-growth stand or paddle there via the French River. Canoe rentals are available nearby on Eva Lake or consider joining Quetico Outfitters for a local guided wilderness canoe trip experience. 

Location: ON-11, Atikokan

Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma

Rock Island Lodge

While Gordon Lightfoot’s song is about the Gales of November, storm season on Lake Superior begins as early as September.

There’s no better place to watch the waves roll in than from the comfort inside Wawa’s Rock Island Lodge. The lodge has four rooms that each sleep two to four guests, a large communal space, and access to beaches on the Michipicoten River and Lake Superior.

If conditions are calm enough for an outing, sea kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are available for rent, and qualified guides and instructors are on site.

It’s a short drive to Lake Superior Provincial Park and the outstanding fall foliage on the hiking trails there, especially the Orphan Lake Trail and the newly reopened Awausee Trail.

Location: 10 Government Dock Road, Wawa

Melwel Lodge

Located on scenic Basswood Lake in Algoma, just off Highway 17 and about an hour’s drive east of Sault Ste. Marie, Melwel Lodge offers private cottage rentals in a sublime setting of pine forest, crystal clear lakes and craggy granite bluffs.

The lodge’s 11 wonderfully restored, historic cottages each have their own unique charm and are scattered along the shoreline, giving Melwel a playful, summer-camp-for-families vibe. The main lodge is a sleek, contemporary design that maximizes the natural light and overlooks the lake.

Kayaks, canoes and standup paddleboards provide plenty of paddling options for exploring one of the largest inland lakes in the province. Additional activities include swim docks, a huge 25-foot water trampoline, exploring the Voyageur hiking trail, lawn games and outstanding fishing for trout, salmon and bass.

Location: 435 Melwel Road, Iron Bridge

Algonquin Park, Muskoka and Parry Sound

Voyageur Quest

Voyageur Quest offers cabin accommodations and adventurous experiences on the edge of Algonquin Park.

Nestled under the colourful canopy in a wilderness setting, their cabins and cottages are a cozy retreat. The Algonquin Log Cabin oozes rustic charm, honouring the surrounding beauty of its wilderness home, while the Algonquin Island Retreat centers you in solitude.

Guests can explore Algonquin's lakes and forests on guided canoe trips, wildlife viewing and hiking excursions. The park offers ample opportunities for photography, stargazing and multiday canoe and hiking trips.

Location: South River

Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley

Sandy Lane Resort

Just beyond the town of Minden in Ontario’s near north, Sandy Lane Resort offers a quick getaway with 15 two- and three-bedroom year-round cottages, some with wood-burning fireplaces.

Relax in one of the cabins overlooking the beach and curl up with a book or take a kayak for a paddle around Halls Lake. Book a paddling day trip into Algonquin Park through Algonquin Park Adventure Tours or rent a canoe from Algonquin Outfitters to go self-guided.

According to The Friends of Algonquin, the average peak of the provincial park’s sugar maple canopy is September 27.

Location: 17592 ON-35, Algonquin Highlands