Please note - we are not a pet friendly resort. If you have received contrary information from this or another website, this has been posted by them in error. Relaxing all-season family resort nestled in the woods on Walker Lake in Muskoka, just 15 minutes from Huntsville, Algonquin Park, major resorts and golf. Seven newly updated lakefront cottages offer privacy and great views of the lake. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water trampoline, stand up paddle boards available to guests. One, two and three bedroom cottages have kitchens, living rooms, outdoor decks or eating spaces and BBQs. Enjoy the haunting call of the loon and the tranquil quiet. Walker Lake Resort is a great choice for a skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter. We are only 20 min from Algonquin Park and Arrowhead Provincial Park, both beautiful places for cross country skiing with groomed trails. We are less than 10 minutes from downhill at Hidden Valley. From here you can get virtually anywhere.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Quaint
Location
1040 Walker Lake Dr, Huntsville, Ontario P1H 2J6 Canada
We loved the quiet beauty of Walker Lake Resort! We stayed at Cedar Cottage. The cottage was very clean and newly renovated, the view of the lake was spectacular, which provided us with a very tranquil, wonderful rest. At night we enjoyed gathering around the fire pit with other cottagers. There is also a lot to be said about the kindness and hospitality of the management. They treat you very well and work hard to make your stay pleasant. When my car broke down, Jenny went above and beyond to help us. Wonderful place. We are definitely coming back.
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Date of stay: July 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anyone would enjoy Walker Lake. Lots of activities. The lake is beautiful and calm. Kayaks, canoes, water boards etc. are all there for your use. But if you choose just to sit and relax at your cottage or on the dock with its amazing muskoka chairs and gazebo you can. Something for everyone. The cottage was super clean and comfortable. Fully equipped with everything you need to have a great stay plus an outdoor BBQ. Charming and peaceful area with a great view of the lake. We heard the loons every day. The owners are very friendly and considerate. Dan, the manager is a great guy. Very helpful and informative. It was like a home away from home. Would like to return for sure. Thank you for giving us the peace and quiet so needed. It was wonderful!
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my first stay. I booked the Pine Cottage, which is set back from the other 6 cottages. It has a dock from which you can swim, kayak or canoe.
The Pine Cottage has a nice mix of original trim and panelling, and new beds, mattresses and appliances. The bathroom is new. There is a kitchenette with a Breville toaster oven, new fridge, and a range.
The towels were nice quality.
The mattress was extremely comfortable.
There's a small dining table in the screened in porch/ Florida room.
I love that I could see the lake from the front bedroom.
Joyce, the manager, was very welcoming.
I stayed here for a conference at Deerhurst because I didn't like my stay at Deerhurst too much last year. Deerhurst was 11 km/ less than a 10 minute drive away.
This is a quiet, cozy place to stay. 2 km north of Highway 60.
This resort was formerly the Norseman.
The restaurant has closed. I got take-out dinners from Huntsville both nights.
The location is lovely.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Walker Lake Resort and the Norsemen Restaurant provided the best cottage-country experience. All the accommodations are situated on the water, and all are very clean & in good repair. The resort has 2 modern small homes available, but we chose a smaller rustic cabin. The lake was clean and there were no big boats roaring around. We stayed there in October when the leaves were starting to change color. When it rained we would sit by the fire and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The owners were friendly, and the restaurant was amazing. We were surprised to find the perfect fine dining experience in such a rural setting. We had a wonderful time, and wouldnt hesitate to recommend Walker Lake to anyone.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in the Acorn Cottage at Walker Lake Resort. Everything in the description of this cottage is true, but much is left out. The deck does have a view of the lake but only has one handrail on the stairs, is uneven, side rails do not have cross-members and is generally in poor condition. The outside of the cottage has peeling paint and many cobwebs. The inside is clean and areas appear to have been painted recently. The kitchen is very interesting. The stove slants to the left and tilts from the back to the front--makes cooking interesting. The kitchen has one plug, half of which is used for (perhaps, but not sure) a bug repellent. That means in the morning when you want coffee and toast you can keep the coffee maker on the counter but the toaster has to be plugged in in the living room. The kitchen is also rather dark; there is the overhead light and an under-counter florescent light, that we could never get to work. The living room floor slants from lake side to bedroom side. There are a variety of chairs but the two wicker-type chairs are the only ones worth sitting in. The bathroom has a toilet, sink and shower all of which work fine. The floor is poorly installed and the only plug is near the toilet. The beds are marginal in comfort. Almost all of the curtains in the house appear to have been too long for the windows and so were just cut off but not re-hemmed. There is no parking next to the house so all luggage, groceries, etc have to be carted from the road (not a huge distance but pretty inconvenient.) The lake has a great dock with nice chairs to sit on and a variety of boats, paddle boards, etc to use. This could be a great place to stay if the issues I have mentioned don't bother you, if they would a different choice might be better.
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Date of stay: June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Title: Ice, ice baby??? I think not. Robert Van Winkle won't be showing up any time soon to this resort
The view is great outside but this is a horrible place to get married if you want good service... or things like.... ice. The bartenders withheld ice like it was gold, it was like pulling teeth to try to get a cold drink no matter how many times you asked for more ice. You had to ask for cups of ice and a drink separately and they still only put 2 baby ice cubes in the glass of ice you received. Everyone drank warm drinks all night, with glasses hot out of the dishwasher... it was the worst. I love warm beer, mmm. The cheapskate who ran the place didn't even have a cooler behind the bar to keep the drinks cold, nor did he have AC, it was a B.O. sweat-fest in the middle of summer on the dance floor.
On top of the joke of a bartending service, the meals took so so soooooo long to receive a 1 course meal plus salad. The servers were serving 2 people at a time and taking at least 5 minutes or more in between every 2 people that they served so no one ate at the same time, it was easily less than 100 people at the wedding so there was no excuse. What a joke. The simple 1 course meal took until 10 pm to finish serving when it started at 7pm. Speeches didn't contribute at all to this delay, this was strictly dinner serving time. On top of this, the serving ladies were all unfriendly and they looked like they were one night away from taking a razor blade and .........you know the rest. They promised to bring a pitcher of ice water to the table on 3... I repeat 3 separate occasions and they never did.
So in conclusion, if you're looking for the worst service possible, I highly, highly recommend this place! But if you are one of those weird types who is crazy enough to like good service, then run for your life.
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Date of stay: May 2014
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was the worst experience I had during my all life. I was looking forward to enjoy the cottage on the lake, with fireplace and BBQ; to relax and have fun at the same time. Ok let's go ahead and pay deposit and outstanding balance on arrival. I really was looking forward to this 4 days vacation. Well it ended up to be a nightmare. Very uncomfortable, dirty, very old beds and mattresses. Bathroom???well better not to talk about. Just think I was keeping the sleeper on to take a shower in the "Jacuzzi" bathtub. I strongly believe this cottage was net rented out for at least a couple of year. The smell inside was awful. I asked to show e how the BBQ was to be switched on; well I discovered it was so dirty that probably it was not cleaned for at least a couple of year as well and have told the guy that I am not cooking the meat on top of this filthy BBQ Best thing to do form me was going out hiking, trekking, biking and canoeing from 08:00 am and go back after a good dinner a good restaurant in the city round 11:00 pm. It became a must to stay as less time as possible in the cottage. By he way the name of the cottage I rented is "The Spurce". I do not know about the other cottages however from the outside I think they are all in the same conditions. Linens, towels and cooking utensils are also included....well and of course need to be washed before using it linen included. Also do not believe what they have on the website; this is how they present the Spruce Cottage:
"The Spruce is a quaint and cozy three bedroom cottage accommodating up to 8 people. One bedroom has a luxurious king-size bed, one bedroom has two double beds and the third bedroom has two single beds. Maple floors and pine walls and ceilings provide a cozy rustic experience. It has a lovely living room with a wood-burning fireplace and wall to wall windows providing a beautiful view of the lake and woods. It also has a Jacuzzi bathtub, a full kitchen and an outdoor deck with a bbq. The kitchen is equipped with full-sized fridge and stove, coffee maker, pots, pans and dishes. A gas BBQ on the deck outside your door and a picnic table are also provided. The Spruce cottage overlooks the lake, so the beach and dock are just steps away."
It looks much better form the pictures they have on their website from which I have them downloaded and included in this review but the reality is completely different
On check out I had the chance to talk to the owner and have told them everything about. No reaction nor trying to do something even if it was too late but at least to show some concerns or good willing. They did not offer for any compensation nor even tried to offer something. Then I understood why on arrival they wanted to have the outstanding balance on my credit card even before to show me to the cottage. I told them that those cottages should not be rented out in these conditions but apparently they could not care less. To make a long nightmare story short, STAY AWAY from this "Resort".
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Date of stay: August 2017
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I arrived for a 4 night stay, only to find no cars in the parking lot and no one onsite to register with. We walked around the property and were dismayed to find how un-kept and overgrown the grounds were. We had to call the owner to find out where he was and after he arrived we paid for the remainder of what we owed for the cottage. Big mistake. He showed us our cottage, which was equally in dis-repair, dirty and smelled like urine. We were horribly disappointed. If it wasn't for the beautiful lake, quiet surroundings, and peak season, we would have left to find other accommodations. We complained to the owner and he had the carpets cleaned, but it still did not completely remove the smell of urine. On our last morning we found mice droppings on the kitchen counter. We were so disappointed with our experience we didn't even want to try the restaurant.
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Date of stay: August 2014
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Norsemen, Owner at Walker Lake Resort
Responded Oct 31, 2014
We're really sorry you didn't enjoy your stay. As you say, we did clean the carpets as soon as you mentioned it. If we knew it still wasn't satisfactory or that anything else wrong we would have fixed it right away. We did go in after you left and re-clean the carpets and everything else even though we didn't find anything. The cottage was completely booked the rest of the summer and there weren't any issues (we asked). So we know whatever it was isn't there any more, but again we're sorry you didn't enjoy your stay. We would be happy to have you come back again since you did like the beautiful lake and quiet surroundings.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our family of 4 (my wife and I, and children 13 and 11) are just heading home from a week at the Norsemen. We thoroughly enjoyed our time on beautiful Walker Lake. The highlights for us included meeting wonderful new friends and people from not only Ontario, but England, USA, and Netherlands. The nightly campfires roasting marshmallows and conversing, the kids catching small fish off the most amazing dock, the use of the paddle boards, canoes, kayaks, small motorized boat, etc all made this a great trip. Very easy to forget about work and the hustle and bustle of "regular" if while out here. Being so close to Algonquin Park and Huntsville is a nice added bonus if you're looking for shops, additional restaurants, or more hiking opportunities.
The cottage we chose was the Pine. It's a very rustic cottage at the far end of the resort, somewhat secluded and more private. We had a small dock and a beautiful view of the lake from many windows. We also had a screened in porch overlooking the lake from which to dine in. BBQs are provided, silverware, cooking items, fridge, stove, small gas heater, etc. WiFi if you needed is better than I expected for being out here. Note that the Pine is a true original cabin on a bit of an incline overlooking the lake so the cottage is un-level, most noticeable in the bathroom. This didn't cause a big concern for us. There were a few housekeeping items we needed to follow up with Les (the owner) on, and he was very prompt at remediation things (within an hour or so).
We also ate at the restaurant on site on "Bistro Monday". The food was Delicious, though for me personally a bit pricey. It is a fine dining restaurant so I expect it's reasonable, I just wish we could have afforded to dine another night because the food was so good.
In summary we had a wonderful time here. Set your expectations properly if staying here for a true cottage like experience on a beautiful lake. This is not a hotel chain type accommodation, this is a cottage setting with great views, and plenty of opportunities to recharge your batteries.
Cheers
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Norsemen, Owner at Walker Lake Resort
Responded Oct 31, 2014
We appreciate your taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. We delighted you enjoyed your time at Walker Lake. We're particularly thrilled that a highlight for you was meeting wonderful new friends and people from Ontario, England ,the USA and the Netherlands. We have many, many families who have met at dock and then spent time together at the nightly campfires, becoming friends. Many of our guests keep in touch after their vacations and we know some who have taken other vacations together after meeting here. There are lots of fish in Walker Lake and the kids love to catch them (and throw them back in so they'll be here next year). So we're glad your kids caught some and you all had a great trip. We hope you'll come back again again sometime.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We loved our stay at Walker Lake Resort. We've been here before and glad we came again. We stayed in the Acorn cottage again which is cozy and comfortable with a great view of the lake and close to the beach. It is obvious the owners care a lot and work hard to keep the cottages up. There is a new fridge and stove in the kitchen and everything was clean and tidy. We really enjoyed how peaceful and quiet Walker Lake Resort is. There are only canoes and kayaks on the lake, no noisy boats and not many people. It's wonderful to be able to hear the loons. We enjoyed the bonfire at night with some other guests and our kids made friends with other kids. We hope to see the same people again when we come back next year.
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Date of stay: September 2014
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Norsemen, Owner at Walker Lake Resort
Responded Oct 31, 2014
Thanks very much for your wonderful review. We're delighted that you found the cottage clean, cozy and comfortable. Everyone here at Walker Lake does their best to make sure everything is ready for you to have a great time. We're delighted you and your kids enjoyed the water toys and made friends with other guests. Many people come back the same time every year so if you come back you might very well see the same people again. Making friends and having a great time playing together with your family is what it's all about.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Huntsville area.
PRICE RANGE
C$304 - C$381 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
CanadaOntarioMuskoka DistrictHuntsville
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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