Take a hike up the Tower Trail at the Dorset Fire Tower for some of the best panoramic views in Ontario’s Lake of Bays region. This short and intense, but rewarding, trail winds through the Muskoka forest before reaching the historic Dorset Fire Tower, where visitors can take in sweeping views over Lake of Bays, Dorset and the surrounding Haliburton Highlands.

The Dorset Fire Tower has been watching over the forests of Muskoka for generations. Built as part of Ontario’s historic forest fire lookout system, the tower was once used by fire rangers to spot smoke and detect wildfires across the surrounding wilderness. Today, it is one of Dorset’s best-known landmarks and a reminder of the important role fire towers played in protecting Ontario’s forests before modern aerial and satellite technology.

Our photo gallery follows the Tower Trail from the trailhead to the lookout, including the Dorset Heritage Museum outdoor displays at the start of the trail, the forested hiking path, views from the base of the tower and the spectacular panorama from the top. It’s a great little Canadian adventure in Muskoka—especially for hikers, photographers, road trippers and anyone exploring the Lake of Bays area.

Good to know: The climb, although relatively short, is intense - there is some elevation gain, making the trail a worthwhile stop when exploring Dorset and the surrounding Muskoka and Haliburton Highlands. The views are particularly impressive on a clear day, when the forests, lakes and rolling landscape stretch out in every direction.

Photo credits: Anja Cahill, Emma Cahill