The Lake of Bays Township is known for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Made up of four smaller hamlets such as Baysville, Hillside, Dwight, and Dorset it’s a premier destination for cottagers or those looking to live a slower-paced lifestyle. Hillside is a small community that caters to seasonal property owners and retirees. Housing styles are limited here to single family homes that showcase older architectural building styles as well as cottages and some lakeside properties.
Hillside is home to many parks, beaches, and pristine lakes making swimming and water activities abundant in this region. Hillside beach is a popular spot for swimming during the summer as well as canoeing and kayaking. Canoers and kayakers flock to hillside beach during the Fall as it provides spectacular views of colourful foliage from the surrounding forested area making for a peaceful ride on Lake Huron . There’s also a boat launch and dock here as well for boaters.
Being so small, Hillside does not have many amenities of their own so you must travel to nearby communities to access parks and recreation opportunities. Gouldie Park in the nearby hamlet of Dwight has an expansive greenspace area perfect for playing or having a picnic as well as a playground. The Dwight Famer’s Market takes place here every Wednesday showcasing a variety of local artisans, artists, and growers throughout the Lake of Bays Township.
If you enjoy being in nature, Hillside is a great place to live or visit as it has many walking and hiking trails. The Hillside Hamlet trail is a 4-kilometer trail that follows a paved road surrounded by woodland that leads you into Hillside. Enjoy a peaceful walk through nature and spot some of the wildlife local to this area. The Echo Valley Nature and Bike Trails is a network of trails that border Dwight and Hillside. Whether you’re looking to enjoy nature, a short hike, or a fast-paced mountain bike trail ride, Echo Valley’s network of trails is a great place to do it all. This network of trails totals over 4 kilometers of main trail lines and 14 smaller trails that vary in levels of difficulty.
Lastly, the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is home to 20 private lakes, 10 acres of forest, and over 70 kilometers of hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing trails. Limberlost transforms with each season both in landscape and activities and is a popular spot for residents and visitors alike to enjoy nature and breathe in the fresh Muskoka air.
Hillside is a hub for artists with nine studios located on Limberlost Road. Artists of Limberlost is an annual event that takes place each August where visitors can enter the artist’s studios and explore their display areas. Through the tour, you will find twig and stone sculptures, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, paintings, tile home goods, rustic and fine furniture, and so much more. Hillside provides a great creative spot with inspiration all over from its beautiful surroundings.
If you’d like to engage with members of your community and improve living, the H.O.L.D. Community group is a great place to get involved with your community through volunteering. This group sponsors a variety of fundraisers and special events, and proceeds are used to better the community.
Hillside is a great place to find a cottage property or settle down after retirement. It provides access to an abundant of recreational opportunities and places to enjoy nature.
-The BDAR Team