Huntsville and Lake of Bays Transportation Company (Portage Flyer)

The Portage Flyer, operated by the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Transportation Company, is a beloved heritage steam railway nestled in the Muskoka cottage country of Ontario. Operating at Muskoka Heritage Place in Huntsville, this charming narrow-gauge steam railway runs a short but delightful journey along the original Portage Flyer route between South Portage and Lake of Bays — once the shortest commercial steam railway in the world at just under two miles. The original Portage Flyer operated from 1904 to 1958, serving the resort communities of Muskoka by connecting the steamship routes of Fairy Lake, Peninsula Lake, and Lake of Bays. Today, passengers ride behind a lovingly restored steam locomotive through the scenic Muskoka landscape, experiencing a piece of early Canadian tourism history. Muskoka Heritage Place, the wider heritage site that surrounds the railway, features a fascinating collection of historic buildings, pioneer artefacts, and an operating sawmill that together recreate life in early 20th-century Muskoka. The Portage Flyer and Muskoka Heritage Place together make for a wonderful family outing in one of Ontario’s most beautiful and historic cottage regions.