Northern Edge Algonquin is a Muskoka retreat that has big goals for its visitors. Completely surrounded by nature, the hope is that you’ll find yourself here—or, at least, get one step closer.
Located on Kawawaymog Lake on the edge of Algonquin Park, this Muskoka retreat is the perfect way to explore the beauty of nature with the comforts of home. Charming as can be, the retreat grounds are reminiscent of a wee Alpine village, with the breathtaking forestscape dotted with wooden structures. The serene lake is a wonderful canoe-in access point to the park, offering easy access to the nearby Forgotten Trails.
Whether you’re a tried-and-true city slicker or someone who is already devoted to nature, Northern Edge Algonquin promises a life-changing experience away from the thrum of everyday life. Need proof? A cabin perched on a tiny island within eyesight of the Main House belonged to none other than Tom Thomson, he of the famed Group of Seven. If there ever was a nature lover…
History Of A Beloved Muskoka Wellness Retreat
So, how did Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat come to be?
Wife-and-husband co-founders Martha and Todd Lucier first experienced the magic of Algonquin Park on their honeymoon back in 1982. Fast-forward three years, and the now-parents to twin girls returned to the park for a nine day program. Martha, separated from her daughters for the first time, felt torn and vulnerable, and yet over the course of trip allowed nature’s embrace to help her let go of the thoughts of her children, push through challenges in the wilderness, and rediscover who she truly was—without the mother-wife-sister-daughter label. This set in motion the couple’s journey to chase their dreams of a life in Algonquin, one that empowers us all to live our truth and fulfill our dreams while deepening our all-important relationship with mother earth.
Northern Edge Algonquin has a Canadian Signature Experience designation, which is no small feat. “We continue to endeavour to provide a high quality of experience while introducing visitors to the natural beauty of Canada through intentional, small-group experiences,” notes Tim Lucier, son of the co-founders and Director of Operations. “We take pride in our team of transformational facilitators and our staff working behind the scenes—and being a part of the CSE collection helps visitors to Ontario find our experiences.”
The team is always thrilled to welcome international clients, newcomers to Canada, or folks who have spent most of their time in cities, delighted to introduce them to their first journey via canoe, first campfire, and first ooey gooey s’more.
For travellers specifically seeking out a kind-to-the-earth escape, Northern Edge Algonquin is just the ticket. “We’re more than one of the most eco-friendly places to experience nature in Canada,” says Tim. “We’re really inviting all our guests to experience a simpler and more sustainable pace, and introducing people to ideas and practices that can help them to live more authentically.”
The entire Muskoka retreat is solar powered, which Todd and Martha first introduced in the early ’90s, with the solar panels visible at the lake’s edge, by the main dining cabin. These panels produce approximately 4200 watts of power solely on the sun’s energy. In fact, Northern Edge Algonquin boasts a Platinum Level Green Leaders stamp on TripAdvisor, for those who are keen on sustainable travel. (It must be said that hair dryers or straighteners are a big no-no for guests. You’ll survive!)
Northern Edge Algonquin Retreats
Luckily for us, Northern Edge Algonquin offers retreats all year long, encouraging nature lovers to embrace the great Canadian outdoors no matter the weather. Regardless of the time of year, these retreats have been created to help you unplug and create that all-important ‘me time.’ All guests must go totally go off-the-grid as there’s no Wi-Fi or cellular service available. This part may sound daunting, but it’s a welcome escape from that never-unplugged lifestyle we all know too well. (Honestly, your retreat will be so jam-packed with activities, you’ll forget all about your phone—save for snapping some pics.)
So, who is the typical Northern Edge Algonquin visitor? “People from all walks of life join us at the Edge, and we have retreat programs that speak to a wide variety of participants,” says Courtney Sinclair, Evolutions Coordinator at the Edge. “Generally our visitors are people who are looking to connect to nature, themselves, and others. Those yearning to take pause from their day-to-day, to rest or adventure or to create space for change, to disconnect from technology and feel more present and alive to the world around them.”
Fire & Ice—the Winter getaway I attended—encourages visitors to slow down and rediscover the winter wonderland surrounding them. Guided adventures showcase the best of the surrounding landscape, and our amazing Muskoka retreat facilitators—Jo Sadowski and Sarah Connolly—brought us on multiple cross-country skiing and showshoeing adventures. Whether traversing the frozenKawawaymog Lake or exploring trails in the woods, these experiences were pure magic and are well-suited to a range of ages and abilities. We also did some morning yoga, enjoyed solo meditative activities, were encouraged to journal, and relaxed in the sauna before dashing into the snow. (A tried-and-true Canadian tradition that wasn’t as terrifying as I imagined!)
Meanwhile, those keen to embark on a Spring adventure can suss out the PranaShanti Spring Yoga & Meditation Retreat. Built around daily yoga practices, the Muskoka retreat also encourages attendees to meditate, and journal, connecting with nature through movement and healing, immersive sound. Alternately, Evolve is a signature retreat where guests deepen their leadership abilities, build resilience, and tune into nature to gain insight.
Midsummer visitors looking to find balance in their lives will love the Quest for Balance retreat, which focuses on daily yoga sessions and all things paddleboarding. You’ll work on developing your SUP skills before heading off on multiple paddling adventures, and making connections both on and with the water.
Finally, Fall is the ideal time to reset following the typical chaos of the summer. The Habit Reset retreat is an invitation to nourish your mind, body, and soul. Throughout the weekend, guests will focus on dreaming big while building habits that will help you tackle those goals. Yoga, meditation, and immersion in nature are used as tools to overhaul patterns of thinking.
All Season Muskoka Retreat Near Algonquin Park
“We have a somewhat unique approach to designing our retreat programming,” says Tim, noting that for any given retreat, they know and can describe the flavour and outcome of the experience. “For example, a quest for balance will be just that—a quest for overall balance in our guests’ lifestyles—and that is is a yoga/SUP retreat.”
“The sky is the limit on what activities you might see at a retreat,” says Tim, “and that does mean we don’t always know exactly what we’re going to be offering until it’s about to happen. Our facilitators are all excellent at going with the flow and tapping into guest’s interests and what would be supportive for them.” This may mean adding some aerial yoga into the schedule, testing out your slacklining abilities, or daring to surf—aka gunwale bob—using a canoe!
Muskoka Retreat Seasonal Activities
- Winter: Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kick sledding, ice skating, ice hockey, stargazing, wood-fired sauna
- Spring: Yoga, nature walks, meditation, rock balancing, pizza making
- Summer: Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), yoga, aerial yoga, cycling, slacklining, canoe gunwale-bobbing (canoe surfing), swimming
- Fall: Yoga, reiki, hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, meditation, photography
Where Is Northern Edge Algonquin?
This popular wellness Muskoka retreat is found about 3 hours 45 minutes north of Toronto on a good traffic day.
It’s relatively easy to find Northern Edge Algonquin if you’ve taken care to print off or download the route in advance. This being said, do note that you’ll lose all cell phone service about 30 minutes out from the retreat, so stay vigilant about checking your location. When leaving, be sure to keep in mind that the driving instructions brought you to the main parking lot; your exit may be from a different one, and it’s oh-so-easy to drive into Algonquin Park thinking you’re headed in the opposite direction! (Yes, this happened to us; we realized a casual 40 minutes into our exit drive that the oh-so-quiet road just so happened to be a logging one!)
You can find Northern Edge Algonquin on Google Maps.
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Muskoka Retreat Accommodation Options
Camping isn’t for everyone, and for those who love nature—but aren’t particularly keen on setting up tents in a cloud of mosquitoes—Northern Edge Algonquin has you in mind. Reaching from little cabins for the Ontario glamping aficionado, to log cabin bedrooms for folks who feel most at ease in home-like comfort, there is a range of accommodation to suit different styles of travellers with differing physical preferences or needs.
“The Edge has grown very organically over the years, responding to the needs we see as we evolve,” says Tim. “We started out with our Canvas Cabin—we were ‘glamping’ before it was a word!—and our Habitat Cabins, which are more like cozy, rustic bunkies. We started to see the need for more options to suit a variety of comfort levels, so our eco-friendly Studio Cabins were born with lots of space and private bathrooms with composting toilets.”
More recently, the team recognized the need for a tad more comfort. “We designed Dreamer’s Hill, an eco-luxe log cabin with five bedrooms featuring en-suite bathrooms and showers,” says Tim. “This summer, we’re removing the last of the canvas from our canvas cabins and installing clear roofing, so that guests can sleep with the forest canopy and stars overhead.” On a clear night, the skies are indeed spectacular.
Canvas Cabins (soon to be Canopy Cabins) are adorable glamping-style nooks that have you totally immersed in nature. These former prospector tents make charming cabins that are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from main programming spaces and amenities—including showers and flush toilets. These cozy cabins fit a double bed, and are best suited to for solo travellers or couples who like canoodling.
The Habitat Cabins are just the ticket for up to four friends, or couples who needs a bit more space. Each one offers a loft double bed above two single beds. Much like the canvas/canopy cabins, these cabins are located just a quick walk away from the main programming spaces along with the bathrooms and showers.
Next up, we have the Studio Cabins—comfy and spacious rooms that boast a both double and a single bed. Couples or friends will are found just a minute’s walk away from the main programming spaces and showers. Each one features a small en-suite bathroom with a composting toilet.
Fancy the comforts of home? Well, you’ve lucked out as the luxe Log Cabin Bedrooms at Dreamer’s Hill feature en-suite bathrooms and showers. These rooms come with a double bed, which can convert into two single beds—meaning couples, friend groups, and solo travellers alike can enjoy these. There’s also a common area, with chairs situated around a fireplace, for guests to relax in. To ensure guests enjoy uninterrupted sleep, the quaint cabin is located a bit further from the main programming area.
Eating At Northern Edge Algonquin Retreat Centre
Northern Edge Algonquin’s culinary program is a huge draw for visitors, and is helmed by their cook, Gregor Waters, who has been living, working, and playing in the area since 1997. The Muskoka retreat was the very first operator in Ontario to receive the FeastOn designation, which recognizes dedication to serving locally sourced food.
Each and every guest at a Northern Edge Algonquin retreat fills in a detailed registration form and has the opportunity to be pretty specific about their dietary needs. The team has hosted guests with lots of varying needs—and the occasional extreme allergies. Each meal that Gregor serves comes with a story attached. One time he’ll wax and wane about where the carrots come from; another, he’ll wipe away a tear thinking of a specific producer that bent over backwards to give you the produce on your plate. This is food with heart and soul—just come prepared to eat.
“Gregor is fantastic at providing alternatives for those with allergies and intolerances, vegetarians, vegans, those who are gluten-free and more,” notes Tim. “Speaking as a vegetarian, the options he serves up are the best I’ve had when it comes to any dining experience where I’ve been given the veggie option. Part of the secret is it’s buffet-style, and generally for each dish he’ll make an alternative or two for the needs that are in that particular group.” All guests dine together in the main dining room, gathering before the dinner bell is rung.
“Getting to know something about the actual folk who grow what we eat uncovers another dimension to food at the Edge,” Gregor says. “Over the last decade, a wide variety of producers—from farmerfolk to fisherfolk—were introduced countless times to guests during mealtimes. While they were not physically sitting at dining tables or standing around the pizza oven, they were main characters in the stories that accompanied their contributions to each meal.”
Northern Edge Algonquin Menu
Local producers the cook has worked with include: Spring Hill Farms (veggies and free-run eggs); B. LePage Fishery (lake trout, white fish, and pickerel from Georgian Bay); Dehaan Family Farms (free-range chicken, pork, and goat milk cheese); Myco-op (shiitake mushrooms). Poschaven Farms provides organic wheat, while Krause Farm Store is a go-to for local baked goods and summer sausage. The list is ever-evolving as Gregor’s always on the hunt to build relationship with new local providers, showcasing the bounty of the region. He’ll be sure to highlight the producers in his pre-dinner spiel.
While Gregor isn’t in the habit of serving up the same meal twice, there are some repeat offenders that have been dubbed Edgie faves. There’s wood-fired pizza from the oven Gregor built, maple granola, poached herbaceous green eggs, and tomato bisque topped with toasted spicy nuts and wilted microgreens. There’s also smoked cedar plank wild salmon and seasonal root vegetable fritters which arrive with a delectable sour cream sauce with roasted fennel and cucumber. The French onion soup, served at lunch after a vigorous morning cross-country ski, was arguably the best I’ve ever encountered. (The entire group of us couldn’t help but go back for seconds.)
“While a particular theme (say, East European) or seasonal ingredient (say, our backyard maple syrup) underlies the idea of a meal,” Gregor says, “what I actually cook is based on a combination of what our local farmers are sharing with us in abundance, our guests’ dietary concerns, and the theme of the retreat program.” No matter the time of day, you will be very well fed. (Did I mention the irresistible mid-afternoon dessert?!)
What isn’t served during this moment in time, is any form of alcohol. “With a wide variety of health and wellness-themed programming, experiences at the Edge invite us to connect through all of the senses,” notes Courtney. “We find that alcohol can inhibit the depth of connection possible during these retreats and can be a distraction from the personal transformation that our guests are seeking. Honestly, the experiences we’re sharing are so connected and engaging that it’s generally not missed.” Instead, each meal comes with a spiffy beverage, such as a white cranberry spritz. Honestly, your days are so jam-packed with activities, alcohol is the furthest thing from your mind.
No matter the intentions you had when you arrived at Northern Edge Algonquin, you’re sure to emerge with your cup filled to the brim .
