Beyond the glamour of the summer retreats and boathouses lining its major lakes, Ontario's famous Muskoka region still possesses a natural, rugged wildness that is rarely celebrated. In this wonderful large-format guidebook, well-known canoeist, wilderness advocate and author Hap Wilson explores the other Muskoka: from the Georgian Bay coast to the Algonquin highlands, through the vast stretches of forest, rivers and smaller lakes in between. Wilson covers canoeing, kayaking, hiking and cross-country skiing in Muskoka's best near-wilderness areas. Wilson's more than 80 hand-drawn, maps detail featured destinations. Soft eco-adventures combine easy daytrips with comfortable lodging. Hard eco-adventures put outdoor skills and endurance to the test, exchanging creature comforts for a more primitive experience.

Hap Wilson is an award winning-artist, author, photographer, guide, environmentalist, cartographer and eco trail builder living in Rosseau, Ont. His writing has appeared in Canadian Geographic, Explore and Canoe & Kayak. He has published a dozen nature and geography related books. His book Voyages-Canada's Heritage Rivers won the Natural Resources Council of America Award for best environmental book and the Bill Mason Award for lifetime achievement in River Conservation. Wilson, along with his wife Andrea, operate The Cabin Falls EcoLodge in Temagami, Ont. He lives in Rosseau, Ont.

Hap Wilson's profile page

If the last of Muskoka's wilderness was to be exposed, it couldn't be done by a better person -- or in a better manner.

Toronto Star

Washing through [Wilson's] words is the strong and steady commitment and respect for the natural world, as well as a passionate call to have this world honored.

Muskokan

Over 80 hand-drawn maps with detailed features offer the reader a range of outdoor experiences.

Muskoka Magazine

More than 80 wonderfully detailed, hand-drawn maps... a lively double-take on a 7,000 square-kilometer swath of the province.

Globe and Mail

Nice maps and useful advice.

Woodenboat

Books like Wilson's Canoeing and Hiking Wild Muskoka can play a large role in this vital switch to more eco-friendly recreational outings.

Cottage Times