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Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka

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Ricketts lake
Relax on the dock or go for a swim
Brand new dock
Property grounds
Lots of room for sitting by the lake.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Minett, ON
  • Place, Lake Joseph
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Place, Baby Lake
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Lake Muskoka
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Airport, Muskoka, ON (YQA)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Guest room 1

1 Double Bed

Master bedroom

1 Queen Bed

The Cabin

1 Single Bunk Bed

The kids room :)

2 Single Bunk Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka

You deserve this, whether it’s for a week or you are working remotely for a month, come to Muskoka.

All the amenities of home. Walkout to the beach & fire pit. Very private (1000 ft of shore). Excellent for families with young kids. Right in the heart of Muskoka. 5 minutes to Mactier, 20 minutes to Port Carling or Parry Sound. Come and swim, golf, cycle, hike or just relax in a hammock or hot tub.

NOTE: A few folks have sent me notes saying that they have been contacted by me via Facebook or other social media platforms to arrange bookings. Unfortunately this appears to be a scam. For your safety I will not communicate with you in anyway other than the VRBO app. Once you are booked, I will give you my cell # for emergencies.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 30

Check out before 10:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 3 pets total)

Please clean up after your pups

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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Start the dishwasher

Strip any used beds and gather used towels

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Turn off the lights

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 9685369
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Muskoka Lakes

Located in Muskoka Lakes, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Muskoka and Lake Joseph, while Muskoka Lakes Museum and Bala's Museum are cultural highlights. Muskoka Sports and Recreation and Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and mountain biking.
View more Cottages in Muskoka LakesOpens in a new window
Map
Minett, ON

What's nearby

  • Lake Joseph - 1 min drive - 0.4 km
  • Baby Lake - 6 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Rocky Crest Golf Club - 12 min drive - 13.4 km
  • Silver Sand Lake - 13 min drive - 10.9 km
  • Lake Muskoka - 13 min drive - 17.8 km

Getting around

  • Muskoka, ON (YQA) - 55 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bass Lake Roadhouse - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Teca Restaurant - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪The Deck - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Water's Edge Wine Bar & Grill - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Muskoka Chophouse - ‬30 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka?

As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka on 11 Sept 2026 start from AU$656, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Private Cottage on a lovely small lake in the heart of Muskoka located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Lake Joseph and within 6 miles (10 km) of Baby Lake and Silver Sand Lake. Rocky Crest Golf Club and Tucker Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jordan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage is beautiful, host is friendly and its in a great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Susan Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very family friendly, good swimming, beautiful sunsets
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hersha L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great cottage and very responsive and helpful host. We really enjoyed the sauna as we had a bit of a cooler week. Thank you to Simon for the hospitality!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Todd R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A really nice cottage with all the amenities. Hot tub and sauna were great. Our next visit will be longer so we can use more of the amenities. Thanks Simon for being such a great host and letting us into your cottage.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Oct 2025
Thanks Todd - you guys are the perfect guests. Please come again.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michon T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Enjoyable week

Nice quiet beach and great view.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 July 2023
Michon, Thanks for spending the week with us and for taking such great care of the cottage. You are the perfect guests. S&K
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lori G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage is amazing in all ways. The lake and beach beautiful and my kids were I. The all day long every day. All amenities you can think of is there and the host is great. You won’t be disappointed if you rent this cottage. The only bad thing was having to leave.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lynn F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location and spot

We loved our stay at Simon’s Cottage. Great time, relaxing and so close to great towns. Cottage really had everything we needed. 10 out of 10
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Devin M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Family Getaway!

We had a wonderful vacation at this cottage! The property was exactly as described — peaceful, well-equipped, and perfect for a family getaway. Our kids had a blast swimming off the dock and taking the canoe around the lake, and my in-laws really appreciated the comfort and tranquility of the surroundings. The cottage was spotless and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The host was incredibly responsive and helpful throughout — just an all-around great person. We’re so grateful for the experience and would absolutely return!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mara 5.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing location! You have more than everything on the property! We enjoyed every minute! A lot of space, water sports equipment, great interior design! Quick communication with the landlord.Great kitchen equipment. Some plates in kitchen cabinets were not clean with pieces of food after dishwasher. Generally a great staying! We looking forward to come to this place again
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Wendy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The lake was quiet and perfect for paddleboarding, pedal boating, and kayaking. The dock was great! It was a serene place for our family to enjoy a week away.The cottage was equipped with everything we needed - except a clothes line. We loved having Netflix and the pool table for the rainy days.We didn't get to use the sauna or fire pit due to fire ban.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Sept 2025
Wendy, thanks for looking after the cottage so well. 5 stars!!!! Glad the indoor activities kept you entertained when the weather didn't cooperate. Great tip about the clothes line. We’ll put one in. Hope you come back! Cheers, S
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We will be back!

Beautiful cottage and view, quiet lake and perfect family getaway. Our family was so comfortable in this house, had everything we needed, no complaints. This cottage is a hidden gem. Simon was a 5 star host & we will be booking this cottage again in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 July 2023
Thanks for the lovely review, Kim. It brings a smile to our hearts when folks enjoy South Shore. It is one of my favourite places. Thank you for taking such great care of our house. You and your family are always welcome back.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ravi S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding Cottage

This was one of the nicest cottages we have ever stayed at. Great views, nice quiet lake, use of the navy of kayaks/ paddleboard/canoe, not to mention a really great games room! Would love to return next year. Only suggestion is to adjust the cleaning fee to include bedsheets & final garbage to transfer station.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 July 2022
Thank you for the review and for treating our home some wonderfully. You are always welcome back. You suggestions are duly noted and, if I can find the folks to assist, we will implement. .
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brandon d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

It was paradise, couldnt of asked for a better spot. The cottage has everything you could possibly need. I think we used every accommodation it had to offer and it did not disapoint. Simon is a 10/10 host, it is obvious he takes very good care of his properties, he made sure we were good and left us to our selves. We hope to go north again next year and we will for sure be contacting Simon. PS the fishing was great!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serenity Now!

Loved it! Quiet and peaceful! Just what we needed coming from the city. Wonderful serene location. Fishing was great. Caught good size fish off the dock. Plenty of things for adults and kids to do! Sauna, hot tub, outdoor games, indoor games. Five stars for sure. Any questions we had the host responded quickly. We would recommend this cottage for anyone who is looking for a cottage in the Muskokas! Coming back next summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2024
Thanks, Michael. We look forward to having you back. How big was the fish? Cheers, S
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carrie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage on Ricketts Lake

My husband and I booked the cottage for our three grown sons and their spouses and children. There was a lot of room for everyone and the cottage is well stocked and decorated beautifully. The only thing we couldn’t find was a pizza pan but we made a cookie sheet work for our needs. We all had an absolutely fantastic stay at Simon’s cottage. Our grandchildren were in the water at the shoreline the entire week. Even our dogs loved every minute of their holiday. Simon was wonderful to deal with and commutation was very easy. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Feb 2024
Thanks Carrie - glad you enjoyed your stay. You are always welcome back. We have added a beautiful wood burning sauna by the lake :)
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Getaway!

My family and I had a fantastic time staying at this cottage over the past week! There was lots of space and plenty of things to do. We enjoyed the quiet peaceful lake, it was perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding. The cottage is on a little bay/inlet which was nice and private! I will say the shore started off sandy but there were some weeds for the first 5-10ft but it was still okay to swim off of the end of the dock and lily pad. Furthermore, the kitchen was fully stocked and had all of the supplies you could possibly need. Additionally, the rooms were spacious and the beds were quite comfortable. Lastly, the hosts were very helpful and responded promptly to any questions we had. Overall my family had a fantastic time and hope to be back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2023
Hey Emily, So glad you enjoyed your stay and thank you for taking such great care of the place. See you next year! S and K
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joanne F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful spot!

The property is beautiful with floor to ceiling windows giving you a spectacular view of the lake. All that you need is there, fully equipped kitchen, towels, water toys, board games, pool and shuffle board table, etc., the sunsets were beautiful and we loved watching them on the new dock. The things that were a little annoying are part of cottage life. Managing the garbage - garbage day on Wednesday, trip to the dump on Thursday before 4:00 and taking what you generate between Thursday and Friday morning with you because the dump is closed on Fridays. Duck poop is another thing to manage but overall, it is a lovely cottage on a quiet lake that created special family time. Would recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 July 2023
Hey Joanne, glad you enjoyed your stay and thank you for taking such great care of our home. We agree, the garbage management in muskoka is a pain. We are looking into better solutions. Please come again. S&K
Verified

8/10 Good

Alex W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice property on quiet lake

Lovely property, plenty of room for our family and dog. We had a lot of fun each evening in the games room. Beautiful big windows overlooking the lake. Lake is great for children as it has a very shallow entry. Located between Port Carling and Bala. Both have lovely restaurants. Downside was the place had a bad mouse problem. Mouse droppings in drawers in the kids bedrooms and kitchen cupboards, even a mouse nest full of baby mice was found in the kitchen cupboard. The owner promptly had it removed but In my opinion the cleaning company should have found it before our arrival. Also, the mats and carpets are very old and stained which was a bit off putting. Other than that we really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Nov 2022
A fair review and good feedback. Alex and family were excellent guests. Mice are a challenge in cottage country but this years they were surprisingly abundant. The house has been fully scrubbed. We have changed our cleaners and have pulled up all the carpets and replaced them with a lovely wood finish. We have also installed a large new dock and a new deck.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Selena N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Vacation

Beautiful sunsets, warm water, lots to do. We had a great stay at Simon's cottage. He was an excellent host. He provided us with a great info sheet, and he just installed a new air conditioner and brand new bbq. The cottage has lots of fun things to do pool table, ping pong, shuffle board, the wifi worked great ( bell). The lake was lovely, there is a bit of a sandy walk in before a traditional lake bottom. I recommend water shoes as there are a few shells. Lots of fun water activities paddle board, canoe, kayak all on a very quiet little lake. The hot tub was very relaxing. The kitchen is well stocked with cooking tools, dishes and cooking basics ( oil, seasonings). The bathrooms were stocked well and there were lots of bath and beach towels. We loved watching the ducks and ducklings, they loved to tease our dog. So much fun to watch them interact. Beautiful, private, quiet property. Thank you Simon.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2022
Thank you, Selena. Glad you had a nice stay. Thanks for being such amazing guests. Great tip about the water shoes. Our lakes are very much alive and thriving.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jane S.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

April F.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

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