The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage with private dock on Porter Lake - Muskoka | Cottage in Bala

9.8 (20 Reviews) |   4 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms  10 Guests
Bala Cottage | The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage with private dock on Porter Lake - Muskoka

4 Bedroom Cottage in Bala

Hideaway Cottage is a lovely and private all-season cottage near Bala, Ontario in the heart of Muskoka. This is a family-friendly house that we use ourselves when it is not rented.
Wood floors, a BBQ, a dock on a quiet lake and 70+ acres of privacy make this the ideal escape in the spring, summer or fall. Cook on the BBQ, play in the large backyard, lounge in the hammock, roast marshmallows at the fire pit, go for a swim in the lake, or just plain old hang out.
The amenities make your stay easier. There's a fully equipped kitchen with new induction stove/convection oven, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, espresso machine and drip coffee maker.
The living-dining area is L shaped with a cathedral ceiling. The dining area seats 12. The living room is bright with windows overlooking the woods and the lake, and there is a tile woodstove.
The main level master bedroom has patio doors opening to a deck looking out through trees to the lake. Two bedrooms that accommodate 7 people and a play area are upstairs, perfect for the kids. Linens are included.
There's a Muskoka Room (a screened in porch) overlooking the back garden, with a dining table and seating for 4.
The ground level has been recently renovated: there’s a bright bedroom with a queen-sized bed with an intimate view of the woods, a 3-piece bathroom, and a games room/tv room with a sectional sofa and pull-out double bed. There are DVDs, board games, books and cards, puzzles, etc. and also a high chair for those who are still at that age. Access your Netflix and other streaming services accounts on the smart TV. Did we mention the air hockey table?
Location, Amenities, Conditions:
On Porter Lake - very quiet - no motorboats or other motor craft permitted.
Canoe + 3 kayaks + 2 stand up paddleboards
Games & toys available for kids.
Outside fire pit and marshmallow forks are included! Bring s'mores!
What's Nearby:
Town of Bala and Bala Falls
Near Bala’s stores, restaurants, TD Bank, LCBO and Beer Store, library and skating arena.
Concerts at Kee to Bala
Downhill skiing Mount St Louis Moonstone
Johnston's Cranberry Marsh
Muskoka Steamship Cruises in Gravenhurst (30 minutes away)
Hardy Lake Provincial Park with great walking trails (15 minutes away)
Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve (only 15 minutes away).
Restrictions:
No pets on the property.
No smoking.
No hunting on the property.
Summer rentals: 1 week or longer only. Cleaning is included.
The cottage is on a small and quiet private lake, with about 1,000 feet of frontage on each side of the lake. Swimming is primarily from the dock, with plenty-deep water that is usually quite warm in the summer. There are 3 kayaks, 2 paddleboards and a canoe for exploring and you'll find lots of lifejackets on site for adults and kids.
There is a treed slope down to the water; a mix of Canadian Shield and grass. The water is about 2ft deep at the shoreline and then deepens to more than 12ft deep at the end of the dock. The lakebed is firm to soft sand/gravel/rock bottom.
On site there are tons of books for both adults and children, a variety of board games, and toys for young children. Play soccer in the backyard or have fun playing volleyball, bocce ball or croquet. A hammock in the backyard overlooks the garden.
Bring your fishing poles - there are lots of bass in the lake.
This reservation has a flexible cancellation policy - refunds will be issued up to 14 days prior to the check in date.
A 100% refund is provided for travellers cancelling at least 14 full days before check-in. No refunds are provided for travellers cancelling less than 14 days prior to check-in.
Our house rules: primary renter must be 25 or older, no smoking, no parties or events, no pets.
No smoking indoors and no littering.
Rules for disposal of garbage must be followed.
Fires must be moderate in size and in outdoor fire pit only.
No additional overnight guests without permission.
Renter assumes liability for any and all damages including damages by family or guests.
Important limitations of liability:
- swimming, boating, hiking, skiing, encounters with wildlife (there are bears, poisonous snakes, etc. in Muskoka), walking on lake ice, use of BBQ or fire pit, and other outdoor activities may be hazardous and may present a risk of injury.
- The cottage -- including the surrounding property and any boats, life-jackets, barbeque or other items on site (collectively the "furnished cottage"), are provided on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
- We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
- In no event shall the cottage owners ("we", "us") be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages, or any other damages of any kind whether in an action in contract, tort (including but not limited to negligence) or otherwise, arising out of or in any way connected with the use or inability to use the furnished cottage.
- In no event shall the aggregate liability of us -- whether in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence whether active, passive or imputed), product liability, strict liability or other theory -- arising out of or relating to the use of the furnished cottage, exceed any compensation you pay, if any, to us for access to or use of the furnished cottage.

The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage with private dock on Porter Lake - Muskoka is located in Bala. The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage with private dock on Porter Lake - Muskoka provides accommodation, featuring View, Security/Safety, Wellness Facilities, among other amenities. This Cottage features View, Security/Safety, Wellness Facilities, to make your stay a comfortable one.

The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage with private dock on Porter Lake - Muskoka has 4 Bedrooms , 2 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 10 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated Cottage because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this Cottage, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. Cottage has a friendly neighborhood, and the Bala has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the Cottage in Bala, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.

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Amenities

Air Conditioner
Parking
TV
View
Ocean View
Balcony/Terrace
Security/Safety
Sports/Activities
Bedding/Linens
Wellness Facilities
Fireplace/Heating
Guest Services
Entertainment
Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking
Child Friendly
Internet
Kitchen
Laundry

Facility Overview

Air Conditioner
  • Heating
  • Air conditioning
Bathrooms
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer
  • Toilet paper
  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
Bedroom
  • Sofa bed
  • Bed sheets provided
  • 4 bedrooms
  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Wood stove
  • Fireplace
Kitchen
  • Stovetop
  • Spices
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Blender
  • Paper towels
  • Oven
Laundry
  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Laundry facilities
Ocean view
  • Beach sun loungers
  • Beach towels
Parking
  • Onsite parking
  • Onsite parking options include a garage
  • Car recommended
Pet Friendly
  • No pets allowed
Accessibility
  • Smoke-free property
  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • 7 stairs to reach property
  • No elevators
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
Activities
  • Kayak on site
  • Sledding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Casino nearby
Entertainment
  • Books
  • Arcade/game room
  • Video games
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV
  • Stereo
  • Music library
  • Video library
General
  • Recycling
  • Unit size: 2000 sq ft (186 sq m)
  • English
  • French
  • On the lake
  • Near the bay
  • In a rural location
  • On the waterfront
  • Desk
  • Computer monitor
  • Desk chair
Guest Services
  • Children's books
  • Children's dinnerware
  • Children's games
  • Children's toys
  • Stair gate
  • Highchair
  • Playground
  • Iron/ironing board
Internet
  • Free WiFi
Outdoors
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Garden
  • Dock
  • Firepit
  • Balcony
Security/Safety
  • Deadbolt lock
  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Skiing
  • Snowboarding and cross-country skiing nearby

Policies

Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 pm contactless check-in available minimum check-in age: 25
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 am contactless check-out available
Child Policy
Children are welcome.
Event Policy
No events allowed
Pet Policy
Pets not allowed
Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted

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 host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed this property accepts cash this property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room this property is managed through our partner, vrbo. you will receive an email from vrbo with a link to a vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Reviews

Abbey G.
Aug 26, 2025 12:11:17 AM
Review Score:   10
Summary: Great trip and lovely stay. Quite beach and lots to dining the area.
See All Reviews
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