The Muskoka River is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 in the Muskoka District

Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario

The District Municipality of Muskoka, more generally referred to as the District of Muskoka, or simply Muskoka, is a Regional Municipality located in Central Ontario, Canada. Muskoka extends from Georgian Bay in the west, to the northern tip of Lake Couchiching in the south, to the western border...

 of Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

.

It rises in the highlands of Algonquin Park and flows southwest through a number of lakes including

• Lake Muskoka
  Lake Muskoka
  Lake Muskoka is located between Port Carling and Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. The lake is primarily in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, with the southeast corner in the Town of Gravenhurst. The Town of Bala, Ontario is located on the southwest shores of the...
  
  
• Lake Joseph
  Lake Joseph
  Lake Joseph is located in Seguin Township, Ontario. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. Lake Joseph is connected to Lake Rosseau through the narrows at Port Sandfield and the Joseph River.-Lake Front Resident Advocacy Group:...
  
  
• Lake Rosseau
  Lake Rosseau
  Lake Rosseau is located in Ontario about 200 kilometers north of Toronto. The lake is surrounded by many cottages, some dating back to the late 19th century. The south end of the lake is in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and the north end is in Seguin Township. Lake Rosseau is connected to Lake...
  
  
• Lake of Bays
  Lake of Bays (Ontario)
  Lake of Bays is a large lake in Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Township of Lake of Bays, Ontario, which is named after the lake, in the Muskoka District Municipality of central Ontario. Highway 35 runs north and east of the lake....
  
  

which empty into Georgian Bay

Georgian Bay

Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...

 south of Parry Sound

Parry Sound, Ontario

Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...

 by way of the Moon

Moon River (Ontario)

The Moon River is a river in west central Ontario, Canada, which flows from Bala Bay on Lake Muskoka and empties into Georgian Bay south of Parry Sound....

 and Musquash River

Musquash River (Ontario)

The Musquash River is a river in Muskoka District Municipality, west Central Ontario, Canada, which splits from the Moon River and flows west into Georgian Bay. Musquash is a Abenaki word meaning "muskrat".-Hydrology:...

s.

Tributaries include the:

• Indian River
  Indian River (Ontario)
  There are five rivers named Indian River in Ontario, Canada:* The Indian River in the Kawartha Lakes/Peterborough region flows from Stoney Lake into Rice Lake...
  
  
• Hollow River
• Oxtongue River
• Buck River
• East River

Communities on the river include:

• Bracebridge, Ontario
  Bracebridge, Ontario
  Bracebridge is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada.The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls . It was first incorporated in 1875...
  
  
• Huntsville, Ontario
  Huntsville, Ontario
  Huntsville is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located north of Toronto and south of North Bay....
  
  

The name "Muskoka" comes from the name of a chief of the Ojibwa

Ojibwa

The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...

 in this region, Mesqua Ukee.

In fiction

There is also a Muskoka River in Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...

's fictional home town of River Heights

River Heights

River Heights may refer to:* River Heights, Utah* River Heights , a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba* River Heights, Manitoba a neighborhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba in roughly the same area as the riding above...

, located somewhere in the Midwestern United States.