Beaver dam collapse forces emergency closure on Muskoka roads

A beaver dam collapse triggered an emergency road closure in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, leaving parts of Brackenrig Road and Dawson Road closed to drivers on Fri., June 20, 2025. (Muskoka Lakes Fire Dept. / X)

A beaver dam collapse triggered an emergency road closure in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, leaving parts of Brackenrig Road and Dawson Road closed to drivers.

According to the Muskoka Lakes Fire Department, the collapse caused a surge of water to overtop the local road. Staff from both the Township of Muskoka Lakes and the District of Muskoka responded swiftly to conduct repairs.

Photos posted to X on Friday evening show significant water flow breaching the road, with visible streams pooling along ditches.

Residents were advised to avoid the area during the cleanup process. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., the fire department advised the community that the road was reopened to traffic.

It is unclear how the beaver dam collapsed.