Lake Rosseau is located in Ontario about 200 kilometres 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 Joseph through the narrows at Port Sandfield and the Joseph River. The lake is also connected to Lake Muskoka by the Indian River and the lock system at Port Carling. The village of Rosseau is a charming hamlet at the northern tip of Lake Rosseau and location of one of the original Ontario summer resorts which brought exposure to the area and its beauty. Pratts Point and Rosseau House were well known and although the hotel was destroyed long ago, the vista and scenery remain. Lake Rosseau is home to Windermere House, a popular vacation resort. Many famous people also have cottages on this lake, such as Steve Yzerman, Goldie Hawn and Martin Short; others, including the late Ted Rogers and William Eli Sanford
have had resort properties in the past. President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921), frequently holidayed on Lake Rosseau. He eventually bought Formosa Island. There is a curious story that in 1914 he signed the register of the Bala Bay Inn after the outbreak of World War I; however, there is no official record of the president being in Canada at that time.
