10 things to do in Southern Georgian Bay this fall
story by Allison Kennedy Davies
There’s something truly magical about fall in Southern Georgian Bay. The autumn leaves meet the sparkling waters of Georgian Bay putting on an amazing show for hikers, cyclists, day-trippers and sightseers alike. Country roads are free from summer traffic, local hotspots are just a little bit quieter, and the daytime temperatures are absolutely perfect for being outside.
To complement that perfection, businesses in Southern Georgian Bay have been hard at work giving visitors even more reasons to flock to the area. “There’s been a great emphasis on building up the shoulder seasons,” explains Jeffrey Schmidt, executive director of Regional Tourism Organization 7, which covers Bruce, Grey and Simcoe counties.
“It’s quite important to tourism in our region. We’ve all been working on extending the season and making local businesses more viable and more profitable. It really is a commendable goal.” It is indeed a commendable goal … and one that residents and visitors to Southern Georgian Bay reap the rewards of daily. Whether you want to take in the fall colours from the top of the Escarpment, fill your basket with fresh produce at a local farmer’s market or enjoy talents of an incredibly rich community of local artists, it’s all here. So go, ahead, fill your calendar with fall adventures and experience the autumn splendor Southern Georgian Bay has to offer.
1. Hike the Bruce Trail
Much like cycling, hiking in the region is also amazing during the fall months. Sweat-free, bug-free and peaceful, there are some awesome Southern Georgian Bay hikes that will reward you with beautiful views of the bay, Beaver Valley and the fall colours.
Few locals spend more time on the trails than Free Spirit Tours’ Jennie Elmslie, so we asked her to choose her top three fall hikes. Old Baldy, located in the Beaver Valley near Kimberley, made the list. At Old Baldy, the Niagara Escarpment face is 152 metres high, offering you an amazing view of the Beaver Valley below. Turkey vultures and Buteo hawks cruise the updrafts along the escarpment and there are both long and short hike options that go to the lookout along the same route. You can also return via the McKirk Side Trail. Elmslie’s second choice was the Pretty River Side Trail, which she says more than lives up to its name in the fall. This 5.1-kilometre hike begins at the Snodrifters Parking lot on Grey Road 31. A short but steep hike gives you a beautiful view of the valley and Nottawasaga Bay. Follow the trail to Sundown Lake and enjoy your picnic on the dock before hiking back to your car.
Also on Elmslie’s don’t-miss list is the Cascade Trail at Blue Mountain Resort. This three kilometre up-and-down hike begins at the South Base Lodge of the resort. The trail heads up the mountain, climbing man-made steps, crossing several bridges and offering views of beautiful waterfalls. Reward yourself with a stop at the top to catch your breath and take in the panoramic views across Georgian Bay before heading back downhill.
For another amazing fall option, follow Grey County’s waterfall tour. Visit Hogg’s Falls, Indian Falls, Inglis Falls, Jones Falls, McGowan Falls, Walters Falls and Weaver Creek Falls. For detailed information on each waterfall hike, visit www.visitgrey.ca and look for the waterfall tour.
2. Sample a Local Winery
At Georgian Hills Vineyard, they’re not shy about setting goals. With the mission of establishing a sustainable winery and vineyards in the Beaver Valley and the long-term goal of developing a successful wine industry in the Georgian Bay region, simply put, it’s a great time to be wine enthusiast in Southern Georgian Bay. Georgian Hills Vineyard is situated at Victoria Corners in the beautiful Beaver Valley. With talented winemaker Lindsay Puddicombe at the helm, there are many great ways to visit Georgian Hills. In the spring and fall, take part in a Paddle and Wine-Tasting organized by Free Spirit Tours.
In the winter, pair your wine tasting with a snowshoe at the vineyard or an après ski wine and cheese tasting. The vineyard offers a “perfect pairings” tasting that will help you learn to pair Georgian Hills wines with local food offerings. The Simply Sampling experience lets you get right down to business, or opt for a Wine and Cheese Tray Tasting, a Sweet Indulgence Tasting or indulge in Victoria’s Country Platter. Coffin Ridge is another popular winery in the region. Located closer to Owen Sound in the town of Annan, the Coffin Ridge tasting bar welcomes the public during regularly scheduled hours. Come and try the local wines by the fireplace or trek into the vineyard with a Vintner’s Picnic of local favourites.
3. Explore Local History
Fall is also a great time to explore the rich historical resources Southern Georgian Bay has to offer. From the Collingwood Museum to the Craigleith Heritage Depot, the Sheffield Black Cultural Museum and the Meaford Museum in the immediate area and Grey Roots Museum and Archives, Simcoe County Museum and Sainte Marie Among the Hurons slightly further afield, your options for learning about local history are vast.
Just outside the downtown core, you’ll find the Collingwood Museum. With a $2 admission by donation fee, visitors will learn about Collingwood’s ship building history and 150 years of marine heritage. The nearby Craigleith Heritage Depot is a great place to learn about the history of the Town of the Blue Mountains. Admission is $3 per adult, $2 for seniors and children over 5 or $6 per family. Children under five are free. Located just off Highway 26 west of Collingwood and east of Thornbury, the Sheffield Black Cultural Museum tells the story of the earliest black pioneer settlers in the area. Further west of the area, the Grey Roots Museum and Archives features travelling exhibits, an outdoor historic village as well as permanent local history connections. The Simcoe County Museum in Midhurst features five indoor galleries and 16 outdoor heritage buildings.
North of the area, Sainte Marie Among the Hurons offers another unique historic experience. Visitors can marvel at a world that existed over 370 years ago. This historical reconstruction teaches visitors about cultural contact, determination and survival in the 17th century when European and Native culture first met. The site’s Thanksgiving Harvest Festival is worth the trip. If historical heroes are of interest to you, a visit to the Billy Bishop Museum in Owen Sound takes you through the boyhood home of the World War II flying ace, with exhibits chronicling his life and commemorating Canadian aviation and military history.
4. Fantastic Fall Paddles
One of the most memorable ways to see the fall colours and enjoy a crisp autumn day is from the water. There are several beautiful canoe routes in the region that are accessible during the autumn months.
The Beaver River is a popular route that winds its way from Kimberley to Thornbury. The upper section of the Beaver, from Kimberley to Heathcote, can be paddled year round. Park at the access point on Grey Road 13 and leave an extra car at the Heathcote access. This 20-kilometre paddle will take you most of the day so pack snacks … and binoculars as you’ll often see ducks, owls, snapping turtles, muskrats and maybe even white-tailed deer. On a recent paddle, we saw a nesting bald eagle on this stretch of the river.
The Nottawasaga River is also a great fall paddling option. Locally, Free Spirit Tours offers some great Nottawasaga options out of their Wasaga Beach location. Visit www.freespirittours.com/summer/paddling-nottawasaga to learn more. The river is fairly flat in the Wasaga Beach section, making it an easy paddle up or downstream. You can put in at Schooner Town, Klondike Park or Hammelville, paddle as long as you like and return to your car. Overnight trips are also possible with camping options along the way at the Nottawasaga Conservation Authority and the Edenvale Conservation Authority.
5. Visit a Local Farmer’s Market
There are few meals as satisfying as the one you cook with ingredients fresh from the farmer’s market. In recent years, as the buy local mantra has spread and the idea of embracing a 100-mile diet has grown popular, farmer’s markets have become local meeting places that offer not only amazing fresh food but also a true sense of community. Whether you live in Southern Georgian Bay or you’re just visiting, there’s a farmer’s market near you. Most markets run from late spring until Thanksgiving weekend, but a few, such as Owen Sound and the Keady Livestock Market, operate year round. If you’re looking for a mid-week option, the Keady Livestock Market is open Tuesday mornings from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This market offers much more than fresh fruit and vegetables, with over 200 vendors showing up in the summer months. Clarksburg also offers a mid-week market, open on Wednesday’s from 3 to 6 p.m. in Lion’s Park until October 9.
Weekend markets abound. Meaford’s kicks off on Friday afternoons from 3 to 7 p.m. under the Rotary Pavilion at the Harbour Complex. Collingwood’s market runs Saturday mornings form 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Second and Pine Street Municipal Parking Lot. Just down the road, the Creemore Farmer’s Market also runs Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until Thanksgiving at the Station on the Green. Further afield, the Owen Sound Farmer’s Market runs Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. With an indoor component for some vendors, the market is open year round with a meat, fish and dairy counter indoors.
Farmer’s markets bring farmers together in one location to sell their wares. But there are also dozens of individual farm markets throughout the area selling field-fresh produce, baked goods, preserves, pickles and other treats. Many, like Grandma Lambe’s in Meaford, are open year round. Others, like Goldsmith’s Orchards in Thornbury, stay open until late November.
Even once the snow flies, you can still find local fare at The Market between Thornbury and Meaford, and the 100 Mile Store in Creemore.
6. Follow the Apple Pie Trail
Fall is apple harvest season and with Grey County’s role as the largest apple producer in Ontario, there’s no better time to visit area orchards. One great way to experience the apple harvest is to take the Apple Pie Trail.
With 32 businesses spanning Collingwood, Thornbury, The Village at Blue Mountain, Craigleith, Beaver Valley, Clarksburg, Meaford and Owen Sound, the Apple Pie Trail brings together the best of Southern Georgian Bay. Awarded the 2011 Ontario Tourism Culinary Experience Award, the Apple Pie Trail celebrates the region’s rich apple-growing tradition. With unique apple-inspired treats featured at every stop, you can enjoy a caramel apple latte at the Espresso Post in Collingwood, a Red Prince Apple Pie at the Thornbury Bakery, pick up some pork and apple sausages at Blue Ridge Meats or order some sweet potato gnocchi with caramelized apple at Azzura in Collingwood.
Add some adventure to your tour by combining your culinary treats with outdoor activities. A self-guided “Pedal and Paddle Tour” and a “Paddle and Wine Tasting” option can be booked through Activity Central at Blue Mountain, or choose the Kolapore Springs Wilderness Adventure Tour and add a day of trout fishing to your apple adventures. Not looking for exertion? Experience apple country with Chef Tarlo’s custom cooking classes at the Collingwood Cooking School. Learn how to bake – and take – the perfect apple pie, apple crepes, apple cake and apple strudel. Call the cooking school directly at 705-445-9003 to book your spot.
7. Pedal Past The Fall Colours
As we’ve all seen in recent years, Southern Georgian Bay has become a mecca for cyclists, and fall is definitely the prime season for cycling in the region. Cooler temperatures make battling your way up those Beaver Valley hills a more enjoyable experience, and area roads are generally quieter than in the summer months.
Blue Mountain’s Centurion event has already capped the road biking season, but Blue Mountain Resort’s downhill and cross-country trails remain open on weekends until Thanksgiving. Three Stage and the Kolapore Uplands trails are also a beautiful ride as the colours change.
If you’re new to planning a ride in the Southern Georgian Bay area, there are plenty of great resources for pre-planned routes. The Collingwood Cycling Club offers GPS friendly routes on its website at www.collingwoodcyclingclub.ca/routes, while www.visitsoutherngeorgianbay.ca and www.visitgrey.ca also list several local routes complete with descriptions and distances. Looking to plan a multi-day trip with some Bed & Breakfast support? Check out www.cyclebnbsouthgeorgianbay.com. Link towns together and have your luggage waiting for you at your B & B after the day’s ride.
For the ultimate in simple cycle adventures, hit the Georgian Trail and ride ‘til you’re tired.
No matter if you’re a hard-core cyclist or just a recreational rider – breathe in the fall air and enjoy!
8. Fabulous Fall Festivals
Fall festivals in Southern Georgian Bay are on the rise. With a combination of old classics and new festivals making their debut in 2013, there’s plenty to see and do around the region this fall.
One of the region’s classic fall festivals is the Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival. Meaford worked its way into the Guinness Book of World Records with this tradition, which sees the town completely taken over by handmade scarecrows. With whimsical scarecrows festooning the telephone poles, lounging outside local businesses and taking to the streets in the annual Scarecrow Parade (October 5 at 6 p.m.), this is a fun fall festival for the whole family. Meaford also hosts the annual Apple Harvest Craft Show on the same weekend, October 5 and 6.
Another hugely popular local festival is the Apple Harvest Festival. Slated for Thanksgiving weekend and taking place at locations throughout the Village at Blue Mountain and Thornbury, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the harvest and see the autumn sites. With apple trivia and history, face painting, scavenger hunts, a pancake breakfast, horse and wagon rides and more, this festival offers a perfect opportunity to get out and experience the Blue Mountain area.
The Harvest of the Arts festival runs in downtown Collingwood over the Thanksgiving weekend as well. In conjunction with the final Farmer’s Market of the year, the festival features performing and visual arts presentations. On October 26, Downtown Collingwood hosts its Black Harvest event – a spooky celebration complete with witches, warlocks and goblins taking over the town. Children can enjoy face painting, activity centres, a costume contest and treats for all.
9. Experience Our Artists
Southern Georgian Bay is home to an incredible number of talented artists, and autumn is a popular time for studio tours in the area. With that said, there are other options for discovering the work of local artists – by following the local Art Map, visiting local galleries or joining a long-standing studio tour. A quick visit to www.artmap.com will give you a year-round guide and map to eight pre-planned trails of art studios, art galleries and art exhibitions in Bruce, Grey, Southern Georgian Bay and Manitoulin Island. Both the “Into the Beaver Valley Trail” and the “Southern Georgian Bay Trail” wind their way through this area with go-at-your-own-pace routes. You can pick up a printed copy of The Art Map at local tourist information centres.
Located on Hurontario Street in Collingwood, The Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts is a hub for local artists. With designated gallery space, the Foundation programs monthly exhibitions as well as hosting community talks, musical performances, poetry readings and more. The Creemore Festival of the Arts runs Oct. 4-6, while the annual Blue Mountain Tour of the Arts takes place over Thanksgiving weekend (October 12-14). For more information, visit www.tourofthearts.com and www.phahs.ca.
Local galleries include Art by Houghton, Bright’s Gallery at Blue Mountain, The Mad and Noisy Gallery in Creemore, The Loft Gallery in Clarksburg, The Red Canoe Gallery in Clarksburg, The Black Dog Gallery at Terase in Thornbury, and The Waterfront Gallery with artist Michele Clarkson in Collingwood.
10. Enjoy the Fall Fishing Season
Whether you’re an avid fisherman or just like to watch the spectacle, fall is an amazing season to experience the region’s fishing culture. From late August to late October, there are excellent fish viewing opportunities at the Thornbury Fishway as the adult spawning Chinook salmon make their way up river. If you can’t make it to the fish ladder in person, you can (believe it or not) watch a webcam of the fish moving up river. Installed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the camera is also used to collect data and count the number and type of species moving upstream. Check it out at http://www.biotactic.com/bravo/index10.htm.
Fall is also a great time to fish for salmon. You’ll often see fisherman lining the banks of the Beaver River below the damn to the mouth at Georgian Bay. Good fishing opportunities can also be had upstream of the Clarksburg Dam. Fly-fishing has become increasingly popular in the region in recent years. Be sure to check the Ministry of Natural Resources website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca. In the Creemore area, the Mad River and Noisy Rivers are two hidden gems for anglers. While both rivers are fairly calm, they contain several pools that provide great trout habitat. Where the Mad River flows through Devil’s Glen Provincial Park, there’s a steep-sided gorge and beyond that the river transforms into a shallow stream offering great brook trout fishing. The Noisy River offers great fly-fishing opportunities with many productive pools along it’s route. If you’re looking to get out on the Bay to fish, there are several charter operators in the area. U Catch’em Charters based in Meaford runs charters on Georgian Bay until October. To book a fishing charter, contact Jeff Brattain at 1-866-538-5333. Salty Dawg Sportfishing also offers charters for Chinook salmon until October in the Collingwood Area. Contact Dan at 705-444-7601. For those looking for a more guided experience, check out Kolapore Springs Fishing Adventures. A full or half day adventure in the 6,000-acre Kolapore Uplands includes a hatchery tour, fishing on the 20-acre private lake, hiking and a shore lunch. To book call 705-606-1377.
Plan your Autumn Adventure
Don’t pack away your gear yet! Fall in Southern Georgian Bay is one of the best times to get out and explore. There’s plenty of time to squeeze in one more paddle, one more hike or one more daytrip before the snow flies. Get out and explore! ❧
