Sandwiched between three of the five Great Lakes, Southern Ontario, while primarily farmland and forest, also contains the Niagara Escarpment, home to the world-famous Bruce Trail. While the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is the most heavily populated region of the province, those exploring Southern Ontario will quickly find that traveling just a short distance will get them away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Smoke, leading them to quaint small-town communities and plenty of natural attractions.
Multi-lane highways offer quick access to most locations in the southern portion of this region, but quieter secondary roads make up the bulk of the rest of the routes. Most travellers will not have to stray off a paved road anywhere here unless they want to!
Exploring the Big Smoke aka Toronto
It is safe to say that Toronto offers something for everyone. Museum lovers can check out the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum or the Hockey Hall of Fame, all located in the downtown core and just a short walk from Union Station. To the east on the Scarborough/Pickering border, nature lovers will find the Toronto Zoo, which features over 5,000 animals and Rouge Urban Park, Canada’s newest National Park. It is a safe bet to say you have seen the Distillery District, home to 40 boutique shops, art galleries and micro-breweries, as a backdrop to a few movies you have watched. Located at 55 Mill Street, it is an easy 20 minute walk from Union Station. If you are fearless, try the Edge Walk at the top of the CN Tower, the hard to miss tower near the foot of Yonge Street. Here you walk on a 1.5 metre (5 foot) ledge and lean out at an angle, 356 metres (1,168 feet) above the ground!
Waterfalls and Wineries
Leaving the city behind, it is time to jump on the QEW. This multilane highway connects Toronto to Niagara Falls, passing through the cities of Oakville, Hamilton, Grimsby and St Catharines on the way. Waterfall lovers will want to spend some time in the Hamilton area, detouring off the QEW at Exit 88 and following Red Hill Valley Parkway south to visit Alboin Falls, Felker’s Falls and the Devil’s Punchbowl. Known as the waterfall capital of Ontario, a little more exploring in Hamilton area will lead to Borer’s Falls, Tew Falls and Webster’s Falls, to name just a few.
Ontario has two main wine producing areas, and while traveling along the southwestern shores of Lake Ontario leading to the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, it would be hard to toss a stick and not hit a winery. The majority of the wineries can be found by an easy out-and-back off the QEW, along Highway 55 between the QEW and Niagara-on-the-Lake or along the Niagara Parkway. Worthwhile stops include the Magnotta Winery near Beamsville, Alvento Winery at Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Trius Wineries near Virgil and Reif and Inniskillin Wineries off the Niagara Parkway. Plan to pick up a few bottles, but don’t sample too many on your route!
The scenic community of Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to both the Shaw Festival and the Fort George National Historic Site, well worth a visit before following the Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls. As you make your way south, plan a stop at Niagara Glen, which is found off the parkway just south of the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Stairs lead down deep into the Niagara Gorge and 4 km (2.5 miles) of trails lead through Carolinian forest and along the rushing Niagara River.
Niagara Falls itself is definitely a site to see, and it is quite easy to get caught up in all the tourist trappings surrounding these stunning falls. Fallsview Boulevard and the Clifton Hill District have plenty of attractions and restaurants, all within easy walking distance of the falls. Just to the north, visit the historic Queen Street District with many buildings still featuring their 1850’s architecture.
Motorcycles and Migrating Birds
Leaving Niagara Falls behind, continue south on the parkway to Fort Erie before picking up Highway 3 and heading west along the shores of Lake Erie. If you are into motorcycles and it happens to be Friday the 13th, take a detour south at the town of Jarvis to Port Dover. From spring to fall, on this superstitious day, literally a thousand bikes invade this small lakeside community. If you are into bikes, you will be in heaven. If you are not, well, you have been warned!
The shores of Lake Erie are also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Just west of Port Dover, Turkey Point along with Long Point National Wildlife Area and Inner Bay are migratory stopovers. While we are turning the steering wheel northwest from here, those who want more bird watching opportunities may want to continue west along Highway 3 to Point Pelee National Park. Here you will find several hiking trails and a long sandy beach, perfect for getting up close to our winged friends.
Shakespeare and Lake Huron Sunsets
From Long Point, secondary roads lead north through quaint smaller communities including Tillsonburg, Ingersol and St Marys to Stratford. Home of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, park the car and explore this historic town full of unique boutiques, visit the Shakespeare Gardens along the shore of the Avon River or partake in one of two historic walking tours.
From Stratford, County Roads 20 and 83 lead to the tourist town of Grand Bend, a summer beach destination. Following Highway 21 north on route to Owen Sound, it is possible to visit four spectacular Provincial Parks - The Pinery, Point Farms, MacGregor Point and Inverhuron. There is just something about watching a sunset over the Great Lakes, and it’s worth spending an evening at any of these parks.
Flowerpots and Grottos
Picking up Highway 6 at Owen Sound, this often busy, two lane highway leads north to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and Tobermory. This area is home to the most rugged section of the Bruce Trail, Greig’s Caves, Bruce Peninsula National Park and the famous Grotto. Side roads off Highway 6 provide access to the Bruce Trail and hikers can complete loops or out-and-back treks along the rugged escarpment.
A boat ride from Tobermory to Fathom Five National Marine Park leads to Flowerpot Island. Here, trails allow you to explore these ancient rock sea stacks, ravaged over time by the relentless pounding of the Georgian Bay waters. While the Grotto is a must visit, it has become extremely popular and any visitors must book a four-hour parking slot with Parks Canada. Plan to visit the park’s visitor centre in Tobermory and hike the Burnt Point Loop Trail. Weaving in and out of the forest, it offers great access to the beautiful turquoise waters the Bruce is famous for.
Caves and Endless Beach
Making your way back down Highway 6 to Owen Sound, head east on Highway 26 with the next stop on the road trip being the Scenic Caves, west of Collingwood. Home to a maze of caves and crevices that run deep underground through limestone cliffs, they can be explored via trails, suspension bridges and walkways.
Continuing east leads into Wasaga Beach, home to the longest freshwater beach in the world. You will walk a long way out into the water before you even reach your waist!
Insider tip: Beach One is often quite busy but the further west you go, the less crowded the beaches become.
Backroads to the Big Smoke
From Wasaga Beach, it is time to head south and back to the GTA. While you can jump on Highway 400 and speed back to the city, there is a host of Conservation Areas to check out along the backroads, including the Duncan Escarpment, Eugenia Falls and Mono Cliffs to name just a few.
Here your 2nd Edition of the Southern Ontario Mapbook will be your guide. While it is less than two hours from Wasaga Beach to Toronto, you could easily spend two or three days exploring and hiking some spectacular escarpment scenery.
The last stop on this southern Ontario Road Trip is located just north of Brampton. The Cheltenham Badlands, unique in Eastern Canada, were formed at the base of an ancient sea over 400 million years ago.
Ready to Explore?
This road trip through Southern Ontario has only touched on the many interesting locations spread throughout this region of the province. With over 300 hiking trails, many leading to some spectacular scenery and natural attractions, there is no shortage of sites to see. Detours on your road trip can lead you to the Elora Gorge, the 10 metre (33 foot) Hilton Falls, the 18 metre (59 foot) Inglis Falls, the Raptor Centre at Mountsberg Conservation Area, or a climb above the former bays of Algonquin Lake. And at 885 kilometers (550 miles), regardless of where you spend a day on the Bruce Trail, the landscape will not disappoint. All of these adventures are conveniently mapped out and described in our Southern Ontario Mapbook.
Ready to head out and visit the many great Southern Ontario destinations? Pick up a copy of the recently released 2nd Edition of our Southern Ontario mapbook and get out there! For those that prefer mobile, the BRMB Maps app and Web Map are the perfect addition to the paper mapbook.
Did we miss your favourite Southern Ontario location? Drop us a line or post a photo on Instagram (#brmblife) and let us know.