Make the Most of Fall With A Road Trip to Kawarthas Northumberland

Go leaf-peeping, visit welcoming small towns and stop to take in the region’s stunning natural vistas

By  Stacy Lee Kong

Posted: August 26, 2020 03:46 PM ET

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This year, road trips make the ideal vacation—and Kawarthas Northumberland should definitely be on your list of destinations. Whether you’re interested in pretty views, outdoor activities or delicious meals, there’s something for you in this beautiful region. Here’s how you can make the most of the season.

Go for a fall drive

Kawarthas Northumberland is famous for its quiet, backroad driving routes—and they’re the ideal place to do a little leaf-peeping. Wend your way through farmland, hilly vistas and across the Canadian shield as you take in the vibrant fall colours. We recommend the Great Fall Drive, a 50-km loop that runs from Port Hope, Ont. to Brighton, Ont. and back. Click here to find a Google Map of the route, complete with photo-ready hilltop look-outs, recommendations for shops, restaurants and other attractions, and even sweet B&Bs, if you’re looking to extend your stay.

Visit the Trent-Severn Waterway

This waterway is a National Historic Site of Canada—and the ideal way to take in Kawarthas Northumberland. Canoers and kayakers will love exploring its 400-km of interconnected lakes and rivers. Kawarthas Northumberland’s round-up of paddling day trips includes options in Peterborough, Ont., Bobcaygeon, Ont. and the poetically named Lovesick Lake, among others. It’s also a must-visit for fishing enthusiasts, who can expect to spot large- and small-mouth bass, rock bass, pike, perch, muskie and pickerel, all in abundant numbers.

And it’s not all about water. With nine communities  located along the Trent-Severn Waterway, there are plenty of land-based experiences to explore, too. Visit the Trent Severn Waterway National Historic site for hot tips on shops, restaurants and attractions.

Take a ride

Some of the best cycling routes are right here in Kawarthas Northumberland. If you’d like to offset your activity with stops in charming towns and villages, there are plenty of signed and on-road routes to explore, from a 30-km jaunt along the Ganaraska River to a 74-km trek around Rice Lake, which passes through Peter’s Woods, Ontario's last Oak Ridges Moraine old growth forest, and by Harwood artesian well, where visitors can refill their water bottles with fresh spring water. Or, explore the region’s forest trails, including through Northumberland Forest, which makes for a particularly beautiful ride in the fall. Check out Northumberland Tourism’s roster of routes to choose your next cycling adventure.