Plan a Fall Visit to this Beautiful Ontario Region

With its vibrant colours, still-warm temperatures and abundance of outdoor activities, the Kawarthas Northumberland region is the ideal spot to escape for the weekend

By  Doug Wallace

Posted: June 23, 2021 04:23 PM ET

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Summer’s not really over just because the kids are starting school again. There’s still plenty of time to get out of town with a road trip to the Kawarthas Northumberland region, a couple of hours northeast of Toronto. Rejuvenate the mind, body and soul with a socially distanced day trip or a peaceful overnight retreat or add this good idea to your wish list for a visit down the road.

Why fall is a great time to visit

Now is the perfect time to witness autumn’s kaleidoscope of brilliant colour, roam the scenic back roads that connect the region’s communities, breathe in the earthiness of the forest trails and sense that crisp quality of the fresh air.

Exploring Kawarthas Northumberland with the help of fallroutes.ca delivers the best of autumn in Ontario. The site lists suggested driving routes through farmland, over rolling hills and along the Canadian Shield.

Where to start

The string of Trail Town communities along the Trent-Severn Waterway can act as little home bases, as you chart your course through the region, booking a fishing or boating tour, or visiting the art galleries and heritage museums. Off-the-beaten-path pit stops yield art studio tours, lovely lakeside respites and the region’s designated Feast On certified restaurants, serving a multitude of mouth-watering local culinary creations—including the bakeries along the Butter Tart Tour.

Kawarthas Northumberland also has a proud heritage of brewing and wine innovation. There is a host of award-winning “ground-to-glass” craft breweries, wineries, distilleries and cider mills to add to your ‘explore’ list.

Cycling and hiking trails

Outdoors enthusiasts who visit here hit the world-class cycling routes through Northumberland County, Peterborough and the Kawarthas and the Kawartha Lakes district. There is a network of road cycling routes, a scenic rail trail system and backcountry trails with all the winding and diverse environments that go with them.

The same goes for the hiking trails through old-growth forest on the Oak Ridges Moraine, down the secluded trails of Jackson Park and much, much more.

Paddling routes

Plan a visit to explore the nearly 400 kilometres of lakes and rivers along the Trent-Severn Waterway. Paddling in the region offers a variety of experiences from family routes along Hoards River to advanced, technical whitewater on the Mississauga River.

From Coboconk through to Cobourg with all the warm-hearted and welcoming places in-between, your tour of Kawarthas Northumberland will have you planning your next visit before you’ve even arrived back home.

Visit with confidence

There are many restaurants, accommodations and attractions in the Kawarthas Northumberland region that have received the Safe Travels Stamp, designating them as adopting safe, global health and hygiene standards.

Stay connected

For up-to-date travel information on Kawarthas Northumberland and the local businesses to support there, follow along on Instagram and Facebook.