Fall Driving Tour: Bautumns Up!

Discover unbeLEAFable beauty with the apple of your eye.

Distance: 119km
Time: 3 – 5 hours
Stops on Along The Way: Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Kawartha Country Wines, Whetung Ojibwa Centre, The Village Inn, Lakefield Bakery on Queen, Cassis Bistro
Google Map:

The winding roads heading north toward Stoney Lake are lined with dancing red, orange, and yellow leaves this time of year. This route is known for its unbeLEAFable photo opps along the way.

First Stop: Petroglyphs Provincial Park

First up, Petroglyphs Provincial Park, home to the largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings (petroglyphs) in Canada. This sacred site is known as “The Teaching Rocks.” It is also home to incredible hiking trails, the bright blue/green McGinnis Lake – one of only a handful of meromictic (layers of water that don’t intermix) lakes in Canada. Visitors to the park are encouraged to immerse themselves in reconciliatory learning about Indigenous culture.

NOTE: Photography is not permitted at the Petroglyphs site. Photography is permitted throughout the rest of the park. The Indigenous community has requested that dogs not be present at the Petroglyphs site. There are benches available 100m up the path where visitors with dogs can wait. Dogs are permitted throughout the rest of the park as long as they are leashed.

Second Stop: Quench Your Thirst with Local Wines and Ciders

Nothing like a hilly hike to work up a thirst. Kawartha Country Wines’ tasting bar is located in an authentic log cabin and board & batten house which makes a magical backdrop for Instagram-worthy photos. If wine or cider isn’t your thing, not to worry there are lots of locally-made jams, jellies, candles, and wood-fired pizzas available for purchase.

If you’re feeling a bit peckish, eat up the fall colours closeby on The Tank House on Trent’s waterfront patio, located right beside Lock 31 – Buckhorn.  

Third Stop: Market on Your Calendar

It wouldn’t be a #FallforTheKawarthas tour without a stop to Leahy’s Farm and Market! For over 45 years, the Leahy family has run a landmark farmstand on their farm right outside the bustling village of Lakefield. Take your time to enjoy all the wonderful colours and smells of local produce and baked treats. Have a seat in their picnic area to nibble on a butter tart and enjoy live music al fresca. In the autumn, traverse their corn maze and pick your perfect pumpkin right from the field.

Settle in for an Evening in the Village

After falling in love with the views, you might opt to stay a little longer. Check into the The Village Inn of Lakefield, where you can explore quaint shops, bakeries and galleries in downtown Lakefield, a designated Trent Severn Trail Town.

View our collection of Fall Driving Tours that are sure to make you #FallForTheKawarthas