Fall Driving Tour: Bautumns Up!

Discover unbeLEAFable beauty with the apple of your eye.

Distance: 70 km
Time: 3 – 5 hours
Stops on Along The Way: Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Kawartha Country Wines, Leahy’s Farm and Market, The Village Inn, Lakefield Bakery on Queen, Cassis Bistro, The Cheesy Fromage
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, 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. Immerse yourself in reconciliatory learning about Indigenous culture.

NOTE: Photography is not permitted at the Petroglyphs site, however it 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.

Enhance Your Drive

Have a little more time to tour? Looking for those hidden gems along the way to find Instagram-worthy fall foliage? Add these stops to your driving tour.

• Eels Creek and High Falls on Eels
  • A hiking area area near Petroglyphs Provincial Park, with pieces of the Canadian Shield jutting up through dozens of kilometers of forest
  • Head north to see the beautiful High Falls or south to the South Eels Creek Cascade (note: High Falls is a longer hike with some wet areas – access at your own risk)
• Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve, Kawartha Land Trust
  • Encompasses one of the largest undeveloped stretches of shoreline on Ston(e)y Lake
  • Hike to the highest point that surrounds the lake and enjoy the scenic view that awaits at the very top
• Stony Lake Trails, Kawartha Land Trust
  • 10-kilometre trail network, boasting scenic views of Stony Lake, with benches and resting areas available throughout
  • Suitable for those with moderate and intermediate hiking experience, with many opportunities to observe the abundant and diverse wildlife in this area
• Adam and Eve Rocks
  • Two giant glacial rocks, sitting just outside downtown Buckhorn
  • Folklore legend has it, that if two lovers hold hands and each touch one of the rocks, their lives will be blessed

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