Area: Oro-Medonte
Distance: 125 km
Time: 3 – 4 Hours Driving
Things to Do Along the Way:
Play: Adventure through the fall colours from a new perspective at Treetop Trekking at Horseshoe Resort. Keep the adrenaline pumping with mountain biking at Hardwood Ski & Bike. Take in a round of golf at Braestone Golf Club.
Explore: Learn about Oro-Medonte’s history, art and culture along your route. Throughout the route, keep an eye out for the Simcoe Barn Quilt Trail, featuring large quilt-inspired art installations on barns across the county. Visit the newly restored historic Oro African Church, at the corner of Old Barrie Rd and Line 8, originally built by Oro-Medonte’s earliest black settlers in the 1840s. Take a break in Craighurst to refuel and take in the Craighurst Art_Trees. This new art project showcases seven tree sculptures featuring work by local artists. At the north end of the route, along Mt St Louis Road, the Guardians of the Forest are a hidden gem of tree carvings watching those who pass by. Continue on to Line 11 at Fair Valley to the historic memorial for Sir Samuel Benfield Steele, a pioneer for what would become the RCMP.
Capture: Hike along the trails of the Copeland Forest, fully immersed in the changing colours of the season. Bass Lake Provincial Park and the George Langman Sanctuary offer great spots to photography local wildlife and lake views. Stop at the Hawkestone Dock and Lookout for expansive lake landscapes.
Eat: Make sure to fuel up along your route with many spots to grab a bite or dine in. Carthew Bay Pub & Ice Cream Scoops has the perfect treat for a hot day or a great spot to eat with views of Lake Simcoe. In Craighurst, grab lunch at HQ Restaurant and a treat to-go at Chelsea Chocolates. If you stop in at Horseshoe Resort, Crazy Horse Bar & Grill is a perfect stop for the family. For an intimate fine dining experience, The Ktchn at Braestone offers exquisite menu options with hill-top views. Reward your taste buds at Quayle’s Brewery with a craft brew and family-style meal where you can tour the beer garden to see the full hops-to-table experience.
Events: The Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour takes place Thanksgiving weekend, annually, with many stops in Oro-Medonte. Combine your road trip with visiting artist studios and pop-up galleries throughout the region. Visit the Oro-Medonte Fairgrounds Farmers Market until mid-October for the best in local food and craft vendors. Enjoy on-farm experiences through the harvest season at Campbell Farms and Brown’s Farm.
Parking: Plan before you go! Click here to learn about Non-Resident Parking Information in Oro-Medonte
NOTE: Use caution when pulling over to view landscapes. Be mindful of blind spots and traffic. Do not trespass onto private property.
Take Bass Lake Sideroad, past picturesque Bass Lake Provincial Park and George Langman Sanctuary, onto Old Barrie Road via Line 10 to be immersed in forests of red, yellow and orange.
Continue through the rolling countryside, along the First Line to Bidwell to Highway 93 and into Craighurst, a quaint little village with restaurants and shops. Turn onto Horseshoe Valley Road where you can play a round of golf, zip-line through the trees or hike the trails in Copeland Forest.
There’s no shortage of autumn beauty between Line 6 and the Mount St. Louis area. Continue to the 11th Line, follow to Horseshoe Valley Road and into Jarrett. The Oro-Medonte countryside is beautiful and your next few kilometres will be all views. Take the 7th Line to Bass Lake Sideroad, your connection to the 9th Line to Ridge Road and enjoy the view from the dock overlooking Lake Simcoe.
Follow the 15th Line to Highway 11 to head back to Orillia.
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