Scenic Drives

THORNBURY • HEATHCOTE • EUGENIA Thornbury Harbour is the starting point of this well-known route. Explore the harbour area, wander along the Riverwalk Trail up to the fish ladder and visit the town’s fine shops and cafés. Once back to your car drive up Bruce Street and follow this road (road changes names several times) through Clarksburg, Heathcote, and Kimberley climbing up through the Beaver Valley until reaching Eugenia. Eugenia is worth a visit. Stop for an ice cream cone at the famous Emporium then head down to the Falls Conservation Area across the street to view the 30-metre waterfall. Continue south on Grey Rd 13 to Hwy 4 and turn left until Grey Rd 2. Turn left on 2 and then right on Grey Rd 31 down the Pretty River Valley (follow road left where Grey Rd 31 intersects Pretty River Rd) to the 10th line. Turn left here and follow the 10th line all the way to Mountain Rd and turn right to go back into Collingwood. This drive features lovely fall colours and breathtaking views.

MEAFORD • KIMBERLEY • EUGENIA The starting point of this tour is Meaford Harbour at the foot of Trowbridge St off Hwy 26. Drive around to the scenic marina, with its lovely gardens and harbour-side benches, then on to the beautiful old harbour, past the Meaford Museum and down Lakeshore Rd W. to a unique waterfront park and magnificent views of Georgian Bay. Explore the historic and architecturally interesting Golden Town of Meaford before heading east on Hwy 26 to Grey Rd 7. Follow 7 south, up the seven steps of the ancient glacial lake Algonquian and into the Beaver Valley, with a stop at the scenic Epping lookout — a good picnic site. Drive on past Talisman Resort until you come to Grey Rd 13. Turn left on 13 to return to Thornbury or right to Eugenia and Hwy 4. http://www.visitsouthgeorgianbay.ca

BLUE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE • BANKS • RAVENNA Start at the Village at Blue Mountain. Take time here to stroll through this pedestrian village’s variety of shops and cafés or take a gondola ride (seasonal) up the mountain. Once back in your car exit The Village and turn right on Grey Rd 19. Follow the roundabout to Scenic Caves Road where it climbs the ski hill at the south end of Blue Mountain. At the top of this road is the Scenic Caves Nature Adventure Park. For some real excitement, stop here and take a walk on southern Ontario’s longest suspension foot bridge. Follow this road until it reaches Banks, turn right and turn via the Loree Forest (good place to stop and hike) to Grey Rd 2. Turn left on 2 past Ravenna (the Ravenna General Store is worth a look) until Grey Rd 19. Turn left here and follow Grey Rd 19 back to Blue Mountain. Dramatic views of Georgian Bay highlight this route.

COLLINGWOOD • DUNEDIN • CREEMORE Take Hwy 124 (Hurontario Street) south from Collingwood through Singhampton to County Rd 9. Turn left on 9 and follow signs to Dunedin. At the stop sign at the bottom of the hill turn left and continue on this road to the village of Creemore on your right. Stop and tour through this beautiful historic village. Explore the shops, studios and cafés on the tree-lined main street. Hike down to the Mad River or explore North America’s smallest jail. To return to Collingwood follow the main street back out and cross County Rd 9; head up the hill on the 4th line. This scenic road climbs then descends back towards Collingwood. Turn left at Hwy 91 and follow it until you reach Duntroon. Turn right at Duntroon and follow Hwy 124 back to Collingwood and a gorgeous view of Georgian Bay. The rural scenery on this trip is spectacular, with rolling hills, winding rivers and breathtaking views of the Mad River Valley.

COLLIGNWOOD • ROB ROY • FEVERSHAM Start at the Collingwood Terminals off First Street at Collingwood Harbour. Explore this historic shipbuilding site and the view across the water, before heading south via Hurontario Street (Hwy124). South of Nottawa turn right at Local Airport Rd and follow it (33/34 S.R.) as it winds its way through the Pretty River Provincial Park up to the top of the escarpment (there are several access points to the Bruce Trail off this road). Turn right at the T intersection where the road meets Grey Rd 31. Continue to the small community named after the Scottish hero Rob Roy. Turn right on Grey Rd 31 to Grey Rd 2, turn left and follow Grey Rd 2 to Feversham (be sure to check out the Feversham Gorge at the Madeline Graydon Park). Continue past Feversham and turn left at Hwy 4, then left again at Hwy 124 back to Collingwood. The Pretty River Valley is the most spectacular in fall.

walteRs falls • eugenia falls • hoggs falls Start at the traffic lights in Thornbury, drive south on Bruce Street through Thornbury and Clarksburg to County Rd 40. As the road climbs up the Escarpment, stop and look back at the spectacular view of Thornbury, Collingwood and Nottawasaga Bay. Turn right on 40 to the junction at County Rd 29. Turn right for Walters Falls. At the stop sign, go straight ahead on Alma Street to Jack Street. Turn left at the Falls. The waterfall is on private property, The Falls Inn, but visitors are welcome to view the Falls from the viewing platform, which will give you an excellent view. Continue south on 29 and turn left on Grey Rd 40 (a.k.a. Dave McNichol Pkwy). Follow Grey Rd 40 until Grey Rd 7 and turn right. Stop at Epping Lookout along this road for a spectacular view of the Beaver Valley. Turn right on Grey Rd 13 just past Talisman Mountain Resort. Pass through Kimberley as the road climbs out of the Beaver Valley. At the top of the hill is the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area where you can view the 30m Eugenia Falls, one of the highest in Ontario. The Beaver River drops over the Escarpment into the rocky gorge below. Drive along the Lower Valley Road, a beautiful wooded, winding route which follows the Beaver River with rippling rapids visible from the road. You’ll pass in front of the Eugenia Power Station on your right. It is supplied with the water from Lake Eugenia, which comes down in large penstocks to the right of the falls. This power station is still operating and is part of the Ontario Power Generating Network. These Falls first hit the spotlight in the early 1850s, when a local farmer discovered some glittering rocks in a remote canyon and immediately set off a major attack of Gold Fever. Unfortunately, for the 200 plus farmers panning the Beaver River below, the gold turned out to be “Fool’s Gold” or iron pyrites. As you leave the conservation area, go back to County Rd 13. Directly across the road you will see the Eugenia Emporium, a great place to stop for coffee, snacks and gift items. To reach Hogg’s Falls, head South on Grey Rd 13. Turn Right onto Hwy #4, a few minutes later; turn right (north) onto East Back Line Road (East Back Line Road jogs when it hits #4, so you’ll see East Back south before you reach East Back Line north). This is a hard packed dirt road. Take the first turn onto Lower Valley Road. The trail to the falls is on the left hand side of the road and is marked by two yellow posts. You can park on the right hand side of the road. It is a relatively small, secluded and mostly wild waterfall, with most of the land reclaimed by the forest. There are only faint traces of William Hogg’s mill from long ago. The Boyne’s River’s 7 meter cascade is a sheer and shimmering curtain over the rock face. Return to Hwy 4 and link up with Scottish High Country Tour to return to Collingwood.