This is you ultimate guide to enjoy Fall in Calabogie. Located just an hour from Ottawa, Calabogie is the ultimate Fall getaway with stunning hikes, tasty eats, and the coziest boutique hotel! If you’re looking for recommendations of what to do in Calabogie this Fall, look no further: this curated itinerary features my top picks for what to do and where to stay to make the best of your visit.
When I posted about Calabogie on my Instagram page I was surprised by how many people said they had never heard of it before. If you have, it is most likely because you like skiing or because you’ve hiked the famous Eagle’s Nest Lookout. But let me tell you, Calabogie is so much more than a day-trip from Ottawa.
Let me convince you to book your next Fall weekend getaway here! Why is Calabogie worth a visit? It is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and offers a perfect nature gateway in all seasons. With a ski hill in the Winter and numerous hiking trails in the summer, it is definitely going to please the outdoors lovers out there.
I’ve put together this itinerary to help you hit all the highlights, taste the best food, and make the most of your time here.
Read More // Don’t forget to check out my review of Calabogie Peaks Resort in the Winter.
YOUR ULTIMATE WEEKEND GUIDE TO FALL IN CALABOGIE
What to know before visiting Calabogie?
- Calabogie is located in eastern Ontario, specifically in Renfrew County. It is about 90 kilometers west of Ottawa, along the Calabogie Lake.
- Calabogie has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. The area was initially settled for timber and agriculture.
It’s located 5 hours from Toronto, and 2.5h from Montreal. - Calabogie Lake spans about 10 kilometers in length and has a maximum depth of approximately 33 meters, making it a sizable body of water in the region.
- In the Winter, it is home to the Calabogie Peaks Ski Resort.
Where to Stay?
If you’ve been following my social media for a while, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for renovated motel. And I owe that love to Somewhere Inn in Calabogie which was my very first experience in a boutique motel.
This 1970s motel was completely renovated and reopened its door in 2021 with the goal of creating a basecamp for adventures and exploration. The 11 rooms and commun spaces are the perfect mix between a cozy cabin in the wood and a modern nordic inspired hotel. In their design, they’ve prioritized local artist and producers. All the fourniture was custom made by Toronto woodworker Jeremy Kehoe and their wine bar is filled with local wines and beers for you to taste.
Their cabin-inspired guest rooms feature some of the must comfy bed I’ve ever slept in and their signature fire places. If you want to spoil yourself a bit I highly recommend getting the Calabogie King with soaker tub room. You’ll be able to enjoy a bath next to the fire place. How perfect right? And during your stay here, forget about watching TV; they’ve purposefully decided not to put any TVs in the rooms to encourage connecting with nature instead of the screen.
On site, you also have access to the Wine Bar in the Lobby building, the lounge and the lawn filled with games, long chairs, fire pits and hammocks. Since my visit, they even added a thermal cycle with a Sauna at 80C and a Cold Plunge at 4C.
Travel Tip // Somewhere Inn just opened their second boutique-hotel – this time in a historic house – in the heart of Collingwood. I can’t wait to check it out and I’m sure you will to.
THE DETAILS
Where | Find Somewhere Inn Calabogie here on google map.
Price | 290$ a night
Reservations | Book your room here
What to do during Fall in Calabogie
Hike to the Eagle’s Nest Lookout
Located just 5 minutes from the Motel, Eagle’s Nest is an absolute must do if you love hiking. The lookout is absolutely stunning! It quickly took a top spot in my favorite Ontario lookouts. It’s also definitely one of the busiest lookouts on this list so make sure you either go during the week or arrive early (the parking often gets full in the afternoon).
Read More // Top 11 Best Lookouts in Ontario
There are many different way to get to the lookout (8 to be precise), but the easiest is straight across the parking lot. That trail is a 2km trail straight to the lookout – so expect some heavy climbing at the beginning. On the way back, you can retrace your steps or choose one of the other many trails if you want to keep hiking. You might also be interested to know that he site is considered sacred by the Anishinaabe and got its name because it used to be a nesting area for bald eagles.
THE DETAILS
Where | Find it here on google map.
Parking | There is a parking lot at the trail head. The fee is 10$ + Tax. Pay with your phone (no cash).
Difficulty | The trail is easy to moderate depending on your fitness level.
Trail | You can find the trail details here.
Hike to the Wabun Lake and Sugar Mountain Loop
Lesser known then the Eagle’s Nest Lookout is the Wabun Lake and Sugar Mountain Loop. This one also has a gorgeous lookout, although maybe not as spectacular as Eagle’s Nest. If you’re up for a challenge, you can opt for the 16km loop which will bring you along the Madawaska River. But if like me you are a bit short on time, you can also take the 3km shortcut to the lookout – just be ready for a climb!
Finding the trail head and park here can be a bit tricky. Luckily the Adventure Report Blog has all the info and I used their coordinate to find my way there.
Travel Tip // Do not hike here during hunting season which usually starts in early November.
THE DETAILS
Where | Find it here on Google Map.
Parking | The parking is free but a bit hard to find. Please read the Adventure Report Blog to find all the details on how to get there.
Difficulty | The trail is moderate to difficult depending on your fitness level.
Trail | You can find the trail details for the 18km loop here and for the shortcut here.
Take the chairlift at Calabogie Peaks
For my non-hiker friends, the chairlift at Calabogie Peaks is the perfect way to soak in the scenery with zero effort! Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride! Pro tip : the best views are on the way down—trust me, you won’t want to miss it!
And if you want to stretch your legs? There are trails to explore all around the resort if you feel like adding a hike to the mix!
THE DETAILS
Where | Find it here on Google Map.
Price| $20 per person (free for kiddos under 6!), and you can ride up and down as many times as your heart desires!
When| The chairlift runs on weekends only (weather permitting) until 14 October. So don’t wait too long for your visit!
Where to Eat?
Believe it or not, Calabogie is also a great foodie destination! Here are some of my favorites:
Oh-El-La Café | Perfect for a cozy coffee break!
Calabogie Brewing Company | Grab a local brew to unwind and try one of their delicious pizza.
On the Rocks | If you are looking for something a bit more upscale, try On the Rocks. The food is delicious and the views are even better.
* P.S. This adventure was part of a collab with Ontario Tourism but all opinions (and obsessions) are 100% mine!
READ THESE BEFORE VISITING MORE OF ONTARIO
ONTARIO GUIDES | The Ultimate Weekend in Beaver Valley ; The Best In and Around Niagara Falls : A Complete Guide; How to spend the Perfect Weekend in Bracebridge
ONTARIO TOP 10 | Top 11 Best Lookouts in Ontario
WHERE TO STAY IN ONTARIO | Tiny Stays: A Unique Stay in Prince Edward County; Spend the night with Alpacas at Haute Goat Farm
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Pitch me a better summer than this. I’ll wait. 🌊
Ontario summer really does hit different when you actually lean into it. A nd if you’re trying to make the most of yours, you’re in the right place.
I’ve got you covered all summer long. Follow along and let’s make it a good one.
Which day are you claiming first? 👇
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
#ontariosummer #exploreontario #ontariotravel
I’ll be honest, Peterborough wasn’t on my radar for a long time. It’s one of those places you drive past on your way to a cottage, always meaning to stop, never quite doing it. 🌿
Then I actually stopped.
And now I keep going back.
There’s something about this part of Ontario that feels like it hasn’t been packaged for tourists yet. A small city with a real downtown, surrounded by lakes and forests and history that goes back thousands of years.
Scroll through and I’ll show you exactly how I’d spend a first visit, from the first coffee of the morning to the sunset that completely blew me away!
Some of it will surprise you. Some of it will make you hungry. And at least one slide is going to make you say « wait, that exists in Ontario?! » 🙌
Save this before your next road trip north, you’re going to want it.
👇 Have you ever been to Peterborough? I’ll be back in that area in the Fall so tell me what I missed?
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#Peterborough #Kawarthas #OntarioTravel #ExploreOntario #VisitOntario
I’ve driven this loop more times than I can count and every single time I find something new to love about it.
It starts just outside Ottawa and winds through some of the most underrated corners of Eastern Ontario.
The thing about this road trip is that it doesn’t ask much of you. You don’t need to plan weeks in advance or drive for hours to feel like you’ve actually gotten away. You just need a long weekend, a full tank of gas, and a willingness to slow down.
I’ve been piecing this route together for years, adding stops, swapping others out, finding the spots that are worth the detour and the ones that aren’t. This is the version I keep coming back to. The one I send to friends when they ask where to go. The one that made me fall in love with Eastern Ontario all over again.
Every stop is in the reel. Save this and start planning.
Have you done any of these stops before? Drop the ones you’ve been to below 👇
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#ottawa #ottawatravel #ottawaweekend #easternontario #ontarioroadtrip
Ottawa has this quiet superpower that most people overlook. Within two hours, you can be walking along a UNESCO canal, standing on a lookout over a lake, or eating the best pizza of your life on a patio beside a waterfall.
And yet somehow, most people spend their weekends doing the same thing in the city when all of this is sitting right outside their door.
Scroll through to see my list of nine day trips, all under two hours from Ottawa. One of them might end up becoming your new regular.
Which one is going on your list first? Drop the name below 👇
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#exploreontario #ontariotravel #ottawaweekend #daytrip #ontariogetaway
I almost didn’t go to Kincardine. It kept coming up in conversations; someone would mention it in passing, or I’d see a photo of that lighthouse at golden hour and think “I should go there sometime.” And then I’d forget about it and plan something else instead.
I finally went last Summer. And I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
There’s something about this town that’s hard to explain. It’s not trying to be anything other than what it is, a small lakeside town with Scottish roots, a lighthouse that’s been standing since 1880, beaches that face west so every single evening turns into something worth stopping for, and a community that genuinely seems to love where it lives.
The full guide is in the reel : where to start your morning, which lighthouse to visit, where to eat, where to stay, and the one sunset experience that I genuinely was not prepared for.
Kincardine is about two and a half hours from Toronto and one hour from Kitchener, so save this for your summer planning. 🔖
Have you been to Kincardine before?
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#kincardine #exploreontario #ontariotravel #lakehuron #brucecounty
