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
PIN THIS FOR LATER
Follow me on Instagram!
Ontario has a short summer. Like, genuinely short. And every year I watch September arrive and think about all the things I meant to do and didn’t.
So this year I’m doing things differently. I made a list.
It has hikes that will make you question whether you’re still in Canada. A tradition that has been going on since 1996 that most Ontarians have never witnessed. A beach that books up so fast it’ll make your head spin. A helicopter ride that changes the way you see this province. And a few experiences that are so specific to Ontario that you could only find them here.
All of them are worth making time for before the leaves turn and you’re back in your winter coat wondering where summer went.
Swipe through and be honest with yourself about how many you’ve actually done?
Drop a number below, how many have you checked off? And which one are you adding first? 👇
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
#ontariobucketlist #ontariosummer #exploreontario #ontariotravel #ontariohiking
Some places you visit and forget about a week later. And then there are the ones that stay with you.
I had never heard of the Phantom Piper before I went to Kincardine. Someone mentioned it in passing – « there’s this thing with a piper and a lighthouse at sunset » – and I filed it away as something to maybe check out if I had time.
I had time. And I am so glad I did.
I’m not going to tell you too much because I think this is one of those experiences that deserves to be felt rather than described. What I will say is that I stood there on the shore of Lake Huron as the sun went down and the pipes started playing and something about the whole thing – the water, the light, the sound carrying across the harbour – just got me.
This summer marks a milestone anniversary of a tradition that has been happening in this small Ontario town since the 1990s. And if you ask me, that’s reason enough to finally make the trip.
This year the Phantom Piper will run every day of the week (except for Saturdays) from 1 July to 31 August.
Have you ever witnessed the Phantom Piper?
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
#kincardine #phantompiper #exploreontario #ontariotravel #ontariobucketlist
If someone asked you to name an Ontario weekend getaway right now, Lanark County probably wouldn’t be the first thing that came to mind. Maybe not even the fifth. And honestly, that’s exactly why I want to talk about it.
It sits right between Ottawa and Kingston. About hour from either city. And somehow, most people drive right past it without ever stopping. I did too, for years.
Then I actually went. And I’ve been recommending it to everyone since.
Because what’s here is the kind of thing you don’t expect to find so close to home. A thermal spa tucked into the forest. A restaurant with one of the best patios in Ontario. A town that looks like it was designed for a Hallmark movie. Rivers and lakes that beg to be paddled. A treehouse on a peninsula with water on every side. And enough charm per square kilometre to make you feel like you’ve properly gotten away, even if you were home by Sunday night.
Lanark County is the weekend getaway that’s been right there the whole time. Swipe through for everything you need to plan it.
Have you been to Lanark County before? Is it going on your list this summer 👇
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
#lanarkcounty #ontariogetaway #exploreontario #ontariotravel #ottawaweekend
When I walk into a space for the first time, I’m not really looking at the room. I’m looking at the light.
Where it comes in. How it moves through the curtains. What it does at 7am versus 4pm. That’s what tells me what kind of story I’m going to be able to tell.
Closs Crossing gave me a lot to work with.
The morning light through the treehouse windows. The deck faced east so the sunrise came in early and golden, through the trees, catching the string lights just right. By late afternoon the whole property turned amber. The hot tub at sunset, the hammock in the trees, the still water reflecting everything back, I was basically chasing light from one corner of this property to the other and I didn’t want to stop.
The interiors were just as beautiful. Every room had its own personality: the wallpaper, the vintage furniture, the carefully chosen details that tell you the people behind this place genuinely care about how it feels to be here. That kind of intentionality shows up in photos. You can’t fake it.
This is the kind of property that makes my job feel less like work.
If you own a cottage, a rental property or a stay and you’re looking for someone to capture it, this is what I do. Feel free to reach out. 🌿
Which shot is your favourite? 👇
A huge thank you to my friend @melina.e.l.i.a.s for helping me capture this one, some shots just need a second set of hands and she was the best person to have behind the lens. 🤍
Thank you to @closscrossing for hosting me.
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
#closscrossing #lanarkcounty #ontariophotographer #travelphotography
Ontario is big. Like, really big. And most of us end up visiting the same handful of cities on repeat, which honestly makes sense because they’re great.
But this province has so many towns and cities that fly completely under the radar and I have been on a mission to find them.
Some of these I stumbled across by accident. Some were recommended by people who clearly had very good taste. And a few of them genuinely surprised me in ways I didn’t expect.
Swipe through and tell me how many you’ve actually been to. I have a feeling most of you will surprise yourselves.
Drop a number below : how many have you visited? 👇
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
#exploreontario #ontariotravel #ontariotowns #ontariocities #canadatravel
