Nestled near the Beaver Valley River near the quaint village of Kimberley, Beaver Valley is still off the beaten path, but not for much longer. If you’re looking for recommendations of what to do in Beaver Valley, this curated itinerary features my top picks for what to do and where to stay to make the best of your visit.
If Beaver Valley was not on your radar before, I’m sure it is now that The June Motel has made it the home for it’s newest baby. Since it’s opening in the Spring of 2024, Beaver Valley has become one of the new hot spots to visit in Ontario. But new destinations means that if you google “What to do in Beaver Valley”, you won’t find much… yet.
So why is Beaver Valley worth a visit? The June Motel in and itself is worth the trip. But more than that, Beaver Valley 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.
Beaver Valley is also the perfect base to explore the Georgian Bay. You a short drive away from places like Blue Mountain, Collingwood and Thornbury.
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.
Don’t forget to check out all of my Ontario blog posts to make the most of your adventures!
YOUR ULTIMATE WEEKEND GUIDE TO BEAVER VALLEY
What to know before visiting Beaver Valley?
- Beaver Valley is located in southern Ontario, Canada, at the southern end of Georgian Bay.
- It’s a thriving agricultural region, known for producing a large share of Canada’s apple crop.
It’s located 2 hours from Toronto, 6 hours from Ottawa and 2 hours and a half from London. - The main towns in the valley are Flesherton at the south end, Kimberley, and Thornbury.
- If you are a hiker the Bruce Trail winds around the edge of the valley, taking hikers past notable natural landmarks such as Old Baldy, the Duncan Crevice Caves, and Eugenia Falls.
- In the Winter, it is home to the Beaver Valley Ski Club.
Where to Stay?
I’ve already mentioned it in the intro, but I’m almost 100% that if you are visiting Beaver Valley you will be staying at the very new June Motel. Am I right?
The June Motel is the dream of two best friends, April and Sarah, who, in 2016, left everything behind to purchase their first rundown motel in Prince Edward County. Since then, they’ve become household names in Ontario and even got their own Netflix series, Motel Makeover which documented the renovation of their second location in Sauble Beach. In the Spring of 2024, they opened their third motel in Beaver Valley.
Situated amidst nature along the Beaver River, this motel has 8 rooms all uniquely decorated. Each room has a king bed, robes and a full bathroom with shower.
On site, you also have access to the Parlour with stone fire place and tables, a studio perfectly equiped for all of your yoga sessions, a large patio with two fire pits and a barrel sauna. A small breakfast – cakes and coffee – is served every morning between 7am and 10am. And in the evening, you can serve yourself to their S’mores kits!
Travel Tip // Unlike traditional hotels, there is no staff present on site (except for the maintenance crew that comes every day). For your check-in you will need to text the number given with your reservation and they will give you the code to enter your room and the Parlour. Someone is always available to answer any of your question via text.
THE DETAILS
Where | Find The June Motel Beaver Valley here on google map.
Price | 380$ a night (sleeps 2)
Reservations | Book your room here.
What to do in and around Beaver Valley
Hike to the Old Baldy Lookout
Located just 5 minutes from the Motel, Old Baldy Conservation Area 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.
Read More // Top 11 Best Lookouts in Ontario
Travel Tip // The trails are dog friendly, but all dog must be on leash.
THE DETAILS
Where | The trail heads are located on Sideroad 7B. 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.
Do a Kayak Tour
Free Spirit Tours offers many paddling tours and guided tours around Beaver Valley. If you want to experience the best of Beaver Valley, they offer 1 to 5 hours kayak tours on the Beaver River. These tours are perfect for everyone, from beginners to more advanced paddlers.
Travel Tip // If you want to mix adventure with good food, they offer an Apple Pie Trail Paddle which includes a 1 hours paddle on the Beaver River followed by a drive to Georgian Hill Vineyards to taste different wines and snacks.
THE DETAILS
Where | You meet at the Free Spirit Tours base Find it here on google map.
When | The kayak tours run from mid-May to mid-October
Price | The kayak tours start at 40$ per person
Reservations | Make your reservation here.
Check out Euginia Falls
Euginia Falls is tallest waterfall in the area . It drops 30 meters from the edge of the Niagara Escarpment into the bottom of Cuckoo Valley. Discovered in 1852, the falls got their name from Princess Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III of France.
The lookout for the Falls is just a few steps away from the parking lot through a large gravel path. Unfortunately, access to the the bottom of the falls is prohibited, but you still get to them from a distance.
Travel Tip // The parking is closed during the Winter but walking in the Conservation Area is still permitted.
THE DETAILS
Where | Find it here on google map.
Price | 10$ + tax per car (no cash)
Visit a winery, a brewery or a cidery (or all of the above!)
You might be surprised (or not!) to learn that there are a lot of wineries, breweries and cideries in and around Beaver Valley.
Here are a few names to keep in mind for your visit:
Wineries : The Roost Winery, Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery, Georgian Hill Vineyards
Breweries : Still Fields Brewery, Mudtown Station, Neustadt Springs Brewery, Black Bellows, Maclean’s Beer
Cidery : Spy Distillery, Windswept Ciders, Greygold Cider Company
Foodie break // For those with a sweet tooth, try the homemade pies at Blackbird Pie Company.
Travel Tip // The Grey County Tourism Board, has crafted 3 bike routes that will bring you to different wineries and cideries. One of the route is specifically for Beaver Valley.
Where to eat?
Believe it or not, Beaver Valley is also a great foodie destination! Here are some of my favorites:
Hearts | This is definitely the most popular spot in Kimberley. It was actually named “Canada’s Top New Restaurants in 2022” by Enroute Magazine (Air Canada’s magazine).
Justin’s Oven | Next door to the Hearts, you’ll find Justin’s Oven. They make a ginormous bison burgers and they serve fire oven pizza every Friday.
Good Grief | A cute coffee shot in Thornbury
Bento Taco | Located a bit further in Collingwood, I’ve heard from good sources that these are some of the best tacos out there!
Gibson & Company | Also in Collingwood, this is a coffee shop that serves delicious sandwiches (try the smoked trout sandwich… trust me!).
* P.S. I was invited The June Motel, but all opinions (and obsessions) are 100% mine!”
READ THESE BEFORE VISITING MORE OF ONTARIO
ONTARIO GUIDES | The Ultimate Fall Weekend in Calabogie; 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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I went to Peterborough for the first time last summer not really knowing what to expect.
I came back with a full camera card, a butter tart problem, and a list of things I didn’t have time to do that I’m already planning to go back for.
That’s the thing about this region… Every corner has something that makes you stop and pull over. Every person you meet seems genuinely happy you came. There’s a warmth to the Kawarthas that I wasn’t expecting and that I haven’t stopped thinking about since.
I’ve been recommending it to everyone who asks me where to go in Ontario this summer. And nobody has come back disappointed.
Save this and add it to your summer list. You won’t regret it. 🔖
Have you been to Peterborough and the Kawarthas before? What did I miss? 👇🏻
🇫🇷 La version française est dans les commentaires.
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There are towns in Ontario that surprise you. And then there is Kincardine.
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This guide has everything you need to plan your visit : the beaches, the restaurants, where to stay, and the sunset tradition that has been happening quietly in this town for decades and that I think everyone in Ontario deserves to witness at least once.
Swipe through and save this one.
Have you ever been to Kincardine? Is it going on your list this summer 👇
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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.
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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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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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