Beaver Valley: A Guide of the Best Things to do

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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

The conservation area features three short trails: Main Trail (1.2 km), Bruce Trail – Main Trail (1.4 km), and Bruce Trail – Side Trail (0.6 km). A 15-minute hike from the parking lot will take you through open fields and forests to a viewpoint on the Niagara Escarpment, offering stunning views of Beaver Valley and the Village of Kimberley. This is also a popular spot for rock climbers.

Travel Tip // The trails are dog friendly, but all dog must be on leash.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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