Ontario is a wonderful place to be in the fall. There's no shortage of apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and beautiful fall colours to enjoy on a hike. There are so many amazing things to do in Durham Region in the fall, making it an excellent autumn road trip destination.
I'm going to show you a weekend guide to visiting Durham Region in the fall, including one day in Uxbridge and one day in the Township of Brock. Both have fun and unique activities that I'm sure you'll love.
I suggest making a road trip to Durham Region, starting in Uxbridge. As it's the Trail Capital of Canada, go for a hike at Trail Hub. Then, sip local cider, shop in downtown Uxbridge, and check out an annual literary festival.
The next day in Brock Township, it's time to breathe in the fresh air on another walk. Sample fall beverages at a cute coffee trailer, and then visit one of the most unique attractions I've seen in a long time, an escape room inside a corn maze.
Jump to:
Go for a Fall Hike at Trail Hub
Uxbridge is the Trail Capital of Canada with 240km+ of interconnected trails. Naturally, Trail Hub is one place you can hit the trails. They have their own collection of trails, and it's also at a place where several other trails converge (best for cyclists).
If you're looking for a fall hike, there is a Loop Trail at Trail Hub that meanders through the forest and across meadows. There's a hiking trail and a cycling trail, and there are several signs along the way differentiating the two paths.
This hike is 3.4km in length and I'd consider it an easy trek. It will take around an hour to complete. There's a really long row of trees to walk between that I really loved. I also enjoyed all of the forested sections of the trail.
The end of the hike is likely the most challenging as there's a bit of an incline, but it's not terribly demanding. There's a beautiful view overlooking the countryside at the end, though it's the same view you can enjoy from the back patio of the restaurant.
This is the highest point in the GTA, which is actually quite cool (I didn't know that until I visited Trail Hub!). There is a small fee to access the trails at Trail Hub. You can buy your day pass inside the building.
Explore Downtown Uxbridge
Downtown Uxbridge has a cute main street with local shops and restaurants. Walk on Brock Street South and Toronto Street South to find the majority of the boutiques.
Some notable spots include the gift shop, Presents Presents Presents and the coffee shop connected to Blue Heron Books, The Bridge Social Inc. Here are a couple of places that really stood out for me:
Blue Heron Books and Book Drunkard Festival
Blue Heron Books is a beloved bookshop in Uxbridge that invites you to browse the shelves and stay a while. The staff members are super friendly, welcoming, and can surely help you find that next great read.
Did you know that Blue Heron Books hosts its own literary festival? Book Drunkard Festival is an international festival featuring authors from around the globe. This is an autumn festival that starts in the late September or early October.
Tickets to the events will usually include a signed copy of the featured book or a voucher to use at the event. There are stand alone ticketed events and bundled ones, too.
Book Drunkard Festival also has a line up of merchandise to buy, and they've even partnered with a local brewery. The Second Wedge brews The Book Drunkard Festival beer, a märzen / amber lager (think Oktoberfest beers) that's available to purchase at the brewery.
Lunch at Fig Kitchen
For lunch, dine at Fig Kitchen, an eatery with a local and seasonal menu. They source many of their ingredients from in and around Uxbridge, so you can be sure to savour the freshest and tastiest dishes.
I love that they have an entirely vegan menu. There are starters, soups and salads, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, wraps, and even a kids menu.
I ordered the vegan Buffalo Chicken Caesar Wrap with onion rings on the side. Fig Kitchen also has an excellent coffee menu and some sweet treats. I ordered an iced banana latte. I was a bit too full for a sweet treat, but I was eyeing their vegan muffins! Next time.
Uxbridge Beer and Cider Trail
Uxbridge has an awesome Beer and Cider Trail that invites you to sample the various craft beverages around the city. Visit local breweries and cideries while stamping your passport for a fun prize.
There are three establishments to check out in Uxbridge: Slabdown Cider, The Second Wedge Brewing, and Banjo Cider.
Get Your Passport
Pick up your passport at any of the three locations (the first one you visit) and collect a stamp if you spend $10 or more.
Every year, there is a new themed prize to collect if you get all three stamps on the passport. This year, it's a collectible carabiner that's really sweet! I collected mine and I've put it on my keychain.
Slabtown Cider Co.
Slabtown Cider is Uxbridge's newest craft cidery founded in 2017. They've revitalized 90 acres of fields to grow one of Canada's largest collections of heritage heirloom apples.
While there's an extensive selection of bottles of cider for purchase at the shop, they also brew their own beer, too. I suggest doing a tasting of cider to see which ones you'd like the best.
At the restaurant, order a cider flight. I tried the Legendary Cherry, Black Currant, Raspberry Tea and Pineapple Mimosa. It was hard to pick a favourite, though I think I loved the Pineapple Mimosa the best (it's so rare to find a pineapple cider!).
The restaurant's patio overlooks the expansive fields, very lush and green. A wedding was being hosted while I was there, too! What a great location.
The Second Wedge Brewing Co.
I went to The Second Wedge Brewing to sample the beer and have dinner, too. Their brewery and beer garden is located in an industrial area beside a heritage railway.
Once you set foot inside the brewery, you'll experience a vibrant and airy space with a bar, seating area, small space with merch and the Foundry Kitchen serving yummy food.
Since I had just visited Blue Heron Books, I had to try the special Book Drunkard Festival beer (very tasty!). I also ordered a couple of vegan-friendly options from their menu, the pretzels (with mustard instead of cheese dip) and the guacamole. Both were excellent!
Banjo Cider
Banjo Cider was closed for a little while, but they're back open! They grow traditional cider apple cultivars in their orchard, like Kingston Black, Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, Golden Russet and others.
I tried a flight of cider here as well to sample a few different flavours. They were all really refreshing and tasty, especially Maud (apples and raspberry), Wildflower (apple, strawberry, rhubarb) and Bluegrass (apples and blueberry wine).
The patio here is really lovely for the summertime with rows of picnic tables in a quiet, rural environment. It's dog-friendly, too!
Durham Region in the Fall: Brock Township
It's day two of our trip to Durham Region in the fall. From Uxbridge, let's continue to Brock Township.
I spent the night in Beaverton (more details about the hotel stay and my morning breakfast towards the bottom of this blog post!).
Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm (Corn Maze Escape Room!)
This is a unique adventure you need to check out when visiting Durham Region in the fall. Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm hosts an escape room inside a corn maze every year for about 7 weeks.
This is the first time I've ever seen an escape room inside a corn maze! It only costs $10 per person to play, which is a great price.
There are 8 puzzles to solve with easy and hard options, and you can get clues if you need them. Each year has a new theme and takes months to plan the design and unique puzzles.
There are more fun games and activities on the farm, like pumpkin bowling. It's fun for the whole family. Buzzing Bees Adventure Farm is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from mid-September to November 1st.
Beaver River Wetland Trail
Beaver River Wetland Trail is a nearly 40km trail that repurposes the space that was once occupied by the historic Toronto and Nipissing Railway (T&NR). It's a rail trail built on top of the old rail lines that were abandoned in the early 1990s.
It's also surrounded by the Beaver River wetlands, home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife, like great blue heron, red-winged blackbirds, muskrats and beavers. The trail connects the communities of Uxbridge, Cannington and Manilla in a Y shape.
Hop on your bicycle and cycle the length of the trail or walk a portion of it. For those looking to walk, this is a really nice section of the trail and you can park at the side of the road.
The Beaver River Wetland Trail is also part of the Trans Canada Trail, an epic collection of trails that spans right across Canada.
Cameron House in Cannington
Cannington has a cute little main street some local shops to discover. One unmissable boutique is Cameron House with its carefully curated products sourced from around the world.
Shopping at Cameron House quickly brought back memories of travel, like spotting ceramic roosters from Portugal (we have one in our home that we got in Portugal) or the delicious Valhrona chocolate from France (we toured their original shop in Tain l'Hermitage, France).
They also carry brands that are owned locally in Canada, too.
Even if you haven't been to those places around the world, Cameron House brings the world to you. They also roast their own coffee beans in the back of the store, so you can bet that I brought home some coffee with me.
Fall Menu at Canter Coffee
Canter Coffee began with the owner's love for horses and farm life, discovered during her time spent in New Zealand. After returning to Canada, she bought an old Golden Falcon camping trailer and transformed it into a coffee trailer.
Stop by the Canter Coffee trailer in Sunderland for great coffee and vibes. First, the trailer is so adorable so you'll surely want to snap a photo of it.
Next, they have a full menu of fall beverages that I'm sure you'll love. While I'm not a pumpkin spice girlie (sorry!), I did love their iced coffee called "Sweater Weather". There's something for every taste.
The Shortiss Cafe and Hotel in Beaverton
I spent the night at The Shortiss Hotel, just above The Shortiss Cafe in Beaverton. It's advantageous to sleep right above a coffee shop. It means you aren't far from a good cup of coffee.
The Shortiss Hotel provided a comfortable place to stay in a charming small town. I stayed in Room 1, a private suite up just one flight of stairs. There's a living room with a couch and a desk.
In a separate room, you'll find the bedroom with a queens-sized bed and dresser. The space is decorated with antique furniture and original finds.
In the morning, I went straight downstairs to The Shortiss Cafe for a coffee and a sweet treat, a slice of vegan pumpkin loaf. They also have a vegan sandwich on the menu, too.
More Places to Stay in Durham Region
Looking for more places to stay in Durham Region? Use the handy map below. Enter your travel dates for more accurate information, and click on each property for more details (and to book your stay!).
More Blog Posts about York, Durham and Headwaters Region
Looking for more blog posts from this region of Ontario? Here's more on York Durham Headwaters:
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