Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Goderich is a small town on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, built around an octagonal square and known across Ontario for its sunsets. Beaches, a lighthouse, a historic jail and the Maitland River make it a relaxed place for a weekend.
The Square
Huron County Historic Gaol
Huron County Museum
Goderich Lighthouse
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Goderich has about 7,700 residents and sits at the mouth of the Maitland River, facing west across Lake Huron.
The town is also compact and easy to enjoy at a gentle pace. You can walk from the Square to the lighthouse and the beach, and the countryside, wineries and conservation areas are a short drive away.
The downtown is built around an octagonal traffic circle known as The Square, with the county courthouse in the middle. Its radial design is credited to John Galt and was developed between 1840 and the 1890s.
The Square is an octagonal traffic circle with the county courthouse at its centre. Photo: Mhsheikholeslami, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
This octagonal building served as the town jail from 1842 until 1972, and it is now a museum and a National Historic Site. It opens seasonally, from April to October, so check dates.
The Huron County Historic Gaol served as the town jail from 1842 to 1972 and is a National Historic Site. Photo: Mhsheikholeslami, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The museum covers the settlement of the county and the rural history of the region.
The Huron County Museum holds local history collections including a full-size locomotive. Photo: Mhsheikholeslami, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
From May to October the Courthouse Square market runs on Saturday mornings with baked goods, fruit, vegetables, jams and plants. Arrive early for the best choice, and bring a bag for jars and fresh produce.
The lighthouse stands above the harbour on Lake Huron and dates from the 1840s. It is the classic place to watch the sunset, so arrive half an hour early to claim a spot.
The Goderich Lighthouse is among the oldest light stations on Lake Huron and is a favourite spot for sunsets. Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Goderich has three public beaches linked by a wooden boardwalk of more than a mile. The main beach is sand and fine gravel, St. Christopher’s lies farther south, and Rotary Cove is a family-friendly sand beach with lifeguards and a playground.
A wooden boardwalk runs for more than a mile along the Goderich beaches. Photo: Emily CA (MPL), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Take the steps down from Caledonia Terrace to the old railway bridge, which has been converted so you can walk across safely. It gives good views of the Maitland River valley and takes about thirty minutes.
The Menesetung Bridge is a former railway bridge converted into a walking route. Photo: MattMk2 from Stratford. Ontario, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Under the town lies the Sifto salt mine, about 530 metres below the surface and extending beneath Lake Huron. It is considered the largest underground salt mine in the world.
North of town on the Bluewater Highway, the park has a large sandy beach at Cove Beach, six kilometres of hiking trails, playgrounds and camping.
Point Farms Provincial Park has a large sandy beach and hiking trails near Goderich. Photo: Midgetdore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Near Benmiller, this 230-acre reserve is almost enclosed by the winding Maitland River.
At Falls Reserve the Maitland River cascades over a series of low waterfalls. Photo: NOAA, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
About twenty kilometres south, Bayfield has a historic Main Street lined with galleries, boutiques and restaurants, and the Little Inn, which has served travellers since the 1800s.
Bayfield is a historic village on Lake Huron south of Goderich. Photo: WabbitWanderer from London, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Built in 1850 in the imperial style, this lighthouse north of Goderich is open as a museum and you can climb to the top.
Lake Huron and the farmland around Goderich shape the table. Look for pickerel, the Ontario name for walleye, on menus around the Square and along the shore.
Courthouse Square holds a mix of cafes, pubs and casual restaurants, and a restored Victorian house on Hamilton Street serves dinner. The Saturday farmers’ market is the best place for jams, baked goods and fruit to take home, and a breakfast cafe north of town on the Bluewater Highway is a handy stop on the way to the beaches.
Popular dishes to try in Goderich
The Square and the streets around it suit travellers who want to walk to restaurants, the museum and the harbour.
Benmiller lies in the Maitland River valley, and it fits couples and spa-minded travellers who prefer countryside, hiking and quiet evenings.
Bayfield is a charming village for slower stays, with bed and breakfasts, boutiques and dining. Summer weekends fill up early, so book ahead, and expect weekdays and the shoulder seasons to be easier to arrange.
Where to stay in Goderich
Summer is the main season, with warm lake days, open beaches and the farmers’ market.
Early autumn is calmer and the evening light is superb. Winter is cold and windy, and many seasonal sites close, though the lake is dramatic.
The Goderich Celtic Roots Festival is a regular event, so check the dates on the festival website if you want to plan around it.
Goderich is on Highway 21, the Bluewater Highway, which runs along the lake, and at the end of Highway 8 from the south-east.
Huron Shores Area Transit runs a bus from Grand Bend, and travellers from London can connect there. Outside the summer season, services are limited, so a car is the practical choice.
Once you arrive, the Square, museum and harbour are within walking distance of each other.
Walk The Square, visit the Huron County Museum and the gaol, then browse the market if it is Saturday.
Spend the morning on the beach and boardwalk, then walk across the Menesetung Bridge.
Drive south to Bayfield for a stroll along Main Street and a winery visit, then return via the Bluewater Highway for a last sunset over the lake.
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