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Collingwood sits on the southern shore of Georgian Bay in Ontario, at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment. Once a shipbuilding and grain-shipping port, it has become a four-season resort town, with skiing in winter and boating, cycling and hiking in summer. Its historic downtown and waterfront retain reminders of its industrial past.
Collingwood Harbour and the grain elevators, a landmark structure on the waterfront, recall the era when ships carried prairie grain through the Great Lakes. Hurontario Street, the main street, has heritage storefronts, restaurants and shops. The Collingwood Museum covers shipbuilding history, and Sunset Point is a lakeside park ideal for evening walks. Just west of town, Blue Mountain Village provides ski runs, a mountain coaster, shops and restaurants. Scenic Caves Nature Adventures offers caves, crevices and a suspension bridge with views over the bay. The Scandinave Spa offers outdoor baths in the forest, and Pretty River Valley Provincial Park protects rugged escarpment terrain.
Collingwood suits active travelers and families seeking easy access to outdoor activities from Toronto. The Georgian Trail, a former rail line, links the town with Thornbury and Meaford for cycling and walking. Summer and winter are busiest, while fall color along the escarpment is a highlight.
WiserMap travel guideCollingwood Ontario Blue Mountain and Scenic CavesPlan a trip to Collingwood, Ontario: Blue Mountain, Scenic Caves, the Georgian Trail, Thornbury and a walkable harbour town on Georgian Bay, with food and stays...Read the guide
Hurontario Street, the main street of downtown Collingwood, is lined with Victorian brick buildings that are a designated heritage district, filled with independent shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries. It is easy to explore on foot. Summer brings street events, and the side streets have more shops.
Collingwood's harbor recalls the town's shipbuilding past, and the tall concrete Collingwood Terminals grain elevators are a landmark on the waterfront. A waterfront trail follows the shore with views of the harbor and Georgian Bay. Walk it at sunset, when the light hits the old elevators.
The Collingwood Museum, in a replica railway station near the harbor, tells the story of the town's shipbuilding and railway history and the Indigenous peoples of the area, with ship models, photos and changing exhibitions. It is compact and family friendly. Allow about an hour, and check seasonal hours.
Sunset Point Park is a waterfront park on Georgian Bay with lawns, a small beach, picnic areas and a playground. As its name suggests, it is one of the best places in Collingwood to watch the sun go down over the water. It links to the waterfront trail and can be busy on summer weekends.
Harbourview Park is a large waterfront park along Collingwood's harbor, with open lawns, walking and cycling paths, a dog area and wide views of Georgian Bay. It is a peaceful spot for a stroll or picnic close to downtown. Paths here connect to the town's trail network and the Georgian Trail.
The Georgian Trail is a flat, crushed-stone rail trail of about 34 km that runs from Collingwood west to Meaford along the Georgian Bay shore, passing orchards, beaches and small communities. It is ideal for cycling and walking. Rent bikes in town and stop for a swim or an apple stand along the way.
The Nottawasaga Lighthouse is a tall stone lighthouse built in the 1850s on Nottawasaga Island, just offshore from Collingwood. It is one of the Imperial Towers of Georgian Bay. It can be seen from the shore west of the harbor, and paddlers sometimes visit by kayak in calm weather; landing is not encouraged.
Blue Mountain Village, at the base of Ontario's largest ski resort just west of Collingwood, has shops, restaurants, bars and hotels around a pedestrian square. In winter it is the hub for skiing and snowboarding; in summer there are mountain biking, a mountain coaster and festivals. Parking fees apply.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures sits high on the Niagara Escarpment above Collingwood, with trails through limestone caves and crevices, a long suspension bridge with views over Georgian Bay, and a treetop zipline. Wear good shoes for the rocky trails, and book zipline tours ahead in summer.
Pretty River Valley Provincial Park is a natural area on the Niagara Escarpment south of Collingwood, crossed by the Bruce Trail. Its forests, ridges and river valley are quiet places for hiking and nature watching. There are few facilities, so bring water and a map, and watch for ticks in summer.
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