What to Do in Caledon, Ontario: A Complete Day Trip Guide

Last Updated on September 7, 2025

Caledon is a beautiful region of Ontario, just an hour’s drive from Toronto. This area is known for its mix of towns, villages, farmland, forests, and rolling hills. 

My partner Luke and I love hopping in our car-share to go for a Caledon day trip. It’s the perfect short trip from Toronto to embrace fresh air and a quieter pace. 

Being part of the Niagara Escarpment, the nature around Caledon is gorgeous. And the region is home to a significant portion of the Bruce Trail, one of Canada’s longest hiking trails. This means there’s lots of opportunities to hike in Caledon! 

If hiking isn’t your thing, you can also cycle the area, pop into local art galleries like the Alton Mill Art Centre, or visit a local farm like Rusty Jade Ranch. The best part? Caledon is just an hour drive from Toronto, as well as other nearby cities like Barrie, Kitchener, and Hamilton. 

Ready to plan your visit? Let’s dive into what to do in Caledon, Ontario.

Caledon, Ontario is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land has a long Indigenous history and remains home to many Indigenous nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

How to Get to Caledon, Ontario

To drive from Toronto to Caledon, take Highway 401 West, then exit onto Highway 50 North. Continue on Highway 50 into Caledon, where you can then navigate to your specific destination. 

To drive from Barrie to Caledon, start on Highway 400 South, then merge onto Highway 11 South. Continue on Highway 11 South until you reach Highway 9 West. Take Highway 9 West into Caledon, and then navigate to your specific destination. 

What to Do In Caledon, Ontario: 10 Caledon Activities

Ready to spend a day (or more!) in Caledon? Here’s what to do in Caledon, Ontario. 

This list includes the popular, well-known spots like Cheltenham Badlands. But in an effort to reduce overtourism, I’m also sharing lesser-known things to do, too! 

1. Spend the morning in Inglewood

The village of Inglewood, Ontario was settled back in 1883. The original plans for the village show a general store and a railway hotel – both of which are still there today!

Inglewood may be small, but you can easily spend an hour or two in this quaint village. Start by browsing Lost Bear Market. This shop sells local goods and handicrafts (we picked up fresh, local honey!). Interestingly, the shop is inside the building that was home to Inglewood’s original general store. 

After the market, walk 5 minutes down the road to have coffee and breakfast at Coywolf Coffee. Owner Ariel Somes is a Caledon local who started the coffee shop because she wanted to create a community space where people could gather, enjoy a drink and a meal, and chat.
 
Coywolf Coffee is also inside a heritage building that dates back to 1881. Built by innkeeper William Linfoot from local clay-fired bricks, the building started out as a railway hotel, later called the Inglewood Hotel.

Today, Coywolf Coffee has a menu of sandwiches, coffee and tea menu, lots of indoor seating, and there’s board games available to use. In spring, summer, and fall, head out behind the coffee shop to find a garden with beautiful outdoor seating and tables. 

Helpful tip! To learn about the history of Inglewood, including the stories behind some of its 19th century buildings, you can go on this free Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tour.

2. Go for a walk on the Bruce Trail 

The Bruce Trail is Canada’s longest continuous hiking trail. It spans 890 kilometers, beginning in Queenston, near Niagara Falls. From there, the trail winds its way along the Niagara Escarpment, all the way up to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula.

A ten minute drive from Inglewood is an easy section of the Bruce Trail that you can walk. Chinguacousy Road is a 7.1 kilometer out-and-back trail that takes 1.5 to 2 hours to hike. 

On this well-marked trail, you’ll walk through beautiful woods. Parts of the trail are a bit rocky and hilly, but for the most part, it’s an easy, quiet hike. 

To reach the start point, drive north on Chinguacousy Road, just past Olde Base Line Road. At the end of Chinguacousy Road, there’s a small car park. You’ll see a sign for the Bruce Trail, and the trailhead is just behind it. 

 Helpful tip! Here’s the AllTrails map for this hike, just in case. 

3. Go on a trail ride at Rusty Jade Ranch

Whether you are new to horses or have lots of experience, at Rusty Jade Ranch they will take the time to show you the ropes. You can book a 1 hour trail ride, where you’ll be matched with a horse, and led by a guide out along Caledon trails. 

Rusty Jade Ranch is part of ‘Stable Relations,’ an organization that was founded in 2000 by Kelly Swoloka. Equipped with her love of horses and experience as an avid rider, Kelly wanted to share the joy and benefits that horses can have on a person’s life.

My partner and I went to the ranch on a Saturday afternoon, and had a total “yeehaw” experience. Kelly’s husband Brad is the ranch’s resident cowboy. He and Kelly gave us a quick crash course in riding Western style.

Our horses’ names were Jack and Sparrow – Brad explained these horses were born around the time that the movie Pirates of the Caribbean came out. 

We headed out onto the trails around Caledon Hills. Only a few minutes into the ride, a stowaway caught up with us. Brad’s puppy Mecca did not want to be left behind at the ranch. She followed us out onto the trail, and hopped up into Brad’s lap. She stayed up there in the saddle with him for the whole ride!

We rode all through beautiful, hilly forest while Brad answered our questions about horseback riding and ranching. He told us about how he’s ridden horses and done ranching all over the world, but found himself back in Caledon, because it’s just so beautiful. 

On our Caledon day trip, we stopped by Rusty Jade Ranch to do a trail ride. But it’s actually a fully functioning ranch that offers horseback riding lessons, wellness programs, equine-assisted learning, horse and goat yoga, summer camps, and more. 

Helpful tip! Don’t make the mistake I did – wear the right footwear for your trail ride! Tennis shoes, sandals, and flip flops won’t work. If you have a pair of cowboy boots, wear those. Otherwise, sturdy running shoes will do. 

4. Have lunch at Caledon Hills Brewing Co.

Caledon Hills Brewing Co. is a family owned and run brewery that started in 2016, on a Caledon farm. Their brewmaster is originally from Munich, Germany, and has over three decades of brewing experience. The result is craft beer that combines German methods with local, Caledon flair. 

A few years ago, Caledon Hills Brewing Co. moved to a new location inside a beautiful renovated church. The inside of the church is cozy with big communal tables, high ceilings, and stained glass windows. 

The brewery also has an outdoor beer garden where you can enjoy beer and a meal at a communal picnic table. After taking our seats, it wasn’t long before we were chatting with the couple sitting next to us!

There’s a counter outside where you can order your food and drinks, and then your food is delivered to your table. I had the cheeseburger and fries, and it did not disappoint! The burger came with two delicious smashed burger patties. 

The craft beers are on rotation, but be sure to try their Vienna Lager, which is a Caledon staple. It’s brewed using premium Vienna malt sourced straight from Germany. 

On weekends throughout spring, summer, and fall, there’s live music in the afternoon at Caledon Hills Brewing Co. Check their website for the schedule of live shows, and then swing by on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for craft beers, food, and a good time!

Helpful tip! Caledon Hills Brewing Co. is just a 5 minute drive away from Rusty Jade Ranch. If you plan to go on a trail ride, this brewery is a fantastic choice for lunch or dinner, before or after your ranch visit. 

5. Stroll around the hamlet of Belfountain

Belfountain is a popular hamlet to visit in the Caledon region, which is why you’ll find it on all the “what to do in Caledon” lists. It’s known for its quaint downtown area that is lined with historic buildings. Particularly in the fall, it’s lovely to go for a stroll around Belfountain. 

Be sure to pop into Higher Ground Cafe or The Belfountain Cafe to grab an ice cream, coffee, or baked treat. Belfountain Conservation Area is very near the hamlet centre, located on the Niagara Escarpment in the West Credit River Valley. This park has a suspension bridge that goes across a beautiful waterfall. 

To visit this conservation area, it’s recommended to purchase a parking pass at least 24 hours in advance – walk-ins aren’t accepted. Note that Belfountain Conservation Area is typically closed during the winter months.

Helpful tip! Belfountain can be very busy, particularly on sunny autumn days. To avoid a crowded visit, get an early start and arrive in Belfountain right as the shops in the hamlet are opening up. 

6. See the Cheltenham Badlands

When people think about what to do in Caledon, they almost always think of the Cheltenham Badlands. The Badlands are an area of unique landscape that was formed through a combination of erosion and farming activity in the 1930s. 

Today, the Cheltenham Badlands are a landscape of smooth red rocks that look like small hills. To see the Cheltenham Badlands, visit the Badlands Trail in Caledon, Ontario. It’s accessible via Olde Base Line Road. 

To visit this conservation area, it’s recommended to purchase a parking pass at least 24 hours in advance. It’s not guaranteed that there will be capacity if you arrive without a pass. 

Once you’ve parked, walk approximately 15 minutes along a trail to reach the Cheltenham Badlands viewing platform. From the platform, you have a nice view of this geological formation. 

Please remember! Be respectful of this conservation area by staying on the designated paths. Don’t climb over the fence or on the badlands, and if you bring your dog along, keep them leashed and pick up after them.  

7. Pop into the Alton Mill Art Center

The Alton Mill Arts Centre blends heritage and creativity. It’s a beautifully restored historic mill complex, which is now home to a vibrant arts community. And, it’s totally free to visit the center!

You can explore art galleries that showcase different artists and mediums, sign up for hands-on, artist-led workshops and attend art-related events. If you’re lucky, you might have the chance to chat with a resident artist, if they happen to be in their studio when you visit. 

Helpful tip! It’s lovely to walk around outside of the Alton Mill Arts Centre. I recommend walking around the whole property. You’ll find a beautiful outdoor patio, as well as a small river and waterfall that flows past the center. 

8. Walk a trail in Forks of the Credit Provincial Park

Forks of the Credit Provincial Park has hiking trails, a lake, beautiful fields, a river, and even a waterfall. It’s part of the Niagara Escarpment biosphere, and is also on the Bruce Trail, making it one of the best Ontario parks to visit. 

This park doesn’t have camping facilities, but it’s perfect for a day visit. You can easily spend several hours walking one of the park’s 5 hiking trails.

The Credit River runs through the park, at one point forming a waterfall called Cataract Falls. To see the falls, take the Dominion Trail that runs alongside the river. You’ll eventually come to a point that has a nice vantage point of Cataract Falls. 

At the top of the falls you’ll notice ruins of a mill which was built in 1820, before becoming an electrical generating station. It was later purchased by Ontario Hydro before being shut down in the 1940s.  

You might also notice old railway tracks that cut through Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. Back in 1879, a railway station was built in the area, as well as a wooden trestle bridge.

The tracks and original bridge aren’t used anymore, and the station was eventually demolished. To visit Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, it’s recommended to purchase your parking pass at least 24 hours in advance. 

Please remember! Be respectful of this provincial park by staying on the designated paths. Pack in and pack out, and if you bring your dog along, keep them leashed and pick up after them.  

9. Cider tasting and pizza at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery

Spirit Tree is a cidery, bakery, bistro, and farm shop. Drop by to go on their cidery tour, enjoy a slice of pizza in their restaurant, check out their bistro and shop, or taste some of their ciders. During the fall months, they also offer apple picking. 

If you’re curious to learn about how cider is made, Spirit Tree is the place to go. They offer a guided tour of the cidery every Saturday at 2pm, which includes a visit to their orchard, cellar, and production facility. Tastings of their award-winning ciders are included with the tour! 

On many weekends, there’s live music at the cidery. Check their website for the full schedule. The music is hosted in their cider gardens. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and grab a glass of cider to enjoy while you listen! 

Helpful tip! Don’t have time to go apple picking? You can still pop into the cidery’s farm shoppe to pick up a bag of yummy apples to bring home. 

10. Have farm fun at Dixie Orchards

Dixie Orchards is a family-friendly farm that offers apple picking and pumpkin picking when in season. You can also walk through their beautiful sunflower fields (perfect for a photo opp!), wander through their corn maze, or go on a wagon ride around the farm. 

Something special about Dixie Orchards is that they also grow hazelnuts! In Ontario, the hazelnut harvest usually begins in early October and lasts up to 6 weeks. At Dixie Orchards, you can collect hazelnuts from the tree by hand. 

Be sure to drop by Dixie Orchards farm shop. You’ll find baked goods and a wide variety of specialty items like jam, honey, maple syrup, candy apples, popcorn, pies, cookies, gelato, gift items and candles.

Helpful tip! If you’re going pumpkin, apple, or hazelnut picking, go early in the season so you have the best picks of the crop. 

Responsible Tourism Tips For Visiting Caledon 

As with traveling anywhere, it’s important to be a responsible tourist while visiting this beautiful region of Ontario. Here are some responsible tourism tips to keep in mind while on a day trip to Caledon. 

• Remember that Caledon’s villages are also home to local residents. Be respectful of their spaces by parking only where it’s permitted. Don’t block or obstruct driveways. 
• Be sure to “pack in and pack out.” This is a sustainable tourism practice where you take all litter with you until you can dispose of it properly. 
• If you bring your dog along, keep them leashed, and pick up after them. 
• When hiking in Caledon’s parks and conservation areas, stay on the trails, and don’t feed any wildlife that you encounter. 
• Buy local! There’s no need for Tim Hortons while on a Caledon day trip. Support local businesses by buying food, and other goods from them. 
• Caledon has many scenic landscapes! But some of them may be private property. Be respectful of local people and refrain from trespassing on private property. If there is no trail or parks signage, chances are good it’s private property.
• Caledon’s parks and conservation areas often require advance booking. Once you know where you’d like to explore, visit cvc.ca, trca.ca or ontarioparks.com to check if you’ll need to reserve. 

Final Thoughts: A Perfect Day Trip to Caledon, Ontario

On our day trip, we appreciated how much diversity there is in what to do in Caledon, Ontario. There’s something for everyone! You can go on a hike to take in views of Caledon’s rolling hills, have a farm experience, engage in the arts at the Alton Mill, taste craft beverages, and more.

Caledon is worth visiting in all seasons. The trails in Forks of the Credit are gorgeous in summer, and for a unique Ontario in winter experience, head to Rusty Jade Ranch for their winter trail ride. 

My favourite season to visit Caledon, however, is fall. On a fall day trip to Caledon, you’ll experience cooler weather, beautiful fall foliage, apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and more!

A huge thanks to Visit Caledon for hosting Luke and I as media. All opinions shared in this blog are completely my own.