Things to Do in Collingwood, Ontario (Expert Guide)
Looking for things to do in Collingwood, Ontario year-round? You’re in the right place!
Collingwood, Ontario has morphed into a boutique, tourist-friendly little city. I go there often, and every year it seems to get more quaint every year.
With the nearby Blue Mountains, forests, caves and being right on the beautiful Georgian Bay – Collingwood is definitely one of the most scenic towns in southern Ontario.
I go to Collingwood often, usually to visit my best friend who lives there. I grew up near the area and am familiar with all the best things to do in Collingwood. Whether you’re spending the weeeknd, or doing a day trip from the city; you’re in good company.
So, let’s jump in – things to do in Collingwood!
Things to Do in Collingwood Year-Round
Whether you visit Collingwood in fall, winter or summer, there are some great year-round activities – both indoor and outdoor
1. Get views of the ‘Collingwood Terminal Building
The terminal building is the iconic symbol Collingwood. Local weddings often involve getting photos of it in the background, and it’s hardly a visit to Collingwood unless you’ve seen it.
The Collingwood Terminal Building is almost 100 years old, and was used to store grain for several decades.
The stacks are visible from many parts of town, but some particularly good spots to get a view of them are:
- Walk up Heritage Drive, which will bring you as close as possible to the terminal building
- Heading to the shoreline park called Shipyards Amphitheatre & Greenspace; beautiful views of the building, harbour and shoreline
- The inuksuk at Sunset Point Park (you’ll see the terminal building in the distance)
In addition to these ideas, you can also get a good view of the Terminal Building from the Collingwood Arboteum, and from the marina near the Living Water Resort.
2. Walk up Hurontario Street
The main street of Collingwood is called Hurontario Street and, over the years it has turned more and more to a mini Niagara on the Lake.
Hurontario has beautiful old buildings, street art, cozy cafes, great restaurants, and entertainment.
A few new really nice businesses have opened up in the last couple years. As an added bonus, you have a view of the Blue Mountains in the background from the main street from certain angles.
Hurontario street is very close to the shoreline, you can walk there in about 5-10 minutes.
Some of my favourite stops on Hurontario street are:
- Crave the Chocolatier – great place to get artisan chocolates!
- The Candy Factory – a factory where they make their own candy; including chocolates, gummies and Turkish Delight
- Blue Mountain Tea Company – great place for loose leaf tea or find a gift
Pro Tip: It can be hard to get a parking spot on Hurontario street, especially on weekends. (Also, the parking is diagonal, which most people aren’t used to – be prepared for that.) You also need to pay at one of the stations. I usually go to a side street if I can’t find a vacant spot on Hurontario Street.
2. Eat at some great restaurants
One thing I love about Collingwood is all the food options. For a city so relatively small, they have a lot of diverse food options.
- Bent Taco – upscale Mexican flair cuisine
- Georgian Bay Surf Club – right on Hurontario, for surfers and non-surfers. Food is excellent
- Katherine’s Chateau – for a frilly, Parisian experience (perfect for a mother daughter outing)
- The Gibson & Company- hidden away café down the narrowest alleyway in town (mentioned above.) Very popular, busy at lunchtime.
- Fig and Feta, a large sit-down Greek restaurant on Hurontario street, offers fresh and authentic food
3. Sample local craft beers
There are a number of breweries in Collingwood to sample local craft beers, and many local bars and restaurants carry some of those beers.
Here are your options for craft breweries in Collingwood:
- Collingwood Brewery– right downtown, and the first brewery in the area. They have weekly events, live music, and merchandise.
- Northwinds Brewery – 2 locations – one in downtown Collingwood, and one in Blue Mountain Village (15 minutes away)
- Black Bellows Brewery – downtown on Hurontario street; has food and exciting events
- Side Launch -located in the outskirts of town, have music and events
I have only been to the Blue Mountain location of Northwinds, and we go there at least once a year. The food and atmosphere there are great. I’m not a beer person, but my husband Eric recommends the flights!
4. Enjoy some live music
For a town of its size, Collingwood has a decent live music scene. There are several bars and venues in Collingwood where you can enjoy live music, with a meal or dancing.
I have celebrated bachelorette parties with friends in Collingwood where we went to clubs and danced to live music, and have also been lucky to see Bif Naked, a Canadian singer, perform in Collingwood.
Here are some places to enjoy live music in Collingwood:
- Harbour Street Fish Bar – live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
- Black Bellows Brewing Company – has live music sporatically; upcoming events can be found here.
- Collingwood Station on the Green at Cranberry Golf Course. From June to end of August, there’s live music a few nights every week – see upcoming schedule here.
- Side Launch– has a taproom with live music and events.
5. Take a walk through the Arboretum
The Arboretum is a nature reserve near the shoreline in Collingwood. There are funky sculptures, benches, and pathways, and you can see the Collingwood Terminal in the distance.
You can go for a walk in the Arboretum any time of year. We’ve gone sledding and tobogganing (there’s a small hill) in the winter, but its nicer in the summer when you can relax on a bench and take in the views. I see many people walking their dogs at the Collingwood Arboretum, or just taking a walk outside to relax, or do bird watching.
The Arboretum is free to visit, although parts of it can also be reserved for private events.
6. Visit Canada’s only Aquapath
The Living Water Resort (10 minute drive from downtown Collingwood) has the only Aquapath in Canada. The Aquapath is basically a spa, with saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms and plunges. There is a long ‘path’ with rocks on the ground where the water goes up to your thighs (depending on how tall you are.)
You can do the Aquapath only, or add on other services like a massage, or the infrared sauna. I’ve been here a few times, with my best friend and my husband; it’s a nice way to relax and treat yourself in Collingwood.
The Aquapath experience takes around 45 minutes on its own, and you can book it at Living Water here.
7.Visit Blue Mountain Village
It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit Collingwood, a walk around Blue Mountain Village (15 minute drive from Collingwood) is always worth it.
The village has boutique stores and brand names, restaurants, hotels, and even a spa.
Some of the key things to eat (or do) in Blue Mountain Village are:
- Lots of shopping at big brand stores and smaller business stores. Great place to find gifts and Canadian souvenirs
- Special events which happen on the stage, or in some of the venues within the village
- Lots of food options
I have been to Blue Mountain in all seasons, and for many occasions – with family, with friends and romantic weekends with my husband. It’s a beautiful place, and it has gotten more popular over the years!
Blue Mountain Village is also a nice place to stay while you’re visiting Collingwood. Its only a 15-minute drive from downtown Collingwood, and allows you close access to the Blue Mountain attractions and scenic caves.
Parking has gotten absolutely crazy at Blue Mountain Village in recent years! If you’re visiting on a weekend, or at a dinner time, you may have to park quite far back in the parking lot. At special events, you may not find a spot at all. In that case, there are paid parking areas nearby
8. Go for some incredibly scenic hikes
Collingwood is a great place for local hikes, and there are so many places nearby to choose from.
One novelty about hiking in the Collingwood area is that, because of the Blue Mountains, a lot of the trails are pretty hilly, which means extra work, of course) but also – beautiful views, like this:
Here are some of the hikes you can do in Collingwood in the area:
- Beaver Valley Loop Trail, a 13 km (8-mile) loop which is part of the Bruce Trail. The start of the trail would be 20 mins from downtown Collingwood.
- The Loree Forest Loop, in Loree which is near Blue Mountain. 5 km (3.1 miles) and relatively easy. Sections of it are also part of the Bruce Trail
- Blue Mountain Groove Trail (2 km or 1.6 miles)
- The Singhampton Caves Trailhead (21 minutes away) free hiking through caves of the Canadian shield, somewhat similar to Scenic Caves
- Shipyards Amphitheatre & Greenspace, and the Collingwood Arboretum; lots of short trails in these areas
- Scenic Caves hiking experience, which you can access with admission ticket to Scenic Caves
9. Walk over the suspension bridge at Scenic Caves
The Suspension Bridge at Scenic Caves is another year-round attraction (even if the caves are not.) The bridge is 420 feet long and 82 feet high.
You get beautiful 360 views of the surrounding area from the top.
Your admission ticket to Scenic Caves includes being able to walk over the Suspension Bridge.
The bridge is actually fairly close to the entrance, so you don’t even need to walk too far to get to it (the direction you go depends on your preference.) The trail options are well-marked so you’ll know where you’re going.
From the bridge, you have a beautiful view of the forest valley, Collingwood and Georgian Bay.
10. Enjoy hydrotherapy at a Nordic Spa
Scandinave Spa is a popular Nordic spa just outside Collingwood with hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and quiet rooms to either read, relax or meditate in.
I go to Scandinave often, with friends and my husband. I prefer visiting in summer, because you can read a book outside on a hammock. The winter is good time to visit too; the hot tubs are so warming in the chilly outside air.
The only way to reserve a visit to Scandinave is to book a massage (which you should do a few weeks in advance, as its very popular.) If you don’t have a massage booking, then you can drop in.
If its a popular day, then they will put you on a waitlist. You can also add yourself to the waitlist here.
Pro Tip: Scandinave is very popular and draws people all the way from Toronto. But its not the only spa in the area, anymore. There’s now a similar spa in Orillia called Vettä Nordic Spa, which I’ve tried and is great as well. Read my post comparing the two Nordic spas.
11. Ride the Ridge Runner (at Blue Mountain)
The Ridge Runner forest coaster in Blue Mountain is Ontario’s first forest rollercoaster. Its a 1 km (0.9 mile) long coaster that takes you through the forest in the Blue Mountains.
It goes 42 km (26 miles) per hour, and is a lot of fun.
You can find the Ridge Runner right in Blue Mountain Village, towards the ski hills. From the village area, walk towards the Blue Mountain Ski resort area, and you will see the lineup for the forest runner.
The Ridge Runner is open year round, and there’s usually a lineup on summer weekends. There’s a booth right by the lineup where you can buy tickets for the Ridge Runner.
Good to Know: You have to be at least 13 years old to ride the coaster independently, but anyone over the age of 3 can be a passenger. I went with my 6-year-old daughter riding with me, with other family members in other cars. It was a fun and memorable experience that I’d recommend.
12. Learn about local history at the Collingwood Museum
The Collingwood Museum is a collection of artifacts teaching you about Collingwood’s maritime and settlement history.
There are artifacts used from another time, such as an old canon and canoe, models of ships, and there are interesting videos to watch too.
The museum is tiny, but worth visiting – especially if you live in Collingwood and want to know more about its past. The Collingwood Museum is free to visit, but accepts donations. ($4 is the suggested amount.)
The museum is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 10am until 4pm.
13. Go for a dip in the Plunge Aquatic Centre (at Blue Mountain)
The Plunge is located in Blue Mountain Village, and has an indoor and outdoor pool section, as well as hot tubs and indoor splash pad.
Both indoor and outdoor pools are open year round – in the summer, you can enjoy the green hills of the mountains, and in the winter you can watch skiers whiz down the hills while you’re in the pool.
The plunge pools are heated (29.4°C or 85°F) and there are hot tubs on site as well. The plunge can be done with any age, but is mostly popular for families with kids.
If you want to do the plunge, I recommend heading there first thing in the morning. It can get a bit crowded and noisy as the day goes on.
There are different pass options to the Plunge, such as a full day, or a 2-hour ticket. They can be booked on their website here.
Pro Tip: Blue Mountain Village offers a special Play All Day pass – its perfect if you’re only in Collingwood for a short time and want to fit lots of things in. It gives you unlimited rides on the ridge runner, a visit to the aquatic centre, a gondola ticket and many other things. My daughter got the pass when she went with a group, and she had a great time. (Suitable for all ages and families.)
Things to Do in Collingwood (Summer Only)
Here are the best things to do in Collingwood between the months of May until end of September
14. Explore caves
The caves in Collingwood are located off the trail in Scenic Caves Nature Adventures.
The Scenic Caves park is open year-round, but the cave section can only be accessed in the summer, for safety reasons. The cave exploration part of the park is definitely worth it if you’re in Collingwood during the warm months.
There is one spot in the caves that is so arrow and you actually have to walk sideways in order get through it. (Pictured above.) The opening is exactly 14 inches wide.
Besides the caves themselves, there are other activities connected with the park; most are open year round, and some summer only.
- Treetop trekking and zip-lining (summer only)
- The suspension bridge and hiking trails (year round)
- Lots of activities for kids – a large adventure playground near the visitor’s centre, mini golf, a train they can ride, and an area where they can dig for rocks
You can buy an admission ticket to Scenic Caves that includes all or some of the above. Rates differ based on season. Check out the options on their website.
Wear hiking shoes with good grip if you visit the caves portion of the trail, because the rocks can be slippery. I also recommend learning to identify poison ivy.
15. Ride Canada’s longest twin zip-line
The Thunderbird Twin Zip-line are two sets of zip-lines side by side, and are part of the Scenic Caves Nature Adventure park. It’s an option add-on to a Scenic Caves admission.
On the Thunderbird, you soar over treetops of the Blue Mountains at up to 70 km per hour. (It has a rider control function which allows you to control how fast you go.)
The Thunderbird Twin Zip-line is 2500 feet long and takes a couple minutes to reach the other side, depending how fast you allow it to go.
My husband and I went on the Thunderbird during a romantic getaway weekend in Collingwood, and it was a really fun experience that I’d recommend if you’re up for an adrenaline rush.
It makes a visit to Scenic Caves extra memorable. On a clear day, you can see the town of Collingwood in the distance from the platform that you zip-line from.
Pro Tip: There is also a smaller zip-line offered at Blue Mountain which is only 50 feet high and 1,000 feet long.
16. Treetop Trekking
In the summer, you can do treetop trekking at Timber Challenge High Ropes which is a Blue Mountain Resort attraction.
There are 7 different high-ropes courses, and three different levels of difficulty.
I did the Blue Mountain Treetop Treking for my friend’s bachelorette party and it was a lot of fun! It was a great way to spend some time in nature, bond with friends and get some good views.
Pro Tip: The treetop trekking, Blue Mountain zip-line, the plunge, gondola and other Blue Mountain activities can be lumped together in a “play all day pass.” So if you want to do them all, then the pass is a good deal. Play All Day passes go on sale in April. You can save money by buying the pass online in advance.
17. Ride the gondola in Blue Mountain Village
In the winter, it’s a ski lift. In the summer, it is a gondola that takes you to the top of Blue Mountain; giving you a view of the village, Collingwood, and Georgian Bay.
You can even see the stacks if you look closely.
The gondola is included in the Play All Day and Explore passes that you can buy from Blue Mountain Resort. If you don’t buy the passes, I don’t believe there’s any other way to take the gondola. See details here.
18. Swim at Sunset Point Beach
The most popular beach in the area is Wasaga Beach, but Collingwood has its own small beach too – Sunset Point Beach.
The beach has trails, large open green space, volleyball courts, and of course beautiful views of Georgian Bay.
There’s also a park with a newly renovated playground for kids, and washrooms on site. It has its own parking lot, which is costs money between May and October.
Things to Do in Collingwood in Winter
Collingwood is one of the best places to visit in winter in Ontario, because of the year-round activities mentioned above and also – Blue Mountain Ski resort.
19. Skiing at Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain Ski Resort is the largest public ski resort in Ontario, with 7 chairlifts and 42 different slopes.
It’s great for all ages; from beginner to advanced.
My daughter did the Snow School at Blue Mountain, where the work with mainly kids, but people of all ages.
Like from the suspension bridge, the views from the top of the hill at Blue Mountain are very pretty.
20. Festival of Lights in Blue Mountain Village
Blue Mountain has a beautiful light display set up for the holiday season, from mid November until the first week of January.
There is a huge bash at New Year’s Eve that is televised and does a count-down. I haven’t been to the New Year’s Eve bash, but sometimes watch it on TV.
I go to the Festival of Lights every year; we enjoy getting a bite to eat in the village, and walking around the village and the pond, admiring the lights.
21. Go snowshoeing
Scenic Caves offers snowshoeing experiences in the winter months. You can snowshoe on the trails, which range from easy to difficult.
The highlight is being able to snowshoe on the suspension bridge, and getting a spectacular view of the snow-covered Collingwood and icy Georgian Bay.
You can bring your own snowshoes if you have them, or they have rentals on site.
You have to be at least 8 years old to snowshoe. You simply buy an admission ticket to scenic caves and you can enjoy the trails via snowshoe.
Where to Stay in Collingwood
Here are some of the best places to stay in Collingwood depending on your budget. I recommend staying in Blue Mountain Village for the best experience or special occasions
Budget: Holiday Inn Express & Suites -2 swimming pools (1 indoor), free breakfast, a shot drive into downtown Collingwood, and just over 10 minutes to Blue Mountain
Mid-Range: Candlewood Suites Collingwood short drive into town, and a 5 minute walk to Sunset Point Beach
Luxury: The Dorchester Hotel Located in a historic building, right on Hurontario street. Steps away from restaurants, shopping and live music, and 10 minute drive to Blue Mountain village
Where to Eat in Collingwood
Collingwood actually has a descent foodie scene with a variety of options. Here are some great local places to eat
Bent Taco – wacky, and creative Mexcian food. Good vegan options.
The Gibson – a café with organic and vegan options
Press Market – organic, raw, healthy and vegan options.
Northwinds Brewery – two locations (Collingwood and Blue Mountain Village) great craft beers and bar food
Heavenly Café – Paris inspired cafe with pastries, soups, sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate
The Hungry Sumo and SUHSI HON – both great sushi places in downtown Collingwood
The Alphorn Restaurant – traditional Swiss food in the Blue Mountains
Thonburry Thai – our favourite Thai food restaurant in Collingwood; very authentic; lots of vegetarian options
Fig and Feta – an upscale Greek restaurant on the main street
There are too many good restaurants in Collingwood to name, but the above are a few of the noteable ones that I’ve tried
Things to Do Near Collingwood
Here are a few gems worth taking a drive to from the Collingwood area
1. Visit Wasaga Beach
Distance from Collingwood: 23 minutes
Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world. It has a long a sandy shoreline, and shallow water going pretty far out.
Parking now has to be reserved in advance for Wasaga Beach, which you can do on the Ontario Parks website.
To reserve a parking spot, Select Day Use, and then choose Wasaga Beach. From there, you select which beach you want to park and spend the day at.
1. Visit the small town of Creemore
Distance from Collingwood: 25 minutes
Creemore is one of the cutest small towns in Ontario, and just a short drive from Collingwood. Even though its such a small town, there are a few things to do in the area that make it worth a half day trip.
During a stop in Creemore, you can:
- Try one of Ontario’s most popular beers (Creemore Spring) at the brewery where its made – the Creemore Brewery. The offer tours and tastings at the brewery which you can book online in advance
- Visit the Purple Hill Lavender fields
- Check out the smallest jail in North America. (Usually closed, but you can look at it from the outside.)
Collingwood is 45 minutes from Barrie, an hour to Owen Sound, an hour and 20 minutes to Sauble Beach and 2 hours to Tobermory.
Visiting Collingwood FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about visiting Collingwood
How do I spend a day in Collingwood?
To spend a day in Collingwood, take a walk along Hurontario streets to window shop, and eat at one of the restaurants. Then, head to Sunset Point Beach to get views of the lake, Blue Mountains and the Collingwood stacks. Spend the afternoon exploring Blue Mountain Village and grab dinner in the village.
Is Collingwood Ontario worth visiting?
Collingwood Ontario is definitely worth a visit. There are many great outdoor things to do in Collingwood, such as exploring Scenic Caves, walking around Blue Mountain Village, hiking, boating and window shopping on Hurontario Street.
Why is Collingwood Ontario so popular?
Collingwood is mainly popular because of its proximity to the Blue Mountains, which provides a lot to do year-round. The city has a scenic view of the mountains as a backdrop, which is rare for most towns in southern Ontario.
What is there to do in Blue Mountain at night?
At night at Blue Mountain, there are restaurants open until 9 or 10pm, and there also some bars and nightclubs. Blue Mountain Village is a popular place to party for a bachelor or bachelorette night, or other occasions.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Collingwood
By now, you know the best things to do in Collingwood year round. Whether you visit in summer, winter or fall, there is a lot of beautiful nature to explore and appreciate in the area.
One great thing about Collingwood is that it’s very versatile. I’ve gone to bachelorette weekends in Collingwood, romantic getaway weekends in Collingwood, and have also brought my kids to Collingwood many times – its a great place for all of the above.
I hope that you enjoy the outdoors, food and adventure activities in Collingwood as much as I do.