The Blue Mountains

There are endless options for things to do, from outdoor activities, relaxing spa treatments and delicious culinary experiences to shopping and fun seasonal festivals.

Outdoor activities

At Blue Mountain Resort, Blue Mountain Village and throughout the surrounding area you can experience the unique beauty of the escarpment. This region, recognized by UNESCO for its ecological significance, offers a wide range of outdoor activities to connect you with nature, every season of the year, including:

• hiking on trails like the Time Line Hiking Trail or the Green World Hiking Trail
• biking and fat biking (rentals available)
• cave exploring at Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
• Segway tours with Mountaintop Segway Tours
• Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster
• Cascade Putting Course
• Open-Air Gondola rides
• relaxing on the sand at Northwinds Beach or Delphi Point Park
• rock climbing on The Rock Climbing Wall
• ice skating at Woodview Mountain Top Skating Trail
• skiing and snowboarding
• snowshoeing

And that’s just to name a few! The Blue Mountain Village App will help you plan your action-packed day.

Spa experiences

After a busy day of outdoor activity, relax and reset at Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain. Experience unique, year-round outdoor hydrotherapy in a tranquil forest setting and rejuvenate with luxurious spa and wellness treatments and activities including:

• Scandinavian bath treatments
• specialty packages tailored to your preferences
• the Bistro for tasty meals and treats
• the Boutique for take-home spa essentials
• forest bathing on nearby trails

Shopping and dining

With over 40 great shops and restaurants, charming craft breweries and nightlife options to choose from, you can reward yourself with a delicious meal of local fare and purchase gifts to bring home to your family. Here are a few to try:

• Kaytoo Restaurant and Bar, for delicious Canadian food
• Northwinds Brewery, to sample local handcrafted beer
• Fire Hall Pizza Co. for family favourites like pizza and burgers
• nearby Collingwood, for a charming Ontario main street filled with shops, boutiques and cafes
• nearby Clarksburg (nicknamed “Artsburg”) and Thornbury, for a unique souvenir from their local art galleries

Unique experiences and events

If you’re planning a longer stay and looking for a truly unique experience, consider adding one of the following activities to your trip.

Follow The Apple Pie Trail by car or bike to sample the region’s delicious apple-based products. Southern Georgian Bay is a rich apple-growing region in Ontario, where you can buy fresh farm-to-table apple pies and pastries, cider, and other apple-related treats directly from local growers, farms, bakeries and eateries. You can enjoy:

• indulging in apple pie at Blackbird Pie Co. and other bakeries, restaurants and markets
• apple picking at Farmer’s Pantry and other local farms
• savouring cider at one of seven unique cidery experiences
• renting bikes from Blue Mountain Resort and cycling the 14-kilometre Thornbury Sticky Bun Cycling Loop

Keep up with the latest and greatest in national and international cinema at the Blue Mountain Film Festival, which takes place in June.

Sample special menu options at local restaurants with the Bluelicious culinary event, which takes place at Blue Mountain Resort between October and December.

See the town lit up at the Blue Mountain Village Holiday Magic event. Enjoy festive décor, music and outdoor entertainment during the winter holiday season. Follow the Holiday Magic Light Trail (daily from dusk to 10:00 p.m.), come dressed as Santa, an elf or another favourite winter character to Sleigh the Slopes on 23 December, or listen to live music at the Events Plaza.

How to get there

Car or RV (recreational vehicle)

If you’re travelling by car or RV, here are a few routes to consider:

• 2-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Toronto
• 3-hour drive from Niagara or Buffalo
• 5-hour drive from Detroit

There is ample parking throughout the Blue Mountains area. For RV parking and hookup, try Sun Retreats Blue Mountains (Craigleith RV Resort & Campground).

Flights

If you’re flying into Ontario, consider renting a car or taking a shuttle service to The Blue Mountains. Toronto Pearson International Airport offers various options for car rental, shuttle service, ride sharing and other forms of travel.

Tour and transport providers

You can also reach The Blue Mountains by tour and transport providers:

• AUC Tours offers a daily shuttle bus service from Toronto to Blue Mountain Resort in the winter; pick-up locations are in downtown Toronto and Scarborough
• Ace Transportation Group offers airport transport services from Toronto

Once you’ve arrived in the region, consider taking a themed tour with a local provider:

Blue Mountain and Collingwood Adventure Tours offers year-round, all-inclusive trips and custom experiential tours throughout the Blue Mountains region, with themes like The Ale Trail (visits to local craft breweries), Waterfalls & Wine (with visits to two Instagram-worthy waterfalls combined with wine, cider and cheese tastings), or Crazy for Craft (an introduction to three local craft beverage companies). Check the website for full information and bookings.

Where to stay

Blue Mountain Village offers accommodations for every need and budget—from luxury hotels to cabins inspired by Ontario’s famous cottage country (rural and forested areas of the province that are popular spots for vacation cottages and seasonal homes).

Why not try:

• The Westin Trillium House, a vacation resort with beautifully appointed rooms and suites featuring kitchenettes and fireplaces
• Blue Mountain Inn, a cozy option with indoor and outdoor hot tubs and great eateries
• Craigleith RV Resort & Campground at Sun Retreats Blue Mountains, which offers camping and RV parking
• Jayne’s Cottages, which offers a wide range of accommodation types in the surrounding region, for every budget

Find a list of accommodations available in the Blue Mountains area.