Exploring Ontario: A Guide To Caledon, Ontario – Less Than An Hour From Toronto

This article is related to three of our other posts about the area. Instead of adding this information to those articles, we thought we’d just make this a stand-alone guide to all the things to do and see in the Caledon area. Some we have experienced and others we just placed here because we found them while researching the area.

This is by no means a full list of the area. For some more information visit: Visit Caledon

~ WEIRD & UNIQUE ~

~ Cheltenham Badlands ~
The Cheltenham Badlands is a geological site formed around 450 million years ago at the base of an ancient sea. Access to the site is exclusively through a ParkPass reservation system. Passes from other conservation authorities do not grant entry.

There are three hiking trails through hawthorn, ash, and apple trees, crossing a tributary of the Credit River, offering scenic views of unique eroded terrain. Stretching out from an accessible boardwalk is an unusual Mars-like landscape. The Cheltenham Badlands are a natural heritage landmark in Ontario. With a strange orange /reddish coloured smooth soil and barren of vegetation, this 36-hectare (91-acre) site is exposed Queenston shale that was brought to the surface because of erosion.

When we arrived we saw the Badlands right beside the road (didn’t expect that). We couldn’t stop because there were tons of no stopping/tow away signs everywhere. Over the crest of a hill is the parking lot, but we couldn’t get in. You have to reserve a parking spot – you can’t just turn up and get in. Unfortunately there’s no cellphone reception at the parking area! Great. So we drove down the road a bit and found a signal to book our spot.

After entering the credit card number and our license plate we arrive back at the parking lot and the gate opens for us after scanning our plate (if you don’t have a front plate you have to enter a pin code on the keypad). We can see why there is a timeslot and so many signs around the park – there’s not a lot of parking – maybe 30 spots maximum.

Heading off into the woods for our hike to the Badlands, it’s definitely not for anyone in a wheelchair or using a walker. For that, you just need to enter the blue gate – directly off Olde Base Line Road. It’s also the best way to see the Badlands, because you end up at the same spot anyway.

Thoughts…
It’s an interesting spot to visit, but not anything really special. If you drive on the main roadway, you pretty-much see everything from the road. From start to finish we were there 35 minutes. If you are pushed for time, or just lazy, skip the hike and enter through the blue gates.

Location: 1739 Olde Base Line Road, Caledon
what3words: ///elaborates.chosen.pancakes
Google: Q3F4+M6 Inglewood, Ontario
Hours: May 9 to November 17, 2025, dawn to dusk. The park is closed during the winter.
Cost * By reservation only…90-minute visit (you do not need more than that):
Monday to Friday: $10 + (HST $1.30) = $11.30 / Weekends and holidays: $20 + HST 2.30) = $22.60
Website: https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/cheltenham-badlands (switch off your VPN)
Parking: https://admin.parkpassproject.com/book?inventoryGroup=1609410446&inventory=1687658458&sid=

~ Magnetic Hill Caledon ~
Offering a unique (and free) roadside experience, Magnetic Hill Caledon is a natural attraction located in Caledon Village. Due to the surrounding landscape distorting perception of slope the optical illusion makes vehicles appear to roll uphill when in neutral (that would be the “N” on your transmission shifter). Situated along the Niagara Escarpment it’s popular with visitors and serves as a tourist curiosity and photo opportunity, no formal services are offered. Just remember as with all magnetic hills – don’t set you expectations are too high because sometimes it can be underwhelming!

Location: 3046 Escarpment Side Rd #3054, Caledon Village, ON L7C 2E7
what3words: ///pressing.fluxes.predictive
GoogleMaps: R2RJ+3R Caledon Village, Ontario

~ BEER & CIDER ~

** Fairly close together (6 minutes apart) is Spirit Tree Cidery and Badlands Brewery. Goodlot Brewing is about 10-12 minutes from either of them**

~ Spirit Tree Estate Cidery ~
Spirit Tree Estate Cidery offers tours and cider tastings (weekends). It looked like it was set up for live music outside along with pick-your-own-fruit orchard access. There’s a well-stocked shop and a dining area where you can order cider (of course) and baked goods including scones and butter tarts along with wood-fired pizza/focaccia and local delicacies including maple syrup, maple butter, apples, cheeses and coffee

We grabbed some canned cider to take home and some hot cider for our homeward journey. We got 4 different types:

~ Dry Hopped Cider – Extremely sweet and tart – my eyes went cross-eyed with the first sip and I thought they were going to stay that way!! I cut the cider in a glass with some bubbly water and that made a huge difference. Tasted nice though
~ Applelager – Tasted exactly like your traditional Strongbow/Menards Cider. Sweet and tasty.
~ Pear Cider – quite sweet, a little tart. Very nice, – not anywhere close to the sweetness of Orange.
~ Draft Cider – Very good – probably the best cider I’ve ever tasted. Not overly sweet… just perfect!

Location: 1137 Boston Mills Rd, Caledon, ON L7C 0N1
what3words: ///sidelines.moats.inhaled
GoogleMaps: Q355+42 Caledon, Ontario
Website: http://www.spirittreecider.com/
Hours: Closed: Monday, Tuesday // Wed – Sunday: 10am – 9pm
Bistro Kitchen open: Wed- Sun 11am-8:30pm
Tours: Sat/Sun 1pm & 3pm with tastings

~ GoodLot Farmstead Brewing ~
Unfortunately, the Goodlot Farmstead Brewing was closed on the day we arrived, so we didn’t get an opportunity to experience and taste their beer :>(

We were really disappointed because this was one of THE places we wanted to visit on our trip to the area. This local organic hop farm and solar-powered brewery makes fresh, local farm-raised beer using ingredients grown on their farm as well as other small Ontario farms. Be sure to visit their ABOUT page to understand their concept and what makes them unique!

Also, check out their website for up-to-date hours and events because they changed while we were compiling this article.

Their four season Oast Barn (built 1870, renovated 2023) is open to enjoy a flight or pint, including To-go beer, offering live music every Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 5pm.

Various specialty food nights and food trucks (see website) as well as a beer garden (May-Oct) make this a must-visit location.

Disc Golf during operating hours, year round is available (free). Bring your own discs and play a 14-hole course – which can be played as a 9 hole Pitch N Putt (Par 3) or add on a longer 5-hole course, known as ‘High Fives’.

Walk-ins only, they do not accept reservations. Well behaved dogs are welcome!

Location: 18825 Shaws Creek Rd Alton, Ontario L7K 1L3
what3words: ///spoiler.wasting.falcons
Website: https://www.goodlot.beer/
Hours: Closed: Mon, Tues & Wed // Open: Thurs, Friday: 3pm-8pm / Sat: 12-8pm / Sun: 12-7pm

~ Badlands Brewery ~
Their website is rather poor, giving you no real info about them. They sell beer on draft and also cans. They specialize in IPA beers – we love a good IPA, so it was disappointing they were closed (which is most of the time), so we didn’t get an opportunity to sample/ buy some. Non-alcohol drinks are available. The Kitchen & Food Truck is open Saturdays and Sundays 12 – 6pm

Location: 13926 Chinguacousy Rd, Inglewood, ON L7C 1Z3 (off Mississauga Rd)
what3words: ///nosing.loafing.pace
GoogleMaps: Q423+J6 Inglewood, Ontario
Website: https://www.badlandsbrewing.ca
Hours: Closed: Monday – Thursday. Open: Friday 12-5pm / Saturday & Sunday 12-6pm

~ HISTORY ~

~ Great War Flying Museum ~

The Great War Flying Museum is a compact museum, with one hangar with several airplanes and one building with artifacts; you can see it all in an hour. It is dedicated to honoring pilots who served during World War I, featuring a collection of WWI-era aircraft, many in working condition, and aviation memorabilia. Operated entirely by volunteers, the museum offers guided tours where visitors can learn about aircraft restoration and history from knowledgeable enthusiasts, some of whom have flown the planes.

From the Victoria Day to Labour Day weekends, it is open Tuesday through Sunday with flying demonstrations of their aircraft on weekend and holiday afternoons, weather and pilot availability permitting. Well-organized exhibits and unique educational experience for both adults and children make this an enjoyable experience. It is regarded as a must-visit for aviation and history enthusiasts. Located close to the village of Belfountain, off Mississauga Rd, just 5 minutes from The Badlands

Location: 13691 McLaughlin Rd, Cheltenham, ON L7C 3L7
what3words: ///entity.species.trolleys
Website: https://greatwarflyingmuseum.org/
Opening times: Victoria Day Weekend to Labour Day Weekend: Tuesday/Thursday 11am-3pm // Saturday/Sunday/Holidays 11am – 4pm
Admission: Adults $10 // Seniors $5 // Students (age 14-18): $5 // Children under 14: Free! // Family (up to three adults): $20

** Although the Great War Flying Museum is closed to the public between Labour Day and Victoria Day, crews are on-site on Tuesdays and Thursdays – performing maintenance and repairs – visitors are welcome in the hangar from 2:00 – 4:00 pm in the afternoon on those days

~ GRAB A COFFEE ~

There are a number of Café’s in the area. Obviously we couldn’t stop at every one of them, but we did our best. Anything to avoid the swill Tim Horton’s serves these days is a bonus!

~ Gather Café ~
We stopped for a coffee at the Gather Café and enjoyed a nice large cup of coffee and some gluten-free treats while sitting on the patio during a beautiful autumn day. Classic Muskoka chairs are also available out front, but if you prefer there’s indoor seating too.

Located right in the middle of the town of Alton – this is more than just a coffee shop though. They offer specially coffees and teas (and ice cream in the summer), plus local beer and wine you can drink there or grab-and-go from their bottle shop. They also serve breakfast wraps, along with other tasty lunch and dinner items.

While enjoying our break, we started planning for our overnight stay at the Liberty Inn Nordic Spa Hotel and dinner. We planned on checking in and relaxing, but didn’t want to go back out to eat, so we grabbed a couple of pizza’s to take back to the inn for dinner.

The gluten-free wood-fired pizzas were delicious – the best we’ve had in a long time! Their dough is made in-house and the gourmet pizzas are crafted with a variety of unique toppings. If you are in the area be sure to stop by.

Location: 19793 Main St Alton, ON L7K 0E3
what3words: ///withstood.worthy.teams
Website: https://www.gathercafe.ca/
Opening times: Mon: Closed / Tues: 8am – 5pm // Wed – Fri: 8am -7pm // Sat: 9am – 7pm // Sunday: 9am – 5pm

~ Tin Roof Café ~
Is family-owned located in the tiny town of Erin, Ontario since 2015. You’ll find locally roasted coffee along with a selection of cookies, squares and other goodies baked from scratch in-house, using only high quality ingredients like unbleached wheat flour, whole grain flours, real butter, local maple syrup and a number of gluten-friendly alternatives like coconut, oat, brown rice and almond flour.

Location – 4 Main St, Erin, ON N0B 1T0
what3words: ///staffs.cave.cried
Website: https://tinroofcafe.ca/
Hours: Mon-Fri : 7am-6pm // Sat & Sun: 8am-6pm

~ The Busholme ~
Located in downtown Erin, the building was built in the 1880’s and originally run as an Inn – now it’s considered by some to be one of the best pubs in the region. Everything is made fresh in-house, including their dressings and sauces. There are a dozen beers on tap, including local craft beers like Goodlot. If you’re hungry, they have everything from pub classics to Buddha bowls as well as a varied seasonal menu at reasonable prices. MENU. Call for reservation (Recommended) – 519-315-0315

Location: 156 Main St, Erin, ON N0B 1T0
what3words: ///lullabies.violinist.moats
Website: https://thebusholme.ca
Hours: Mon, Tues: 11:30am-10pm // Wed, Thurs: 11:30am-11pm // Fri, Sat: 11:30am-Midnight // Sunday: 11:30am-9pm

~ Tipsy Fox Pub & Grill ~
The original Tipsy Fox Pub & Grill located in Erin. This Canadian-owned chain of premium pubs now boast another 8 pubs throughout Ontario. The menu features all your pub favourites with a unique Tipsy Fox twist! They have Gluten Free and Vegan Cheesecakes!!! MENU. Happy Hour – 20oz $5 pints every day 11am-5pm

Location: 9603 Sideroad 17, Erin, ON N0B 1T0
what3words: ///sleeper.lament.productions
GoogleMaps: QWJ9+G5 Erin, Ontario
Website: https://tipsyfoxpub.com/home/

~ Ray’s 3rd Generation Bistro ~
Located in Alton is Ray’s Third Generation Bistro this long-standing bakery has been in service since 1966. However, it’s also a bistro that offers lunch and dinner. If you’re dining in on a weekend you might even get to enjoy some live music.

Location: 1475 Queen St W, Alton, ON L7K 0E4
what3words: ///thrive.trousers.movements
Website: https://www.facebook.com/R3BistroBakery
Hours: closed Sun, Mon // Tuesday – Saturday 11 am- 10pm

~ Heatherlea Farm Shoppe, Butchery and Café ~
Located less than 10 minutes east of downtown Erin, Heatherlea Farm is a must-stop in the Caledon area. A family farm for six generations (150+ years), specializing in Hormone/antibiotic-free Black Angus beef, ready meals, local produce, café. Great spot to stock the liberty Inn kitchen! Great options for sau-sages with unique combinations of ingredients like maple-blueberry, pizza and buffalo chicken. They stock local beers/wines/Gin and the cafe is perfect for brekkie/lunch.

Location:17049 Winston Churchill Blvd, Terra Cotta ON L7K 1J1
what3words: ///gloss.exercises.tech
Website: http://www.heatherlea.ca/
Hours – Tues – Sat: 9 am – 6pm // Sunday: 10am – 5pm // Monday: Closed

~ GOLF, SKIING & SNOWBOARDING ~

~ TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley ~
Experience one of Canada’s premier golf destinations. TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley is home to three of Canada’s Top 25 golf courses, a new indoor training facility, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, as well as the Three Brothers Restaurant. TPC Toronto is the host of the 2026 RBC Canadian Open and a new Home for Canadian Golf.

Location: 19131 Main St, Caledon Village, ON L7K 1R1
what3words: ///learning.raking.lamest (entrance)
Website: https://www.ospreyvalley.com/

~ Caledon Country Club ~
Golf Course & Simulators open to public. Twilight Golf – After 3pm. 7 days a week.
9 Hole: Mon – Fri Anytime // Sat & Sun After 1pm
Location: 2121 Olde Baseline Road, Caledon, ON L7C 0K7 (beside Badlands)
Website: https://www.golfcaledon.com/
Hours: Open Daily – 9:00am – 9:00pm

** aditional golf courses in the area, click HERE

~ Caledon Ski Club ~
Caledon Ski Club is a private members club offering picturesque views where the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine meet. Explore Caledon Ski Club’s 55 acres of skiable terrain with 25 slopes, 6 chairlifts and 2 magic carpets or enjoy their outdoor ice skating rink and 8km of snowshoe trails. The micro-climate snow conditions allows for earlier openings than most resorts and throughout the season, the sheltered valley reduces icy and windy conditions with snow coverage from December to the first weekend in April thanks to the state-of-the-art snowmaking system.

Location: 17431 Mississauga Road in Caledon, Ontario L7K 0E9
what3words: ///inlet.enemies.divisions
Website: https://caledonskiclub.com/

~ CONSERVATION AREA / PARKS ~ (Biking & Hiking Trails)

Caledon is a well-known cycling destination with over 260 km of publicly accessible trails and paths, including the Elora Cataract Trailway. Enter beside the town of Erin in two locations – 235 Ross Street. Side of Mississauga Rd near Cataract Road intersection. Side of Credit River Road near 5477 10 Line

Fun Fact: The Town of Caledon is home to over 260 kilometres of trails!

~ Forks Of The Credit Provincial Park – Offers ample hiking trails with connections to the Bruce Trail and the Trans Canada Trail / Elora Cataract Trailway. Just a short walk gets you sweeping views of the waterfall, a couple of bridges and the credit river with lots of fishing opportunities.
Bailey Bridge: what3words: ///intruders.fatter.tensed /
Waterfall Bridge: what3words: ///persuasion.pledged.ticketing
Location: 17760 McLaren Rd, Caledon, ON L7K 2H8
what3words: ///canines.romancing.regionals
Website: https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/forksofthecredit (switch off VPN)

~ Belfountain + Belfountain Conservation Area
The hamlet of Belfountain has a coffee shop / ice cream place (Higher Ground Café) right at an intersection that had little parking and lots of chaos for a Tuesday afternoon and very little traffic when we were there – it must be a nightmare when it’s busy in the area.

Around the corner there was the Belfountain Conservation Park that boasts a waterfall, a weird cave and a scenic suspension bridge – and is also home to salamanders. There is No Walk-in entry…Vehicle access only, so don’t get any ideas of parking somewhere and walking in!! On top of that you get to fork over $8 per adult and $11.30 per car to enter – tax is included, so there’s that.

Yeah, no – we’ll pass.

Location: 819 Forks of the Credit Rd, Caledon, ON L7K 0E5
what3words: ///hustlers.pensively.ferried
Admission: There is No Walk-in entry…Vehicle access only – see above.

~ Charles Sauriol Conservation Area
Location: 2000 Peel Regional Rd 24, Alton, ON L7K 0R5
what3words: ///stalwarts.career.snuggled
Website: https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/plan-day-trip-forks-credit/
Parking: across the road: ///photon.hobble.spurn (Forks of the Credit Parking Lot)

~ Terra Cotta Conservation Area ~
There’s plenty to do and see – either for the full day or just part of it. Explore 485 acres in the Niagara Escarpment. The park features a variety of scenic trails that wander through mature forests and past streams and ponds, year-round – it’s especially popular during the fall season. There are 9 individual trails of varying lengths from 0.4 km to 2.6 kms with difficulty levels from “Easy” to “Strenuous.” In winter you can cross-country ski and snowshoe on groomed trails or skate on a frozen pond.

Terra Cotta Falls (what3words: ///workloads.nail.grumpy) is located in the park
Location: 14452 Winston Churchill Blvd, Halton Hills ON L7G 0N9
what3words: ///architect.flatten.railways
Website: https://cvc.ca/discover-our-parks/terra-cotta-conservation-area/
Hours: Seven days a week – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (No entry 30 minutes before posted close time)
Admission / Entry Fees (include HST):
Child (0-5): Free / Youth (6-14): $3.50 / Adult (15-64): $8.00 / Senior (65+): $6.50 / Person with Disability: $6.50
Parks Passholder: Free

Special Notes: The trails are composed of soil, mown grass, and crushed stone, and vary in accessibility. There is limited rest areas along certain trails and there is a lack of facilities on specific routes.

~ Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area ~
Is a 306-hectare natural reserve located on the Oak Ridges Moraine, offers diverse landscapes including forests, meadows, wetlands and ponds, along with a wide range of flora and fauna. It offers opportunities for hiking, wildlife observation, and nature exploration in a largely undisturbed environment.

** Special Notes: No washroom facilities available. No waste bins available, please carry out litter.

Location: Palgrave, ON L7E 3J9, Canada
Website: trca.ca/parks/palgrave-forest-wildlife-reserve
Admission / Entry Fees: It’s a surprise… you’ll find out when you get to the gate
Location: Duffy’s Ln, Caledon, ON L7E 3E7
what3words: ///gimmicks.alright.weekdays
GoogleMaps: X544+2C Caledon, Ontario

** Down the road from Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area is…

~ Albion Hills Conservation Park ~
A 1,200-acre public park situated on the banks of the Humber River within the headwaters of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment. It attracts approximately 120,000 visitors annually for activities such as mountain biking, camping, swimming, cross-country skiing, and special events. With over 50 kilometres of trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and disc golf, including an 18-hole course and a family-friendly 9-hole course. Mountain biking is particularly popular, with trails designed for all skill levels. Fat-tire biking is permitted on the Black Trail only during winter.

Winter: During winter, the park offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with ski trail passes available for purchase online or at the Front Registration Building.
Summer: A full-service campground with both serviced and un-serviced sites for tents, trailers, and RVs, operating from June 14 to September 1, 2025, with weekend openings also available.
The Aquatic Facility features a fully accessible 440 sq. metre wading pool (4 feet deep) and a 125 sq. metre interactive splash pad, open during the summer months.

Pets are permitted on a leash no longer than 2 meters, provided they are cleaned up after and not left unattended, but they are not allowed on ski trails or in aquatic and visitor centers.

Location: 16500 Regional Road 50, Caledon, ON L7E 3E7
what3words: ///douses.insurer.surfaced
GoogleMaps: W5MJ+C2 Caledon, Ontario
Website: https://trca.ca/parks/albion-hills-conservation-area/
Hours: Mon – Fri: 9 am – 4 pm // Saturday & Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
Park Admission Fees (+HST) Per Person:
Adult (14-64) – $8.00 // Senior (65+) – $6.75 // Child (4-13) – $5.30 // Toddler (0-3) – FREE
* General admission applies to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and Disc Golf Admission Fees.
* If you are hiking, snowshoeing or tobogganing, please purchase general admission ticket(s) only.
* If you are cross-country skiing, please purchase ski trail pass(es) only. If cross-country skiing, you are only required to purchase a ski pass and do not need to also purchase a general admission ticket.
** Note: The admission fees do not include Camping Registration Fees.

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About TravelBloggers…
Iain & Gail started blogging in order to inspire and motivate people to travel the world from their perspective – specializing in having the most fun while using the least amount of money…travelling on the cheap without sacrificing comfort.

** In the end you will only regret the things you didn’t do **