24 Fun Things to do in Elora, Ontario on a Day Trip from Toronto

If you’re ever googling day trips from Toronto or cute towns in Ontario, you’re going to come across Elora on virtually every single list. It consistently ranks as one of the best day trips from Toronto since it’s located 1 hour and 20 minutes from Toronto (if traffic cooperates of course) and is one of the prettier towns in Ontario. There’s a fairly decent amount of things to do in Elora and the combination of nature, shops and restaurants really makes it an ideal visit for a day trip. We’ve visited Elora a number of times now so I thought I’d put together my recommendations of things to do in Elora on a day trip from Toronto and to shed some light on the different nature highlights since the gorge and the quarry are both very popular but are indeed separate attractions.

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When to visit Elora?

I’m a firm believer that towns around Ontario can be visited year-round because a lot of the downtown businesses and restaurants will still be open and Elora would certainly fit the description of that. The town also gets quite beautiful with the fall colours and gets decorated quite nicely for Christmas and you can probably beat some of the crowds by visiting in the other seasons.

The main reason I’m a huge fan of summer day trips is because I find outdoor activities more enjoyable in the summer and some of the highlights in Elora are outdoor activities. Both Elora Gorge Conservation Area and the Elora Quarry are only open seasonally. So if this two are must do items for you then a summer visit is your best bet.

Things to do in Elora

Elora is pretty evenly split between the downtown Elora area and the beautiful nature that surrounds the town. You may come for the quarry and the gorge but you’ll want to stick around for the shops, architecture and restaurants.

Victoria Park & Views of Elora Gorge

Victoria Park is a large park in Elora with picnic benches and lots of trees. The highlight is definitely the access to the Elora Gorge as the park is situated right at the cliff’s edge and right at the spot where the Irvine Creek and Grand River meet. There’s parking right in front of the park but it was extremely busy the weekend we visited so if you’re there in the summer consider parking on the side streets instead.

There’s a nice iron gate at the entrance and to the right of the gate there’s a big sign naming Elora the most road trippable town in Canada by Chevrolet.

Irvine Creek

While majority of the Elora Gorge is along the Grand River, it does split into the Irvine Creek and this is best accessible from Victoria Park. If you head straight into the park there’s a large metal staircase that you can take down towards the creek. The staircase isn’t too long but it’s a bit steep up on the way up. To get down to the creek from the staircase you do need to navigate over a few rocks. It’s not very difficulty but it’s obviously not accessible and I would recommend proper footwear. You can then walk into the creek or walk along it and enjoy it.

Elora Gorge Lookout

If you stay inside the park and follow the trail to the left and through the trees you’ll come to a small viewing platform over the gorge where you can get some excellent pictures.

David Street Bridge

If you park around Victoria Park and then enter the park and follow the trail to the right that goes along the fence you’ll get some stunning views of the gorge. It’s fairly short, about 5 minutes from where the trail starts to where it ends on David Street West. Make a left once you exit the trail and you’ll be standing on the David Street Bridge and get a pretty amazing view of the Irvine Creek and Elora Gorge Lookout.

Elora Gorge Conservation Area

The Elora Gorge is one of the most visited attractions in the Elora area. The gorge is where the Grand River rapidly flows by 22-metre high cliffs. While you can see the gorge, and even access it from other parts of the town, if you’re looking to tube or kayak the gorge or hike around it you’ll need to head to the Elora Gorge Conservation Area.

The conservation area is open for camping and day use between May 1st and October 15th. Day use is from 8 am t0 9 pm. The day use fee for adults (13-64) is $8.50, for seniors (65+) it’s $6.75, for children (4-12) it’s $3.75 and for those 3 and under it’s free.

Activities in the conservation area include camping, canoeing, fishing, tubing and hiking. The conservation area has a splash pad, a picnic area, washrooms, a concession stand and playgrounds. The website does note that not all facilities may be available at all times. Do note that tubing comes with it’s own fees in addition to the admission fee. There are regulations in place in regards to fishing in the Grand River so do make sure to review that prior to visiting.

There are three kilometers of trails in the area. There are three specific trails (yellow trail, green trail and red trail) you can access but you can walk around and explore as well. There are stairs down to the water and you’ll see lots of people enjoying the water. There’s a couple of cool features on the trails like this massive tree with a lot of exposed roots and what’s referred to as the “hole-in-the-rock” which is a staircase through a rock formation.

Elora Quarry Conservation Area

The Elora Quarry is a large limestone quarry circled by 12 meter high cliff walls on majority of it but a beach opening on the one side which presents it as a perfect swimming hole. The quarry is the main focus of the Elora Quarry Conservation Area but there are also picnic areas and a 1-km loop trail through the forests that sometimes overlooks the grand river.

The quarry conservation area is only open between early June and Labour Day. The conservation area gets quite busy and tickets for admission have to be purchased online and ahead of time. Tickets are sold for either the morning (10 am to 2 pm) or the afternoon (3 pm to 7 pm). Parking permits are sold in addition to the admission tickets. When the area is open during the season you can book the tickets and view the prices here.

Elora Green Space & Tall Man Sculpture

Right in downtown Elora, at the intersection of Mill & Metcalfe, you’ll find the Elora Green Space. It’s a small little area with some Muskoka chairs you can take a break on and some statues you can take look at and photograph. By far the one that stands out the most is the Tall Man Sculpture. The space used to be a gas station but it’s now a pretty spot for the town. On our most recent visit there was a busker performing as well so it was nice to take a minute and just listen to that. There’s seats around the park so it’s a great place to take a break.

Wellington Museum & Archives

Wellington Museum isn’t located in the downtown, walkable portion of Elora and is technically part of Fergus but since most people are driving in from out of town anyways this should definitely be added to your list. It’s down the road from the quarry. There’s a large parking lot next to the museum so you should be okay on getting a spot. The museum operates on donations and technically has free admission but I would recommend giving a few dollars at least to allow them to upkeep the museum.

The Museum is open between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm on Mondays-Fridays and open between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The archives are closed on Sundays.

The museum building itself isn’t giant but you can spend a good hour there looking at the exhibitions. The grounds also have a lot to offer including a playground, a heritage barn, a cemetery that you can do a self-guided tour in and trails like the Elora Cataract Trailway. 

Farmer’s Market

If you happen to be visiting Elora on a Saturday then consider stopping by the Farmer’s market. It’s open between 9:00 and 1 pm every Saturday. Between May and October it takes place at Bissell Park. Between October and December it moves to the Highland Rugby Club in Fergus located at 160 Albert St W, Fergus, ON N1M 2W5. The market has a number of vendors selling everything from fresh produce, locally made products and ready to eat products like baked goods.

Jack R MacDonald Bridge – view of Elora Mill

The Jack R MacDonald Bridge crosses the Grand River between Mill Street West and Carlton Place. The bridge is one of the best places to get a good picture of the Elora Mill and the river. The entrance from Mill Street West is right in the center of town so it’s quite easy to pop over to this bridge and get a great shot of the river and the Mill.

Elora Gorge Falls & Tooth of Time

The Elora Gorge Falls are located right by the Elora Mill. You can see the top of them from the Jack R. Macdonald Bridge but unfortunately it’s much harder to see the actual falls now. They’ve built condos on the one side of the river and the Elora Mill blocks the other side. Online some people are saying you can walk up the hill on Price Street, turn left on Church Street and then you can follow a municipal trail into the woods that would allow you to get a view of the waterfalls.

Tooth of Time is a large slab of rock, with trees growing on it, that splits the waterfall and has somehow not been eroded by the water. It adds a nice feature to the falls if you do get to find a place to view it.

Elora Mill

The Elora Mill Hotel & Spa is set in a 19th century mill along the Grand River and is a perfect spot for some rest and relaxation. If staying at the hotel is a little out of your budget then you can try for a spa reservation or a restaurant booking. The couple of times we’ve visited they were turning away people without reservations so unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any other way to check out the hotel which does make sense in terms of protecting the quiet atmosphere for guests.

Elora Sculpture Project

The Elora Sculpture Project runs from May to October each year and consists of a series of sculptures placed throughout Elora and neighbouring Fergus. There’s 18 pieces total all around the towns. You can see the exact locations here as well as the artist information. If you’re interested in purchasing the pieces you can reach out to the artists directly. The prices are listed on the map as well.

Submissions for the project start in the fall and run until January. The exhibits are announced in May so you can come back every year and get to see different pieces! We had a really fun time walking around randomly coming across the pieces.

Elora Center for Arts

The Elora Center for Arts is open Wednesday-Saturday between 10 am and 4 pm and Sundays between 12 pm and 4 pm. Admission is free but there is a donation box if you wanted to make a contribution. There’s free parking on-site and free street parking around the center. The main gallery offers different exhibitions throughout the year. There’s also an artisan shop where you can buy products from local artists.

The property also has an outdoor project called “The Paths That Connect Us” which is on their 2-acre property and is made up of outdoor art and art installations.

Churches of Elora

There are a number of churches in the Wellington area but while you’re walking around town and exploring you’ll most likely pass by St. Mary’s Church (267 Geddes Street), Knox Presbyterian Church (51 Church Street East), St. John’s Anglican Church (36 Henderson Street) and Hope Springs United Church (75 Geddes Street). Most churches are usually open to visits so take a peek inside if you’re interested but if mass is going on then make sure to be respectful and quiet so it does not disturb services.

Church Street Clock Tower

The Church Street Clock Tower, also called the Elora Clock Tower, is located behind the Mermaid Store and right next to the Hanscomb Glass Studio. It makes for an excellent picture and the ground right next to it has a really nice compass that also makes for some great pictures. There’s pretty bushes all around and it’s arguably one of the prettiest spots in Elora.

The clock itself is a collaboration from multiple artists and if you get the time do take a look at all the details within the clock itself.

The Mermaid in Elora

The Mermaid is an attraction on its own and one of the main reasons it’s not included in the below shopping category is because even if you don’t stop by any other store in town you have to stop by the Mermaid. There are 4 massive rooms filled to the brim with the most unique and fun things you could think to shop for. You could easily spend an hour browsing in the store and you’ll find everything from door knobs to post cards to jewelry and so, so, so much more. Do make sure to check out the side of the store which makes for a great photo opportunity.

The store is located at 105 Metcalfe Street. Their business hours do vary seasonally so make sure to check out their website for the most up to date hours.

Elora Mews

The Elora Mews are located right across from the Jack R. MacDonald Bridge. It’s a stone courtyard that houses a few businesses, a cafe and a restaurant. The courtyard is nicely decorated and stands out because of the stone walls. Definitely a great place to stop by and enjoy the aesthetics and browse around in some shops!

Shopping in Elora

One of my favourite things to do in small towns is to pop into all the specialty stores and browse all the beautiful things they’ve curated. I tend to walk away with a few things from each town too but I look at it as a bonus since I’m supporting local businesses. The below list is by no means an exhaustive list but it’s a few of the stores we really enjoyed in Elora and have gone back to a couple of times.

Terre Bleu is a retail store from the very well known lavender farm. You can no longer visit the farm so the store is your best bet for their products. They have a couple of Instagram spots like the yellow door and a full wall of dried lavender that you can take pictures with. They offer samples of their edible products and the show room has a lot of products on sale.

Hanscomb Glass Studio is located next to the clock tower and is a pretty, yellow house with lots of decor and plants on the outside of it. The inside has a number of products available for purchase and we couldn’t help but to pick up a glass mouse for one of our shelves.

Cordial Cove Books is a used-books store but it’s a really well organized store with thousands of books. It’s housed in a pretty blue building.

Sweet Distractions is a candy store that also sells ice cream. They have unique versions of the regular chocolate bars and candies that are typically just available internationally so it’s worth a visit just for that.

A Natural Home is a home goods store with a lot of small and big pieces for your home. They have an outdoor portion, which you can access through the back of the store, where they display more of their items for sale.

If vintage shopping is your thing then Studio Kampina, Blackbird and the vintage shop within Geddes Street Market are great options.

Jammed Lovely has a really nice collection of gift items and I loved their wall of little plush toys.

Fromagerie Evelyn is a nice little shop with a collection of fine foods. Make sure to check out the Tree of Life mural by artist Paul Morin located right outside of the shop.

Epiphany Apparel is a women’s clothing store. They have a balcony on the back that’s been opened some of the times we’ve visited. It provides a nice view of the river if it’s open.

Places to eat in Elora

The Friendly Society has all you can eat brunches on Sundays and it’s probably my top recommendation for places to eat in Elora. There’s usually a line-up to wait for it so if you know you’re coming ahead of time I would highly recommend a reservation. The dishes are served tapas style and you get to re-order as much as you want within the seating limit. It comes with tea, coffee and juices as well. The restaurant is really nicely decorated as well and we really enjoyed it.

The Wild Tart has two businesses. One is their sit-down restaurant where they serve breakfast, sandwiches and their afternoon tea. The other is their take out café where you can get pastries and drinks. We picked up a strawberry yuzu jam from the latter which I’m super excited to try.

The Elora Distilling Company has a restaurant associated with it and serve food on their Juniper Court Cocktail Patio. The menu had an assortment of sandwiches, flatbreads and easy to eat food. We enjoyed the food but it probably wouldn’t be my go to recommendation if you’re only trying one place in town.

If you’re looking to grab some ice cream you can have your pick from Scoop Ice Cream, Remi’s Place, Sweet Distractions and Sugar Skulls Ice Cream.

Other options that we haven’t had a chance to try yet but come highly recommended are The Badley (a steakhouse), The Evelyn (French-inspired cuisine), Lost & Found Cafe (sandwiches, breakfast, hot drinks), Something Fishee (fish and chips), Bread Trading Co (take-away freshly baked bread), Shepherd’s Pub (typical pub food including wings) and the Elora Mill Restaurant (great views and very upscale). This is by no means an exhaustive list and for being a smaller town Elora has a really decent amount of options to eat at so you should be able to find something you really like.

More things to do in Elora

This list is of course not an exhaustive list of things to do in Elora and I bet locals could chime in on additional things there are to do but I’ve included a few things below that may be of interest if you’re visiting several times and are looking for more things to do. The Gorge Cinema is an option if you’re staying a few days as is taking a class at Elora Pottery.

Trestle Bridge Trail

The Trestle Bridge Trail is a 4 km trail that connects Fergus and Elora. One of the highlights of the trail is the views of the bridge and views from the bridge itself.

Bissel Park

Bissel Park is located along the Grand River. It’s where the farmer’s market takes place in the summer. There’s a waterfall, a boardwalk and some picnic areas for visitors to enjoy. It’s not the largest park but it’s nice for a walk.

Cataract Trail

The Cataract Trail is a 47 km long that runs between Elora and Forks of the Credit. There multiple parking lots so you can access the trail from different portions if you’re aiming to complete the whole thing in different portions.

Water activities

Since Elora has the Grand River running through it, it’s a great destination for some water activities. You can of course go tubing in the Elora Gorge and swimming in the Quarry but you can also have a punt boat ride down the river and rent canoes and kayaks to enjoy the river.

Festivals & Events

The Elora Festival is a 2 week festival that takes place in July celebrating world-class choirs and vocal ensembles. The residence choir, the Elora Singers, perform throughout the 2 weeks but there are also guest choirs and singers. The event has been running for 40+ years. The festival hosts a large book sale in early May to raise funds for the event. If you aren’t able to make it for the festival the Elora Singers also perform throughout the year so you can try catching an individual performance instead.

Elora goes all out for October and celebrates Monster Month the entire month long. The celebrations started with Tim Murton’s Twilight Zoo where he installed lantern sculptures all around the streets of Elora. As they grew more popular, other businesses and organizations started organizing events in October too which led to Monster Month. There’s a number of events throughout the month and it’s a great time to visit the town.

Riverfest Elora is an annual music festival that began in 2009 and was founded by local artist Marilyn Koop. She has passed away since but the event has kept running and has gone from a one night event to a three night event. It takes place in mid-August of each year.

Interested in making it a weekend instead?

I personally think Elora is a super doable day trip and we’ve done it a couple of times now but I get that early mornings and long days are not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re interested in making it a weekend trip then you can split it so you have one day to enjoy the gorge and perhaps try tubing down it or doing one of the longer hikes surrounding it. You can then spend the next day exploring the downtown and taking your time exploring the shops and the cafes.

If you’ve got the funds and interest for it, you can definitely extend the trip with a stay and or treatment at the Elora Mill and Spa which has some stunning views (and is on my bucket list to do!)

If you have additional time you can also pop over to the town of Fergus which is super cute.

Fergus

Fergus is located a short 8 minute drive from Elora which is one of the reasons they’re often combined when discussing things to do in the area.

Fergus has a really nice downtown area you can stroll around with shops and restaurants. I really liked the massive candy store, I love chocolate!, where the selection was great and you had so many options for what to get.

The highlight for us in Fergus was definitely the Templin Gardens and odds are you’ve seen this on Instagram or Tiktok. It’s a beautiful river-side garden with stone steps leading down to the Grand River. The stairs provide a great view of the river and the nearby Milligan Footbridge. Another highlight is the Kissing Stane which is a large stone located at 299 Tower Street North. The legend is that if you steal a kiss while seated on the stone then luck will forever be with you.