Elora is a Township in Ontario located about 30 minutes North of Kitchener. It is a great spot to visit for a day trip, weekend trip, staycation, even for families!
I lived close to Elora in my High School years and spent a lot of time there with my friends, and now it’s a spot I often visit for dates with my husband and day trips with my toddlers! Today I’ll let you in on my favourite spots to visit and my recommendations of what’s worth visiting.
Hiking Trails
Elora is full of hiking gems because of the unique rock formations and waterscapes. Note when hiking here, because of all the rocks sturdy footwear is very important.
Hole in the Wall – 0.8 KM
Located in the Elora Gorge Conservation Area you will find a spot called Hole in the Wall. It is a unique cave that has a staircase running through it that you can walk down into, and once at the bottom you’ll find two other smaller caves to view. I love this location and it is a hit for my toddlers! It’s located less than 1KM from parking lot and is very beautiful. If you walk towards Hole in the Wall and turn right, walk about 0.5 KM and you will also be at the lookout of the Elora Gorge which I recommend adding on to this!
Note: There is a fee to enter Elora Gorge Conservation Area
Bissell Park – 1-3 KM
This is a location I recommend to families with younger kids who are looking to do an easier but still scenic walk. There is a boardwalk that leads you through the woods and to a dam if you walk the whole thing – my kids usually just hang out on the boardwalk!
Rockwood Conservation –
Located within 30 minutes of Elora is Rockwood Conservation area, one of my favourite spots to visit! There are multiple caves here, a man made waterfall, canoe rentals, a beautiful look out, a beach and two hiking trails. It reminds me a bit of Muskoka! I highly recommend every single activity here – hiking, paddling, swimming, camping!
Note: There is a fee to enter Rockwood Conservation Area
Activities
Elora Quarry
Looking for a fun swimming adventure with a sandy beach and a beautiful view with blue water? This is your spot! Elora Quarry is so beautiful, I wish I could visit more often just to soak up the views and good times that happen there. Pictures will speak the most for this place. There are two designated parking lots, and the water is just a short walk from both and there is also a bathroom.
Note: Registration tickets may be purchased up to three (3) days in advance. No walk up sales. For more info, click here
Elora Gorge Tubing
I went here with my husband in 2022 and it is still one of our favourite activities we’ve done together in Ontario. We rented all of our equipment and came for a day trip, but note that there is also the option to camp here! Basically when you start your tubing adventure down the river, the starting point has two options – a small rapid or the calmer water. We opted for the small rapid and did it multiple times before we started our float down the rest of the river. The entire float was about an hour, and you can walk back to the top of the river and do it as many times as you’d like. There were people of all ages tubing around us, so this is definitely an activity for everyone as it’s not too rough of water. I recommend wearing water shoes or sandals that strap on to your feet.
Note: Registration tickets may be purchased up to three (3) days in advance. No walk up sales. For more info, click here
Other Activities…
- Elora Pottery
- River Fest
- The Elora Farmers Market
- Wellington County Museum and Archives
Food
Elora is home to many great restaurants, ice cream shops and cafes. You can’t really go wrong with wherever you decide to get your grub! But here are the places I’ve eaten at:
- Remi’s Place (Ice Cream & Grill)
- Elora Mill (Hotel, Spa & Restaurant)
- Elora Brewing Co (Local Craft Microbrewery)
- Elora Cafe (Coffee & Baked Goods)
Shopping
Elora is just the cutest town ever, it reminds me of Old Quebec City! And one thing that makes it so cute is the local shops there. Here are a few I recommend checking out:
- Mrs.Greenway/One Earth Refillery
- Cordial Clove Books Inc
- Blackbird
- Mermaid in Elora
Worried about finding parking? On weekends you can park at the Wellington County Museum and take the free shuttle between Elora and Fergus!
Now that you’ve seen all that Elora has to offer, are you ready to start planning?! Let me know if you visit here! It’s such a great place to visit.
Until next time,
Happy travels!
Katie 🥾 🌲
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