There are so many great things to do when visiting the Elora Gorge. Located along the banks of the Grand River by the cute town of Elora. Is the famous Elora Gorge. Formed from glacial meltwaters from the last ice age. The Grand River in this section has beautiful Limestone Cliffs up to 22 meters high surrounding the river valley below.
Gaining tons of fame over the past few years. This little town offers tons of great things to do, and beautiful nature to explore all while whisking you away to a small European town. It’s not hard to understand why Elora has become such a tourist destination. Especially with the city of completion of the Elora Mill, this little town is a must-visit. Here are our top things to do when visiting the Elora Gorge.
Top things to do when visiting the Elora Gorge:
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Downtown Elora
No visit to Elora is complete without walking around its historical downtown, truly a magical experience. Built right up to the water’s edge, this small town transports you to a small European town. There are tons of great shops and cafes.
We recommend grabbing a cone at Sweet Distractions and walking across the new Jack R MacDonald pedestrian bridge. There’s even a great brewery, that has tons of great brews.
Elora Mill
With a history dating back to 1859, this mill has served as a gristmill, sawmill, wool factory, inn and granary. In 2010 the Elora Mill was purchased by Pearle Hospitality of the Ancaster and Cambridge Mill.
Pearle Hospitality restored the mill building upon its century-and-a-half-old foundation and stone walls while complimenting and paying homage to its heritage structure. The newly renovated mill now acts as a world-class inn and spa, providing guests with an amazing view of the river and gorge below.
Victoria Park
Located just beyond the mill is Victoria Park. Not looking like from the street, this park actually has the Irvine River Gorge Staircase that allows you to descend into the Irvine Creek Gorge.
Walk along the creek bed to get great views of the historic David Street Bridge. Walking in the other direction leads to where Irvine Creek meets the Grand River. Here you will find the Lovers Leap. Further up the Grand closer to the town, you can even get glimpses of the Tooth of time.
Ziplining
Also located in Victoria Park one of the top things to do when visiting the Elora Gorge is to take a zipline across it. The 200-foot zipline is one of the best ways to take in the breathtaking views of the Limestone Cliffs, lush greenery and river below. Definitely, a unique way to take in the Gorge.
Bissell Park
Located just outside of the main downtown area is Bissell Park. This riverside park is a great place to check out the river.
There’s a beautiful boardwalk along the water’s edge and a pedestrian bridge that passes over the waterfall. The park also hosts a Farmers’ Market on Saturdays during the summer. As well as the annual Riverfest festival, which hosts great music talents such as The D’Arcys, K-OS and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Elora Gorge Conservation Area
Elora Gorge Conservation Area is located just south of the town. The conservation area has tons of great trails that walk along the Grand River Valley. The trails walk along some of the 22-meter high cliffs, that you can enjoy safely.
The park also has camping and picnic facilities, as well as a pool and splash pad. Also, one of the biggest attractions to the Elora Gorge Conservation Area is tubing!
Tubing at Elora Gorge
Yes, Elora Gorge Conservation Area allows you to bring or rent an inner tube and go tubing down the Grand River. There are a few rules and a small fee. All riders must wear a life jacket and an approved helmet. Only approved innertubes are allowed, no inflatables.
The small fee covers a shuttle bus that takes you from the end of the river, back to the top. If you plan on tubing, we recommend bringing your own life jacket, tube and helmet. The line to rent is quite long and they run out of inventory fast.
Rafting
As well as tubing down the Grand River, you can also take a 20′ Mahogany punt (Similar to a gondola) around as well. You can either elect to man your own boat or do it Venice style and have a guided paddle you around the river and show you the sights.
There are also Riverbug rafts that let you shuttle around the water as you descend through white water and down 5 waterfalls.
Elora Quarry
One of the biggest draws to Elora is the Elora Quarry. Once a limestone quarry, the hole has since been filled with water and become a popular swimming hole.
The massive 12m cliffs surrounding this swimming hole provide a gorgeous background for those swimming there. Elora quarry was featured in the movie IT. Where the main characters jump off the large cliff. Do be warned, jumping off the cliffs is forbidden and can get you kicked out.
There is a short hike around to the quarry to take in the epic views. Do be sure to come early though, as the quarry reaches capacity quickly.
Biking
Elora is also a popular destination for biking. Starting at Elora the Elora Cataract Rail Trailway stretches 47 km to the tiny village of Cataract. This trail, is built on a historic railway line joining the Credit and Grand Rivers. Along the way, the trail passes through the historic community of Fergus and over the Grand River.
Fergus
Relegating Elora’s sister city, Fergus just to a thing to see in Elora is such a disservice. Fergus is a beautiful town on its own, there are so many great restaurants and beautiful parks that lie along the Grand River.
Especially the Templin Gardens which is a popular launch point for kayakers that are looking to test their skills on the white water of the grand. Less than 10 minutes away from Elora, Fergus is definitely worth checking out if you’re visiting.
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