Fall is the perfect season for road trips, and Lanark County has countless leaf-lined routes to explore. Located only 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa, this beautiful region of eastern Ontario is as vibrant as the fall colours that wind around its delightful small towns. Head out for hikes on peaceful outdoor trails carpeted with crimson maples, shop for antiques, local art and a new fall wardrobe at cozy independent shops, satisfy all your cravings with a fully-loaded culinary scene, all while soaking up small town charm along the way. Hit the road through Lanark County this fall and explore the best of the region with our cool 3-day road trip itinerary.

Day 1

Midday – Hit the Road, Check in

Sneak out of work early, load the car and link up with the Trans-Canada highway, the gateway to your fall road trip adventure through Lanark County.

The Grand Hotel

Arrive in the lovely small town of Carleton Place late afternoon, and check into the Grand Hotel, located in the city’s historic downtown. Built in 1872 the hotel has charm oozing out of its historic brick walls, and with its sophisticated English-style elegance, you’ll feel right at home in one of its 16 cozy rooms equipped with all the amenities.

Afternoon - Shopping and Sightseeing

With the warm afternoon sun still high, take a stroll up the main street in the direction of the Carleton Place Town Hall, but don’t forget your wallet; this small street has some cool spots for shopping along the way.

Coastal

For those looking to update their fall wardrobe, Coastal is the go-to place for cool vintage finds. Find that perfect oversized fall sweater, or a pair of winter boots, and then browse their amazing selection of rustic modern home décor.

The Floral Boutique

For plants lovers, the Floral Boutique is pure heaven, with an incredible and diverse selection of fresh flowers, plants and accessories. Whether you’re looking for exotic succulents, beautiful fall harvest flower arrangements, unique pots, or tasteful home touches, you won’t leave empty handed.

The Granary

Health and wellness afficionados will want to slide into the Granary, home to all things organic and local. Load up on beans from local coffee mainstays like Engine House Coffee and Fluid Coffee Roasters, bars of cocoa goodness from Almonte’s Hummingbird Chocolate, and bee beauty products and candles from Cheeky Bees Candles. Alongside their immense selection of health products, dried fruit, and healthy snacks, you can also grind your own peanut butter or take away kombucha on tap.

Carleton Place Town Hall

Once you reach the north end of Bridge St. you can’t miss the city’s most recognizable building and local landmark, the historic Carleton Place Town Hall. Standing tall over the Mississippi River, this three-storey building made of limestone was completed in 1897, and once housed a fire station, library, police station and even jail cells. Take a walk around the small adjacent courtyard, then cross the bridge for an epic Town Hall pic, complete with perfect mirror-like reflection in the pre-dam river waters.

Dinner – Waterside Eats

Waterfront Gastropub

With your stomach now rumbling, make your way to the popular Waterfront Gastropub. This traditional English pub, housed in a beautiful stone building, has one of the most scenic waterfront patios in the city. Known for their house-made Angus beef burgers, misshapen in the best possible homemade way, they also offer pub mainstays like fish and chips, crispy wings, fresh salads, pastas, tacos and classic sandwiches.

Evening – Fall walks or Music and Malts

Mississippi Riverwalk trail

Once you’re sufficiently stuffed, you have a few options to end the day. While waddling back down Bridge St. and retiring to your comfy bed for the night is a great option, if you’re looking to walk off your meal, take a short drive to the Carleton Place Arena and join the Mississippi Riverwalk trail. This popular trail runs parallel with the Mississippi River and is surrounded by mature hardwood forest; a great place to take in the fall colours. Small offshoot trails will lead you to the banks of the river where you can spot a variety of wildlife enjoying the shoreline.

St. James Gate

If you’re thirsty for another pint, the St. James Gate is a popular local pub with great live music on Friday nights from 7-10pm. Order up a Guinness, a local Lanark Country brew from Perth Breweries, or try a flight to taste them all, while tapping your toes to tunes until slumber calls.

Day 2

Breakfast – Fuel up for a Day of Exploring

Freska Café and Eatery

Start your morning at the go-to brunch spot in Carleton Place, Freska Café and Eatery. Just a short walk from the Grand Hotel, this cozy all-day breakfast spot has everything you need to start the day. Order up your breakfast favourites like eggs benny, fluffy waffles, savoury shakshuka, or an omelet with all the fixings.

Morning – Markets, Hikes and Pakenham Gems

Carleton Place Farmers’ Market

Next stop is the outdoor Carleton Place Farmers’ Market, open on Saturday mornings 8:30am-12:30pm until Thanksgiving weekend. Located across the street from the Grand Hotel, the market is full of amazing local goods like harvest-season fruits and vegetables, tasty baked goods, handmade soaps, along with winter hibernation essentials like pickled vegetables, corn relish, jams, honey, maple syrup and hand-knit socks and mittens. If home décor is your vibe, you’ll want to stock up on locally made beeswax candles, twisty succulents in quirky containers and handmade pottery.

Mill of Kintail Conservation Area

Load your goods into the car, or drop them off in your room, then hit the road for the quick 15-minute drive to the beautiful Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, one of the seven wonders of Lanark County.

Built in 1830 as a gristmill by John Baird, it was bought in 1931 by R. Tait McKenzie who converted it into an idyllic summer home and studio, and renamed it the Mill of Kintail. While the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area is beautiful at any time of year, the forest comes alive in the fall with spectacular oranges and reds framing the historic stone Mill and lining the edges of the Indian River. Choose from six km of trails, stopping for snacks and selfies along the way.

Blakeney Rapids

Next stop, only 10 minutes away, is one of the hidden gems of the region, the Blakeney Rapids. Head out on a series of easy trails winding through the forest over picturesque footbridges crossing over the rushing rapids of the Mississippi River. Lookout points provide a great view of the turbulent rapids up close, with colourful fall leaves gently surfing down the river.

Keepers Coffee

Head back onto the tarmac for the short 10-minute drive north to the adorable Village of Pakenham. While low on population, this tiny town overflows with small town charm. Stop in at Keepers Coffee for a Pakenham fog, cappuccino, or hot apple cider, and peruse their great selection of arts, crafts and home goods from local and regional artists.

1840’s General Store

With coffee in hand, wander a few doors down to a must-stop on any Lanark County road trip - the 1840’s General Store. If you’re lunch ready, their homemade sandwiches are absolutely to die for. Customize your roast beef or ham with fresh toppings, all snuggled between two slices of thick cut bread, fresh-baked only feet away. Pick up a pumpkin, apple or raspberry pie, homemade butter tarts, or maple fudge, and don’t miss their second-floor gift shop filled with fun homeware, apparel, and the quintessential year-round Christmas corner.

St Peter’s Celestine Church and the Five-Span Stone Bridge

With your bounty in hand, check two more wonders of Lanark County off your list; the St. Peter Celestine Church and the impressive Five-Span Stone Bridge. St. Peter Celestine is the only French Classic style church in Lanark County, and if you’re lucky enough to peek inside, you’ll be treated to superb original interior décor intact from 1892. With its discernable five arch design, the architecture of the Five Span Bridge is truly unique; the only bridge of its kind in North America, built by Scottish stone masons in 1903. The small park nearby offers ample parking and is a great place to rest your feet, munch on fudge, or simply enjoy beautiful views of this cool and curvy gem.

Afternoon – Lunch, Shopping and River Strolls

Lunch in Almonte

Known as one of the prettiest towns in Ontario, and the backdrop for many Hallmark Christmas movies, Almonte is especially dazzling in the fall. Pick from one of the many amazing lunch spots in town, including Joe’s Italian Kitchen or Café Postino for authentic rustic Italian, North Market for soups, salads and inventive small plates, the Barley Mow for classic pub fare, or the Sterling for trendy, upscale dining.

Shopping for Treasures

After lunch it’s time to shop! As one of the best small towns for shopping in Ontario, Almonte will keep you and your wallet busy for hours. With numerous vintage, antique and consignment stores, you could spend hours hunting for that perfect retro camera, vintage necklace or slightly rusty (but very cool) antique tin. Other great stores to check out are General Fine Craft for a perfectly curated selection of superb art from local area artists, Tin Barn Market for flawless, country home accessories, and Pokoloko for fun fall fashions.

Almonte Riverwalk

With shopping bags in hand, take a stroll around the well-known Almonte Riverwalk for colourful autumn views. Don’t miss the cascading Grand Falls, and historic heritage buildings including the Amonte Old Town Hall, Post Office, and the Victoria Woolen Mill No.2.

Baker Bob’s

A staple in the Almonte community for over 25 years, Baker Bob’s is a must stop in Almonte. Pick up a fresh baguette, sourdough loaf, or a focaccia square for a late-night snack, or indulge in an array of sweet treats from homemade butter tarts and chewy brownies, to fluffy croissants and savoury pastries. There are large takeout boxes at Baker Bob’s for a reason.

Dinner – Indulge your Inner Foodie

Black Tartan Kitchen

Drive back to your home base in Carleton Place to offload your backseat full of bags, then head out for dinner in town. While Carleton Place may be small, it’s full of culinary gems. One of the most well-known is Black Tartan Kitchen, a fine dining powerhouse catering to those with more refined palettes. Book in advance for their 4 or 7 course tasting menus, and enjoy a meal that pleases both your taste buds and your Instagram feed.

Boulton House

Another great dinner spot in town located right on the Mississippi River is Boulton House. Treat your taste buds to classic elevated cuisine like pan seared scallops with charred corn, the smokin’ Boulton burger, chorizo rigatoni, or a juicy grilled striploin with green peppercorn sauce.

If you don’t feel like changing out of your driving clothes, Carleton Place’s friendly pubs have an equally delicious meal waiting for you in a relaxed casual setting.

Day 3

Breakfast – Lattés and People Watching

Foundry Collective and Coffee Bar

Light and airy, with the perfect combination of trendy and cozy, Foundry Collective and Coffee Bar is your morning stop for breakfast. Sip on a frothy latté while butter melts on your warm herb and cheese biscuit, or order up a breakfast wrap bursting with spinach, cheese, and fresh scrambled eggs. Watch as locals come and go, and remote workers pop out their laptops at the communal table for a quick work session.

Morning – Wool, and Picnic Prep

Olde Towne Bakery

Check out of your room, pack up the car, and cruise to your first stop at Olde Towne Bakery for some homemade sandwiches for your upcoming picnic lunch. Nothing beats the classics like egg salad or ham and Swiss on freshly baked bread, and their sinful treats will fully complete your lunch to go.

Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers & the Real Wool Shop

On your way out of town, make a quick stop at the Real Wool Shop, located beside the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers (the main wool depot and wool grading warehouse for sheep producers in the region). The Real Wool Shop is full of warm weather woollies, from slippers and socks, to fashionable sweaters and winter-ready toques. If it’s a chilly fall day this is the perfect spot to upgrade your outerwear before your upcoming hike. You can also pick up furry sheep skin rugs, wool blankets, as well as wool yarn, roving wool, raw wool scraps, and knitting and crocheting accessories.

Midday – Scenic backroads, Blueberry Mountain, Lunch with a view, and Iconic Cheese

Blueberry Mountain Trail

The drive to the Blueberry Mountain is probably one of the most scenic in Lanark County. Winding roads lined with giant red maples and tall yellow birch will have you in awe as you twist and turn on the backroads leading to the Blueberry Mountain trailhead.

The Blueberry Mountain Trail is a 5km out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 150m (which is primarily in the final ascent). The trail is stunning in the fall, with the dense mature hardwood forest creating a colourful canopy that is truly breathtaking. Along the way you’ll pass by beaver ponds, scenic benches, and interpretive panels teaching you about the flora, fauna and geology of the area. The highlight of the trail is the breathtaking lookout point, overlooking the valley below, ablaze with colour. On a clear day you can even see the Calabogie Peaks Resort in the distance! The Lookout has several levels with scenic benches, the perfect spot for enjoying your well-deserved picnic lunch.

Balderson Village Cheese Store

Your final stop before you rejoin the Trans-Canada highway is one of the most well-known cheese makers in Ontario, Balderson Cheese. Making famous aged cheddars since 1881, the Balderson Village Cheese Store is stocked with not only prize-winning cheeses, but a great selection of road trip snacks, locally made goods, and country home décor. Load up on fresh squeaky cheese curds, handheld cured meats, pickled eggs, beeswax candles, local brews, and freshly scooped ice cream.

Hit the road with treasures in tow, and start planning your next adventure in Lanark County!

The Perfect 3-Day Fall Road Trip Through Lanark County