Things To Do in Haliburton: Top 10 Activities

Things to do in Haliburton range from incredible scenic hikes to lakeside sunsets. If you’re not familiar with it, Haliburton County is a laid-back cottage area in central Ontario. It is located about 200km from Toronto and makes for a great weekend trip from the city. Check out this guide for the top 10 things to do in Haliburton. Other helpful information in this article includes:

• Recommendations on where to stay in Haliburton (best cottages and hotels).
• A word on safety in Ontario cottage country. 
• Activities you may enjoy near Haliburton (especially as a solo traveler)
• Helpful resources for planning your trip.
• Items you may wish to add to your cottage packing list.
• Top FAQs answered about visiting Haliburton.

Head Lake is close by the heart of Haliburton County. Head Lake Park is surrounded by the lake and a great spot to catch sunset. Nest yourself on the dock and bask in the sun. There are also picnic tables nearby where you can enjoy a meal from local restaurants across the street as you watch the sunset.

The Wolf Centre located in the Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve is a a pretty unique spot where you can see a pack of local wolves. They are seen through a large indoor observatory area via a one way glass. Also the Wolf Centre has many exhibits you can check out. (If you are looking for a winter activity, this is area is great for dog sledding).

The Haliburton Highlands Brewery is a local micro-brewery where you can stop off to sample some beer. The brewery is known for their award winning Honey Brown Ale but there are a few others on tap. The brewery has a great outdoor patio area and of course beer can be purchased to-go from their bottle shop.

Haliburton Skyline Park is a great place to catch some scenic views of the county. The park has easy trails and an incredible lookout area. This park is especially worthwhile to see in the autumns when the leaves have changed colors.

Read more: 8 Best Wineries in Niagara on the Lake

• Soyer’s Lake Haliburton Cottage With A Fantastic View
• Bonnie View Inn
• GetAways at Haliburton Heights
• Sir Sam’s Inn & Spa
• Waterfront Cottage 

Canopy Tours at Haliburton Forest & Wild Reserve are a pretty neat activity if those up for an adventure. The tour is done among the treetops where you are about 10-20 metres from the ground. It may seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s not so scary (at least from my memory!). Plus the canopy boardwalk here is the longest of its kind!

Haliburton has a handful of public beaches, but do keep in mind these are not your traditional larges beaches. The areas in Haliburton are more park-like (think small with patches of sand and a swimmable lake). They’re great spots to chill by the water with a picnic. Some popular beaches include Eagle Lake Beach and Bissett Beach.

If you’re looking to explore the wilderness on horseback, then head over to South Algonquin Trails. They are located by Algonquin Park and offer pony rides and horseback riding for all levels. They even have the option of an overnight adventure of three day trip.

Highland Street is one of the main streets in Haliburton. If you’re staying long-term at a cottage, this is the spot to pick up groceries and alcohol (the Foodland and LCBO are by each other). The street also has an array of restaurants (many have patios) which are great for the summer. A local favorite for fish and chips in Baked and Battered. They have a few outdoor seats or you can cross the street and chill by Lake Head Park with your meal.

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The Country Baked is a local bakery that I highly recommend stopping at while in Haliburton. (I think we stopped there three times during my last trip!). Everything is delicious, especially their croissants, banana bread, and scones.

If you are in Haliburton for long-term, then definitely add a day trip (or longer) to Algonquin Provincial Park. The drive is about 1.5 hours from downtown Haliburton. Truthfully, it deserves a trip of its own as the park is massive, but if time is limited, a day trip will work well if you pick a small area of the park to explore.

You may also be interested in: Driving from Jasper to Banff in One Week

Canada is a relatively safe country, including cottage country in Ontario. Be mindful of driving, especially in the dark as many areas may have limited street lights and the odd wildlife (read: deer and coyote). And in all my posts I do mention travel insurance in case something goes wrong, especially if you are traveling from outside Canada. If applicable to you, check with your employee benefits to see if you are covered. Otherwise, I like World Nomads as it’s quite reputable and provides 24-hour assistance.

What is your favorite thing to do in Haliburton? Share in the comments!
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[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h4″ question-0=”How far is Haliburton from Toronto?” answer-0=”Haliburton to Toronto is about 170km. It is approximately a 2.5 hour drive.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h4″ question-1=”What is Haliburton Ontario known for?” answer-1=”Haliburton is known to be one of Ontario’s cottage country areas, known for its scenery especially in autumn.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h4″ question-2=”Where can you swim in Haliburton?” answer-2=”Yes you can swim at many of the local beaches in Haliburton.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h4″ question-3=”What is the biggest lake in Haliburton?” answer-3=”Kawagama Lake.” image-3=”” headline-4=”h4″ question-4=”How far is Haliburton to Algonquin Provincial Park?” answer-4=”The drive from Downtown Haliburton to Algonquin Provincial Park is 1.5 hours.” image-4=”” count=”5″ html=”true” css_class=””]