Northumberland Attractions
Discover a 2,000-sq-km outdoor playground east of Toronto between Lake Ontario and Rice Lake that’s a big breath of fresh air—with fresh food and drink to match. Northumberland County chefs, bakers, shop owners, performers and artisan makers welcome you to their communities—
Port Hope, Cobourg, Grafton, Colborne, Brighton, and the Trent Hills communities of Campbellford, Hastings and Warkworth, among others—for a taste of incredible Ontario hospitality.
Rice Lake
Part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, a National Historic Site of Canada, Rice Lake is very shallow and approximately 37 kilometers (23 miles) long and 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) across. Tributaries are the Otonabee River and the Indian River; the lake empties into the Trent River near Hastings. There are 27 islands with Grasshopper Island at the east end of the lake offering the public off-grid overnight accommodation and quite a lot of natural, 2 and 4-legged entertainment.
Rice Lake has a great selection of year round recreational activities with a variety of fishing opportunities: boating, paddling, hiking, cycling, bird watching, ice fishing, snow shoeing, and snowmobiling.
Food & Entertainment
From organic produce to eclectic cuisine, Northumberland County has an abundance of local restaurants. Their owners and chefs create delicious, authentic dishes by adding products such as locally-grown produce, maple syrup, honey, cheese and proteins. Looking for a completely unique experience? Make sure you check out our Tasting Packages.
Experience some of Ontario's most unique arts and entertainment activities just east of Toronto. You'll be inspired by the sense of artistic freedom found here. Please check links for individual activities.
Find out what's happening in Northumberland County month by month via the Events Calendar.
Winter Wonderland
Get out for a day of snowshoeing or skiing in the Northumberland County Forest or head out on a winter-friendly trail or enjoy skating on an outdoor rink. If snowmobiling is more your speed, take a trip to Hastings and the surrounding communities of Trent Hills.
You can also take in wonderful winter views with a trip to Campbellford to check out (and walk across, if you dare) the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge. Enjoy the scenic drive through the rolling hills with all your faves – friends, family, and foods like Dooher’s Bakery’s famous doughnuts, fresh cheese curds from Empire Cheese Factory, worth-the-winter-drive butter tarts, and the flavours go on.
Beyond NoCo
Northumberland County is just east of Canada’s biggest city. It’s so close, but with the gentle rolling hills, quaint villages and refreshing culture to set it a world apart.
As Canada’s capital, Ottawa is the perfect place to experience some of the country’s best attractions, celebrations and flavours in one welcoming city, west of NoCo. With its unique blend of urban and rural beauty, year-round outdoor activities, and vibrant neighbourhoods, the Ottawa region is best explored over three days or more.
A striking union of European charm and North American attitude, Montréal seduces visitors with a harmonious pairing of the historic and the new, from exquisite architecture to fine dining.
Pet Adventures
Northumberland has accommodations for you to bring your pet along – and separate boarding opportunities for them, too.
Your pet can have a vacation too. There are some nearby places for your four-pawed kiddies to stay while you take in an attraction or do some shopping in Northumberland County.
Here are a few options to let your pet enjoy a getaway.
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Uberdog Ranch in Baltimore features a cage-free boarding home situated in our rolling hills.
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Tucked Inn Kennels is directly north of Grafton offering premium suites.
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All Pawz Inn, also in Colborne, where your dog has a private suite and community socialization
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Goods Garden Cat Resort in Castleton is just for your feline friends. The owners are a vet and vet technician.