Caledon, ON
We spent Thanksgiving Weekend in Caledon with my partner James and his dog Kona. Read on for the best dog-friendly spots for glamping, hiking and a well-deserved beer!
Day 1 Our accommodation for the long weekend was Alabaster Acres, whom really do put the “glam” in glamping! We were greeted by Antonia and diaper-wearing pet pygmy goat Maggie, who the dogs were really fascinated by and would no doubt have chased if they have been allowed off leash! We were led down the winding, fairy-lit path to the Platinum Hideout, an oasis nestled amongst the trees. At this time of year, the area was covered by a carpet of crimson, tangerine and amber leaves.
The tent was unexpectedly spacious, with a king size bed, woodburning stove, coffee machine and couch. Facilities included a private kitchen with BBQ, trough tub and outdoor shower. There was a firepit and hammock outside but it was getting a little too cold for us to use them. We received a hand-delivered continental breakfast each morning featuring a selection of baked goods, fruit and yoghurt, and a surplus of firewood.
The dogs were most welcome and we were provided with a stake and long line to allow them more roaming space. I recommend including some time in your schedule to simply enjoy the space; there is a library area with books and games to enjoy, and WiFi is available if you wish to cosy up with a movie. The location is most convenient too – we didn’t have to travel longer than 20 minutes to each of the following locales.
On Friday evening, we visited Spirit Tree Estate Cidery. This environmentally friendly family-run business welcomes dogs everywhere apart from inside the farm shop. Visitors can avail of apple-picking in the orchards, or savour the cider to the backdrop of live music every weekend, as we did (on this day, Mark Yan & Barry Mulcahy were performing). We each got a tasting flight and were able to purchase our favourites to take home. The seasonal Pumpkin Spice was mine! James opted for a wood-fired pizza and I had the flavoursome Three Sisters in the Woods salad. There was a chill in the air, so be sure to wrap up warm if you visit during the Fall!
Day 2 Saturday morning took us to Terra Cotta Conservation Area, our first hike amongst the beautiful Fall colours. We took the 2km Terra Cotta Lane trail, which ran past Wolf Lake and along a wide forest trail. We added on the Wetlands Trail at the end, a short boardwalk loop through a restored biodiverse area, home to native plants and animals. There are information boards describing the conservation efforts in the park.
Our next stop was Heatherlea Farm Shoppe for a bite to eat. They offer black Angus beef from their own cows and sell local produce and homewares. James tried a steak sandwich while I got Acorn Squash soup – both were delicious! They are also licensed so have beer and wine on offer. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating area.
Reservations are necessary for The Cheltenham Badlands. These are timed slots and a warden was checking tickets upon entering; it was fully booked this weekend! Our ticket included our entry into Terra Cotta, and also to Island lake which we didn’t get to. The Badlands have recently reopened, after being closed due to erosion and mismanagement concerns. There is a now a short but pleasurable boardwalk from which to enjoy the spectacular scenery, composed of exposed red Queenston Shale. The grey-green streaks are caused by groundwater circulating through openings in the shale, which creates an acidic environment, thereby changing the colour of the red iron oxide. Take some time to pause and absorb the striking landscape.
Not far away is Badlands Brewing Co., with live music by Mark Thackway inside their beer tent. Again, dogs are very welcome and both pups received lots of attention from fellow visitors. The Badlands Kitchen food truck provided burgers and fries and there were also caps and T-shirts for sale. This felt like a homey place to spend an afternoon!
Day 3 Our biggest hike of the weekend was at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. I have a Ontario Parks pass but was still required to prebook on such a popular weekend. We took the Meadow Trail past Kettle Lake, until we reached the intersection with the Bruce Trail. Here, we took the steep descent until we met the Dominion Trail (where there are washrooms) and followed it to the Cataract Falls. There is currently maintenance work happening and so the viewing platform is closed, but you can still get a good enough view. Usually this trail loops back round until you re-join the Meadow Trail, but due to this closure we went back the way we came, hiking 6km in total. The dogs really enjoyed themselves and we passed some picturesque trees. There are lots of climbs and rough ground on this trail so come prepared!
The breweries steadily got better as the weekend went on, and the cheerful GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co. solidified this. There were dogs galore, and we even entered their “Good Pup” competition to be included in the 2023 “Pups at GoodLot” calendar! The live music was courtesy of Mattie Leon, and we simply had to stay for the entire 3 hour set. We refuelled with poutine from the Good Spot Food Truck and, not being a big beer drinker, I sincerely appreciated GoodLot’s botanical sparkling water. There is lots to do, including cornhole, a disc golf course and browsing the immense variety of merchandise on sale.
Day 4 After bidding farewell to our glamping site, we headed to Belfountain Conservation Area. Again, reservations were required. This was a small park with a total of 2km of trails. However, it is by far the most quaint, with historical features like the Yellowstone Cave, “Belle” fountain and a cannon from the war of 1812. With restorations just completed this year, the boardwalks, bridges, paths and trails are very user-friendly, so you can’t really get lost! We did all the trails and even followed the Trimble Side Trail out of the park and onto the Willoughby Property, which is open to the public during daylight hours.
After your visit, it’s worth heading round the corner in Belfountain Village. Be sure to check out lifestyle boutique Noinkees. The owner Mimi is super friendly and, being a dog-lover, allows pups in-store. I treated myself to a high-quality coat by a Danish designer. Then we popped next door to Higher Ground Cafe, where I got a matcha latte and homemade butter tart. They even sold dog biscuits from The Barkery, which you can feed to your pup on the outdoor patio. Rita was lucky – I bought her a poo emoji one!
We entered the “Fall for Caledon” competition, organised by Visit Caledon, with this photo. It summed up our weekend perfectly.
