• THINGS TO DO
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Innisfil & West Gwillimbury Tour

Innisfil and West Gwillimbury are truly blessed with a long Lake Simcoe shoreline, pristine rolling farmland and tiny rural communities. Take a drive and see why so many people love to live, work and play here.

From the east end of Barrie, it is a 15 minute drive to the municipal dock at Big Bay Point. Take Big Bay Point Drive east out of the city. Note the Bee Happy Family Campground on the south side of the road. This is a great place for trailer and RV camping while you are in the area. Make a left turn (north) at Sideroad 25 to stay on Big Bay Point Drive and continue around the big bend to the right until you get to the 30th Sideroad on the edge of the Big Bay Point community. Turn left and take this down to the municipal dock. The view of the lake is gorgeous and there is sunbathing, swimming, scuba diving and fishing off of the dock. Davidson’s is a nice little restaurant with a patio for lunch and dinner on Big Bay Point Drive, just east of the 30th Sideroad.

Continue your tour by returning to Big Bay Point and continuing down Sideroad 25 through the Sandy Cove community to the 10th Line. There is a free municipal beach with parking off to the left at the end of the 10th Line. There is a children’s playground and a little diner with a patio and view of the beach.

There is plenty more, so continue back to the 25th Sideroad and take this south to Innisfil Beach Sideroad, less than 8 minutes away. Take Innisfil Beach Sideroad east through the community of Alcona right down to the water. On the left is the lovely Innisfil Beach Park, complete with fantastic picnic facilities to accommodate everything from quiet lakeside dining to family reunions. Pick up a take out lunch from one of the plentiful family restaurants in Alcona to enjoy here. You can swim from one of two sandy beaches or from little private inlets, just perfect for family groups. There is a lovely view of the lake from every point in the park except from the nature trail that winds through the shady woods in the back. There is a children’s playground and indoor washroom facilities. If this were not enough, there is also a well maintained municipal boat launch with all day parking facilities available for a $15 fee.

From here you have two options to continue on your way. One option is to take Innisfil Beach Road back west out to Yonge Street, also known as County Road 4 (previously Highway 11), for the excitement of stock car races at Sunset Speedway on Saturdays, or take in a leisurely afternoon of trail riding available by appointment at Innisfree Valley Farm. Both locations are on the west side of County Road 11 south of Innisfil Beach Road.

The other option is to continue with your marine drive out of Innisfil Beach Park by going straight out of the park exit onto Lakeland Avenue to get a glimpse of lakeside living in the many fine cottages and homes that line the shore. Keep your eye out for municipally maintained swimming and scenic viewing spots at the end of many municipal roads that end at the beach. Thread your way along the shore on Lakeland Avenue to the end. Turn right at St. John’s Road (just before you go into the water at the end of the road). St. John’s will turn into Maple Street and then turn right at Ewart Street to go through the community of Bel Ewart. A left down Isabella Street in Bel Ewart will take you down to the Lake Simcoe Marina where they have both fishing boats and pontoon boats for rent. The municipality has a free soft bed boat launch here and a government dock with good fishing off the end. Parking, however, is limited unless you are renting from the marina. Return to Ewart Street and continue to Killarney Beach Road in Lefroy and make a left turn here and follow the signs if you want to review the facilities of the marinas, boat launches and restaurants of Lefroy. Otherwise follow the bend to the right (west) onto Killarney Beach Road to commence the Countryside Review portion of our excursion.

Take Killarney Beach Road west to Yonge Street / County Road 4 (previously Highway 11) and turn left (south) at the lights. Stop in Churchill at the Steeples store at the top of the hill to discover the delights of original gifts and interior decorating accessories. Just before Highway 89 on the left is Barkley’s Square for very fine dining. Take a look inside to get a glimpse of just what a great dining experience is available here and keep it in mind for a special evening.

At the corner of Highway 89 and Yonge Street, there is a fresh local Farmer’s Market in the summer. One short block south on Yonge/County Road 11, is the turn for the hamlet of Gilford. Innisfil Indy Kating has a zippy go Kart track just a stone’s throw away and just a bit further east into Gilford is the Cook’s Bay Marina with facilities and launching for both motor and sailboats.

For family swimming, camping and a beautiful network of trails, continue south about 20km on Yonge/County Road 11 past vistas sweeping down through hilltop farms to the lake on the left until you get to Concession Road 9 of West Gwillimbury Township. Turn left (east) down this road to get to the entrance to Scanlon Creek Conservation Area.

Whether you are returning north after your visit to Scanlon Creek, or just want a stunning drive back after the marine portion, turn west off County Road 11, south of Highway 89 at Coulson’s Hill. Portions of this route are on gravel but well maintained roads, so if you have a particularly tender paint job to protect, you might want to take a pass on this leg of the trip. Take a leisurely drive west on the Coulson’s Hill Road(Concession 11 of West Gwillimbury) past beautifully kept farms and lush hillsides. Just before you go over the Highway 400 bridge (no access to Highway 400) there is the Hodgson and Sinclair County Forest which has surrendered itself to the wild joys and abandons of mountain biking. Local clubs maintain the trails and host races every Wednesday. There is plenty of parking across the road at the Bradford-West Gwillimbury municipal building lot. Help yourself to a fantastic mountain bike experience. Continue west on the Coulson’s Hill Road over Highway 400 to the 5th Line north. Turn right and continue for one concession block to the 12th Concession. Turn left (west) up and down this spectacular narrow country road for amazing views from the ancient shoreline of the prehistoric Algonquin Lake across the lake bed valley now hosting lush vegetable farms. Portions of the road are under a lovely leafy canopy where trees completely arch right over the road. The road ends at Highway 27 and there is an incredibly peaceful and loving maintained pioneer cemetery, perched high on top of the hill at the south east corner. Wilson's Hill Pioneer Cemetery is everything you want a tribute to courageous ancestors to be. The beautifully restored old stones rest serenely under the dappled shade of weeping willows and native hardwood trees line the hill leading up to the site. Several benches provide places for rest and reflection.

After restoring yourself at the cemetery, head north on Highway 27 into Cookstown with all of its charming cafes, galleries, antique, decorating and gift shops. Turn east on Highway 89 to head for Highway 400 North for a quick return to the Barrie area – unless you get distracted by the fantastic shopping at the Cookstown Outlet Mall. Note the KOA North Toronto/Cookstown Campground located just east of Highway 400 and north of Highway 89 that has all of the trailer and RV camping facilities that KOA is famous for. The exit off Highway 400 at Innisfil Beach Road provides access to Georgian Downs for exciting standard bred racing, entertainment, dining and slot machines. You can also visit the farmers’ and flea markets 400 Market on weekends, the 32,000 square foot Roadshow Antiques and the home location of Munroe’s Furniture with its wide reputation for fine craftsmanship and unique country decorating ideas.

You can zip back to the Barrie area now via Highway 400 north as you must be completed exhausted by now with your choice of a full day of water activities, hiking, biking, horseback riding, scenic viewing, shopping or any one of numerous racing activities. You have had a full day, enjoy your memories.