The Ultimate Fall Waterfall Drive Through South Grey, Ontario!!!

The best fall waterfall drive in South Grey, Ontario links four stops: Hoggs Falls and Eugenia Falls near Flesherton, the Old Baldy Lookout near Kimberley, and McGowan Falls in Durham. It's about an hour of driving without stops, or a half-day trip once you add the short walks to each waterfall and the climb to the lookout. Late September through mid-October is peak fall colour.

South Grey — the municipalities of Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, West Grey, and Southgate — sits along the Niagara Escarpment, which means fall here comes in two forms: waterfalls tucked into the Beaver Valley and Boyne River, and wide lookouts hundreds of feet above them. This route links three of the region's best-known falls with its most photographed viewpoint, all without leaving South Grey.

Why This Is South Grey's Best Fall Drive?

  • Start: Flesherton

  • Stop 1: Hoggs Falls

  • Stop 2: Eugenia Falls Conservation Area

  • Stop 3: Old Baldy Lookout, near Kimberley

  • Stop 4: McGowan Falls, Durham (West Grey)

  • Total driving time: approx. 1 hour without stops; allow 3–4 hours with stops

  • Best time to go: late September to mid-October for peak colour; weekday mornings for the quietest lookouts

The Route at a Glance

Begin in Flesherton, long known as a hub for arts, culture, and food in southern Grey County. It's a compact, walkable village, which makes it an easy warm-up stop — grab a coffee before heading just outside town to Hoggs Falls on Lower Valley Road. Fed by the Boyne River near where it joins the Beaver River, this seven-metre waterfall is a short, easy walk from the parking area and often called one of Grey County's best-kept secrets — a rope at the falls lets sure-footed visitors climb down to the pool below.

Stop 1: Start in Flesherton, Then Hoggs Falls

Downtown Flesherton, Ontario, a walkable village in South Grey

Hoggs Falls near Flesherton
More Info Click: Hoggs Falls

A short drive from Hoggs Falls brings you to Eugenia Falls, where the Beaver River drops roughly 30 metres over the edge of the escarpment into the gorge below. A well-maintained trail and lookout platform put you right at the brink of the falls, and the surrounding forest is one of the more reliable spots in the region for dependable fall colour, since the gorge holds a mix of maple, birch, and beech. Allow 20–30 minutes for the short walk in and out.

Stop 2: Eugenia Falls Conservation Area

Eugenia Falls dropping into the gorge, Grey Highlands, Ontario

From Eugenia, wind up toward Kimberley and the Old Baldy Lookout, one of the most photographed viewpoints on the Niagara Escarpment in Grey County. A moderate climb on the Bruce Trail leads to an open bluff with a sweeping view over the Beaver Valley — in October, a patchwork of red, orange, and gold stretching to the valley floor. This is the stop worth timing for golden hour if your schedule allows it; the low afternoon light does the colour a real favour.

Stop 3: Old Baldy Lookout, Near Kimberley

Hikers at the Old Baldy Lookout viewpoint overlooking Beaver Valley

The loop finishes in Durham, in West Grey, at McGowan Falls inside the Durham Conservation Area. Named for an early miller who used the Saugeen River's waterpower at this site, the falls are more gradual than Hoggs or Eugenia, set among cedars, with an easy, wheelchair-accessible path from the parking area — a gentle way to end the day, with a popular swimming spot below the falls in warmer weather and downtown Durham's shops and heritage boardwalk just a short walk away.

Stop 4: Finish at McGowan Falls, Durham

McGowan Falls in the Durham Conservation Area, West Grey, Ontario

Planning Tips

  • Fuel up before you start — services thin out between villages.

  • Wear real footwear for Hoggs Falls, Eugenia Falls, and Old Baldy; all three involve uneven trail surfaces, and the rope descent at Hoggs Falls is optional.

  • Cell service is inconsistent along parts of the route — download directions in advance.

  • Weekday mornings mean quieter lookouts and easier parking, especially at Old Baldy during peak colour weekends.

  • Downtown Markdale is currently under construction — best to skip it as a stop for now and route around it if you're driving through.

  • Check exploresouthgrey.ca's events calendar before you go — this route often overlaps with seasonal markets and studio tours worth timing your trip around.

  • Late September through mid-October is typically peak fall colour in South Grey, with the escarpment lookouts like Old Baldy often holding colour a little later than the valley floor.

  • The driving itself takes about an hour without stopping. Most visitors spend 3 to 4 hours total once you add the short walks to Hoggs Falls, Eugenia Falls, and McGowan Falls, plus the climb to Old Baldy Lookout.

  • The trail to Old Baldy Lookout is a moderate climb, suitable for most visitors with reasonable fitness, but it does involve uneven terrain and some elevation gain — sturdy footwear is recommended.

  • Flesherton and McGowan Falls (accessed via an easy, wheelchair-friendly path in the Durham Conservation Area) are the most family-friendly stops. Hoggs Falls and Eugenia Falls involve short but uneven trails, and the optional rope descent at Hoggs Falls is best left to older kids and adults. Old Baldy Lookout is the most physically demanding stop.

  • Hoggs Falls and McGowan Falls both have popular swimming spots in warmer weather — bring water shoes, as the rocks can be sharp. Eugenia Falls is a lookout and viewing area rather than a swimming spot.

  • This route stays within South Grey, passing through Grey Highlands (Flesherton, Hoggs Falls, Eugenia Falls, Kimberley) and West Grey (Durham).