Whether you're planning a weekend getaway, a scenic day trip, or simply looking for a new place to explore in Ontario, Uxbridge offers something for every kind of visitor. From beautiful trails and local shops to working artist studios, seasonal festivals, and great places to eat, this charming Durham Region community is well worth adding to your list. Here's how to make the most of your visit throughout the year.
Why Visit Uxbridge?
It's easy to see why so many people return to Uxbridge again and again.
Located less than an hour from Toronto, Uxbridge offers the perfect mix of outdoor adventure, small-town charm, local culture, and welcoming hospitality. You can spend the morning hiking through forests, enjoy lunch at a local café, browse independent shops, meet talented artists, and finish the day taking in the beautiful countryside, all without feeling rushed.
Known as the Trail Capital of Canada, Uxbridge has earned a reputation for its incredible outdoor spaces. But while the trails are certainly a highlight, they're only one part of what makes this community such a memorable destination.
Whether you're visiting for the first time or planning another trip, you'll find there's always something new to discover.
Explore the Trail Capital of Canada
One of the biggest draws to Uxbridge is its extensive trail network, with hundreds of kilometres of trails winding through forests, wetlands, rolling hills, and picturesque countryside. No matter the season, the landscape offers something different to experience.
Spring brings fresh greenery and blooming wildflowers, summer is perfect for hiking and cycling beneath a canopy of trees, autumn transforms the area with spectacular fall colours, and winter welcomes snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Whether you're looking for a leisurely stroll or a full day outdoors, there's a trail to match your pace.
Before your visit, take a look at the local trail maps to find routes that suit your interests and available time. Many visitors combine a morning on the trails with an afternoon exploring downtown or visiting local attractions, making for an easy and rewarding day trip.
Experience Uxbridge's Creative Side
Creativity is woven into everyday life in Uxbridge. Throughout the township you'll find artists creating paintings, pottery, sculpture, woodworking, jewellery, photography, glass art, textiles, and more. Many of these artists work in studios tucked along scenic country roads, making the journey just as enjoyable as the destination.
The best time to experience this creative community is during the Uxbridge Studio Tour, one of Ontario's longest-running self-guided studio tours.
Rather than viewing artwork inside a traditional gallery, visitors are welcomed into the artists' own studios to see where inspiration comes to life. It's a chance to meet the artists, learn about their creative process, ask questions, and discover original artwork in the spaces where it was made.
The Studio Tour takes place during one of Uxbridge's most beautiful seasons. September brings vibrant fall colours and Trailicious, a month-long celebration of local food, farms, breweries, cideries, and outdoor experiences. Together, they create the perfect excuse to spend a weekend exploring the community at a relaxed pace.
Even if you've attended the Studio Tour before, every year brings new artwork, fresh perspectives, and opportunities to discover artists you may not have visited previously.
Slow Down & Explore Downtown Uxbridge
Part of Uxbridge's appeal is its welcoming downtown, where locally owned businesses invite visitors to slow down and explore.
Spend some time browsing independent boutiques, specialty shops, bookstores, and galleries before stopping for coffee or lunch at one of the area's cafés or restaurants. It's the kind of place where conversations are unhurried, shop owners know their customers, and it's easy to stumble upon something you weren't expecting to find.
Downtown also makes the perfect starting point for a day of exploring. Grab a coffee, map out your adventure, and then head into the surrounding countryside to discover everything else Uxbridge has to offer.
Enjoy Local Food Along the Way
A great day trip deserves great food, and Uxbridge doesn't disappoint.
Whether you're looking for a cozy café to start your morning, a local cidery for lunch, or a bakery to satisfy your sweet tooth, you'll find plenty of welcoming places to refuel between adventures. Many businesses proudly showcase local ingredients, giving visitors another way to experience the region.
If you're visiting during the warmer months, make time for the Uxbridge Farmers' Market. Held throughout the outdoor season, the market brings together local farmers, food producers, artisans, bakers, and makers in a lively community setting. Throughout the year it also hosts themed celebrations like the Strawberry Festival, Garlic Festival, and Pumpkin Festival, making every visit a little different.
It's an excellent place to pick up local treats, chat with vendors, and experience the welcoming spirit that makes Uxbridge such a memorable destination.
Take the Scenic Route
Sometimes the drive becomes one of the highlights of the day.
The roads surrounding Uxbridge wind through rolling farmland, forests, conservation areas, and quiet rural landscapes that showcase Ontario's natural beauty in every season. Whether you're visiting during spring blossoms, the lush greenery of summer, vibrant autumn colours, or a peaceful winter snowfall, the scenery encourages you to slow down and enjoy the journey.
If you're visiting during the Studio Tour, those scenic drives become part of the experience as you travel between artist studios hidden throughout the countryside. Along the way, you'll pass historic barns, picturesque fields, and landscapes that have inspired local artists for generations. Using the Tourkea! app helps to make the route planning easy.
Visit During One of Uxbridge's Signature Events
One of the best reasons to visit Uxbridge more than once is that every season offers something new.
Spring welcomes the Springtide Music Festival, when live performances fill venues throughout downtown and the community comes alive with music and creativity. As the weather warms, the Uxbridge Farmers' Market becomes a popular weekend destination, bringing together local food, artisan vendors, live entertainment, and seasonal celebrations.
As summer gives way to fall, Uxbridge truly shines. Trailicious celebrates the area's incredible food, farms, breweries, cideries, and outdoor experiences, encouraging visitors to discover local flavours while exploring the region's famous trail network. Around the same time, the Uxbridge Studio Tour invites visitors to travel scenic country roads while exploring working artist studios throughout the township, creating one of Ontario's most unique cultural experiences.
Depending on when you visit, you may also discover community festivals, holiday celebrations, theatre performances, guided hikes, or other local events that showcase the welcoming spirit of Uxbridge.
Turn Your Day Trip into a Weekend
While Uxbridge is an easy day trip from much of the Greater Toronto Area, many visitors quickly realize there's more than enough to enjoy over an entire weekend.
Spend one day exploring the trails, browsing downtown shops, and enjoying a leisurely lunch. The next day, visit artist studios, discover hidden gems throughout the countryside, or plan your visit around one of the community's signature events. With so much to experience at a relaxed pace, extending your stay lets you appreciate everything the area has to offer without feeling rushed.
Many visitors return several times throughout the year because each season offers a completely different experience.
Planning Your Visit to the Uxbridge Studio Tour
If you're planning to attend the Uxbridge Studio Tour, a little preparation will help you make the most of your visit.
Start by browsing the participating artist profiles, then check out the Studio Tour map, download the Tourkea! app or grab a brouchure to plan your route before you arrive. This will help you identify studios you'd especially like to visit while allowing enough flexibility to discover new favourites along the way.
Wear comfortable footwear, allow yourself plenty of time between studio stops, and don't feel pressured to see everything in one day. Some of the most memorable moments happen when you stop at a studio that wasn't originally part of your plan or spend a little extra time talking with an artist about their work.
The Studio Tour is designed to be enjoyed at a relaxed pace, giving you plenty of opportunities to appreciate both the art and the beautiful countryside that connects each location.
Discover Why People Keep Coming Back
One of the best things about Uxbridge is that no two visits are exactly alike.
You might come for the Studio Tour and discover a favourite hiking trail. You might stop for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring downtown boutiques. Or you may arrive for a scenic drive and find yourself planning your next visit around a local festival or seasonal event.
It's this combination of nature, creativity, food, and community that keeps people coming back year after year. Rather than focusing on a single attraction, Uxbridge offers an experience that invites you to slow down, explore a little further, and enjoy every part of the journey.
