Nestled on the shores of Colpoy’s Bay, the town of Wiarton stands between towering Niagara Escarpment cliffs and shimmering blue waters. With an eclectic and adorable downtown,visitors to Wiarton will find everything they need for the perfect vacation. Whether you’re using Wiarton as your basecamp, or staying for the week, you can shop, dine, hike, swim, stay and play right here.
The town is home to Canada’s most famous prognosticating rodent, Wiarton Willie. On February 2 every year, this rare albino groundhog emerges from his den to forecast either an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter. Legend has it that if Willie sees his shadow, 6 more weeks of winter await. If he doesn’t see his shadow, an early spring is on tap. If you’re lucky enough to be in Wiarton on February 2 or the weekend closest, be sure to head to Bluewater Park for the Wiarton WIllie Festival. The rest of the year, you can visit his den in Bluewater Park to try and catch a glimpse of this famous rodent or stop by the Wiarton Willie statue for a great photo op.
Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, The Bruce Trail passes right through the town of Wiarton. You can pick up the trail just past Bluewater Park and take it all the way to the Spirit Rock Conservation area and north to Tobermory ultimately. For those looking for an interesting loop and a historic site to explore, pay for parking at Spirit Rock and McNeill’s Estate and take the spiral staircase down the escarpment’s edge to the shoreline.
Right on Highway 6, the main thoroughfare for the town, downtown Wiarton is home to some great little shops and restaurants. Whether you want to stop at Lloyd’s Smoke Shop and Pool Hall for their homemade ice cream, grab a meal at the Green Door Cafe, visit Dejong Acres storefront for market goods and takeout goodies, shop for upscale fashions at Josie’s of Wiarton or hit the weekly Farmer’s Market on Friday’s from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May to October, downtown Wiarton has it all.
With 10 hectares of waterfront land to explore, Bluewater Park is a must-see when visiting Wiarton. Camp right on the waterfront, walk the trails and then cool off in the splash pad, the bay or the town pool. The nearby Wiarton Marina is set against the stunning cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. Visit Wiarton Willie at his year-round home in the park too.
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