Estimated walking time: 75 minutes
This walking tour has been designed to be as accessible as possible; however, please note that some sections include stairs, uphill paths, and forested areas with exposed roots.
Please also ensure you adhere to the posted signage in the areas you are walking (i.e., park signage, safety signage, etc.).
1. Welcome to our Self-Guided Walking Tour of ‘Ontario’s most beautiful village,’ a title given by Group of Seven artist A.J. Casson. We’ll start the tour at our quaint little tourism office located at 10 East Mill Street. Here, you can browse information on local restaurants and shops, discover upcoming community events and activities, refill your water bottle, and use our accessible, gender-neutral washrooms.
2. The first stop on our walking tour takes us across the bridge to the old Armory Hall where you can find a historical plaque up the stairs by the building entry. Built in 1865, the Armory Hall was originally constructed as a drill shed for training local militia and is believed to be the only surviving drill shed from the 1860s in Canada. Over the years, it became a popular venue for political gatherings, temperance meetings, concerts, theatre performances, and parties. In the 1940s and 50s, it was well-known for its Saturday Night Dances, always featuring a live orchestra. Since 1972, the building has been leased by the LCBO, which remains its purpose today.
3. From the plaque, look across the road and you will see a distinctive sculpture. That is our next stop! Created from salvaged materials from the Badley (Metcalfe Street) steel through truss bridge—originally built in 1952 to replace the Victoria Street Bridge, which we’ll learn more about shortly—this sculpture was designed by Walter Gibson and Jo-Anne Harder. Unveiled in 2021, it stands as a tribute to this long-standing Elora landmark. Beside it, you’ll find the ‘Crossing the Grand’ storyboard, which shares the history of the Grand River and the Badley Bridge.
4. Our next stop is back across the bridge to the beautiful Greenspace. This spot, once the site of a gas station for 80 years, was transformed in 2012 into a welcoming green area for both residents and visitors to enjoy. Here, you’ll find enchanting statues by local artists, which change from time to time as part of the Elora Sculpture Project, and the beloved ‘Tall Man’ sculpture (“A Question of Who’s In Charge” by Scott A. McNichol)—a favorite photo spot. Take a moment to relax in the Adirondack chairs, admire the art and gardens, and soak up a little greenery in the heart of downtown Elora.
5. We continue our walk along West Mill Street toward the Jack R. MacDonald Bridge where you’ll find one of Elora’s most iconic views. Formerly known as the Victoria Street Bridge, the original crossing was built in 1843 out of wood and later rebuilt in 1899 using sturdier stone and steel. For many years, it was the only bridge across the Grand River in Elora’s commercial core. The current pedestrian bridge, constructed in 2019, is supported by the original stone pillars from the 1899 structure. From here, you can take in the picturesque scenery overlooking the river and admire the beautiful limestone architecture that defines the village.
6. Head back along West Mill Street and turn up Price Street toward Victoria Park. As you make your way, catch a glimpse of the iconic Elora mill, which has been standing at the end of West Mill Street since it was rebuilt and enlarged following an 1859 fire that burned down the original one. The original was constructed in 1843 by Charles Allan and sold three years later to J.M. Fraser who operated it as a flour mill and distillery. Continue up to Church Street, where you can enter Victoria Park and explore the Upper Grand Gorge Trail for breathtaking views of the gorge. At the start of the trail, keep an eye out for a front view of the famous "Tooth of Time."
- When the Matthews family settled near the falls, the Tooth of Time had a cedar tree on top. Their son, Anson, chopped it down, possibly preventing the tree’s roots from splitting the Tooth in half. The name “Tooth of Time” was likely given by the Neutrals or Attawandaron Nation, who lived there before fleeing north after being defeated by the Iroquois in 1651.
7. As you follow the trail, take in the incredible views of the gorge’s sheer limestone cliffs. Soon, you’ll arrive at Lover’s Leap—a stunning lookout steeped in history and local legend. From here, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of where the Grand River meets Irvine Creek. (Please note that reaching this lookout involves stairs, so it may not be accessible to all visitors)
- Legend has it that two First Nation lovers were denied marriage because they belonged to the same clan. Rather than face life apart, they chose death together by leaping off the point. The gods, feeling pity for them, changed them into the two rivers so they could embrace each other forever.
8. Just a short walk from Lover’s Leap, you’ll come to the Elora Gorge Stairs leading down into the gorge. From the bottom, you can admire the views from the limestone shore or even wade through the shallow waters for a closer look at the historic David Street Bridge (Please note that access to the gorge requires descending a set of steep stairs and may not be suitable for all visitors). The current bridge, built in 2002, was designed to reflect the iconic style of the 1921 version, which had replaced the original 1885 structure.
- In the early 1800s, residents used the area of Victoria Park to graze cattle and dump garbage, until a fire that lasted a week burned all the vegetation. Later, a park emerged including a plateau of stone above the caves for outdoor dancing and entertainment for locals. Today, the park continues to provide access to the stairs down to the Gorge as well as the Upper Grand Gorge Trail. As in the past, visitors can enjoy a picnic area with the Grand River cascading nearby.
9. After your trek down to the gorge, head back up the stairs and follow the trail until you reach David Street. You can turn left for a quick look at another beautiful view over the gorge, but to continue our walking tour, turn right and make your way to Geddes Street. Stroll down Geddes as it becomes Metcalfe Street, and enjoy the charming shops and restaurants that line Elora’s streets. Be sure to keep an eye out for the beautiful architecture of Elora’s historic buildings, like the Elora Carnegie Library, the Elora Post Office, and the Dalby House.
- Library service in Elora began in 1843, when the Bon Accord settlers shared the few books they had brought with them. But the most significant compilation was the Mechanics Institute Library, with its collection housed in the home of Robert Mitchell starting in 1871. After 45 residents petitioned Council to create a free public library under the Ontario Public Library Act, local architect W. F. Sheppard presented building plans in 1908. The Elora Carnegie Library opened in 1910, funded through the Andrew Carnegie Foundation’s Library Building Grants Program (yes, the Carnegie—of Carnegie Hall in NYC!), and is one of 111 Carnegie libraries built in Ontario between 1901 and 1917.
- The current Elora Post Office—along with its sister building in Fergus, both designed by W.A. Mahoney of Guelph—opened to the public in January 1912, quickly becoming a focal point of the community and contributing to the village’s development. However, postal service in Elora began much earlier, with the first post office officially opening on October 6, 1839, and Andrew Geddes serving as its first postmaster.
- Built in 1865, the Dalby House is a striking example of Regency Commercial architecture and one of Elora’s most prominent historic buildings. Also known as the Gordon Block and later the Iroquois Hotel, this flat-iron building once served as one of Ontario’s oldest hotels. It was the only Elora hotel to survive prohibition after the Canada Temperance Act was enacted in 1916 as a wartime measure, and it remained dry until alcohol was reintroduced in 1934. Located at the corner of Metcalfe and Geddes, it has played many other roles in the community—including as a hardware store, barber shop, law office, and pub.
10. Continue until you arrive back where we started—at the intersection of Mill and Metcalfe! Head down East Mill Street toward Melville Street, where you’ll find the Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA). Built in 1856, this building served as the village girls’ school, with a boys’ school built and added on later. The school closed in 1996 and is now home to the Elora Centre for the Arts, hosting contemporary exhibitions, classes, and events, as well as a garden with local art instillations.
11. Last but not least, our Elora Walking Tour wraps up across the street from the ECFTA in beautiful Bissell Park. Once the site of a large stone complex that housed the Ontario Worsted Company, known for its carpet production, and later the T. E. Bissell Company, a manufacturer of agricultural implements, this area has since been transformed into a sprawling green park. It’s the perfect spot to wrap up your Elora Walk tour before heading to Fergus and Belwood! Enjoy a peaceful stroll along the boardwalk by the river, and don’t miss the pedestrian bridge offering a view of the waterfall created by a dam built by the T. E. Bissell Company in 1909.
Ready to head over to Fergus and Belwood (Fergus self-guided tour coming soon)? Here are 2 stops you may want to check out on your way:
- Elora Quarry Conservation Area
- Limestone is abundant in Elora and lies close to the surface, especially near the rivers. This made it convenient and inexpensive for local masons and contractors in the 19th century to produce their own lime. Over the years, several small quarries operated in the area, and sometime after 1900, a quarry and lime kiln were established at what is now the Elora Quarry. The limestone business collapsed during the Depression, and when the pumps were shut off in 1932, the quarry quickly filled with rainwater, soon becoming a popular swimming spot.
- Note: Open from mid-June to early September (dates may vary), with advance ticket booking required; prices vary by age.
- Wellington County Museum and Archives
- Built in 1877, the Museum has been designated as a National Historic Site in 1995 as the oldest surviving example of a rural House of Industry and Refuge, known as the Poor House. It was a government institution and working farm designed to help provide and care for area residents deemed to have become impoverished through no fault of their own. The building has evolved over the years from the Poor House, to a Long-Term Care Facility to an award-winning Museum and Archives.
- Note: General admission is by donation.
