A.J. Casson, one of the famous Group of Seven painters once called Elora “Ontario’s most beautiful village.” And there’s a good reason for it. Perched high on the edge of a spectacular gorge and nestled along the banks of the Grand & Irvine River lies this enchanting town of Elora, Ontario. There are so many amazing things to see and do in Elora, so we thought we’d put together a guide for the ultimate weekend getaway or a day trip. As a photographer, I’ve always been attracted to Elora for its sheer charm and beauty. It’s a perfect combination for those looking for outdoor activities as well as those who just want a leisurely stroll through a pretty town with its beautiful one-of-a-kind local shops and eateries. There are fascinating walks all around the gorge and village starting and ending at the Elora Mill and the pedestrian bridge. So here are our favorite spots to hit while visiting Elora Village.
What to see outdoors in Elora
Elora Mill
When you first drive into town, you can’t miss the beautiful Elora Mill. Once a grist mill back in the early 1800s, it’s now a newly renovated and stunning hotel, spa, and restaurant on the edge of the Grand River. Its one of few early Ontario grist mills still in existence. The Elora Mill straddles the Tooth of Time waterfall on the Grand River and is spectacular for photographic opportunities. This photo was taken with my EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/16 with an ISO setting of 125; shutter speed of 1/100 sec.
Elora Bridges
Elora’s reconstructed walking bridge to the centre of historic downtown Elora’s Mill Street provides some beautiful views to both sides of the river. The old Bradley Bridge has just been replaced by a new concrete bridge, but the views are still spectacular on both sides of the bridge. To the west the bridge offers views of the backdrop of homes and historic shops that line of the river, with the newly renovated Elora Mill Hotel and Spa. And to the east you view the pretty homes that line the shore with swans that make their home there. This photo was taken with my EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/16 with an ISO setting of 125; shutter speed of 1/50 sec.
Elora Downtown Shops
When you are visiting Elora Mill you must explore the town and walk along the river banks. Lots to see and photograph. This photo was taken with my 70-200mm lens; in AV mode; at f/16 with an ISO setting of 500; shutter speed of 1/60 sec.
Bissell Park
Take a short walk-up East Mill St. and you end up in Bissell Park. Bissell Park is a beautiful stretch of park along the Grand River in Elora. The swans on the water were a nice attraction to photograph, as well as the pedestrian bridge. There is a little waterfall, a boardwalk, and a lot of room for having a nice picnic. There is a farmers’ market close by that usual runs on Saturday. This photo was taken with my 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/16 with an ISO setting of 320; shutter speed of 1/30 sec.
Historic Dalby House
After visiting Bissell Park, you can walk up Metcalfe St. as you head towards Victoria Park. This street would be considered downtown Elora. There are many shops, eateries and galleries along the way, but I particularly like the unique flat-iron building in downtown Elora at 143 Metcalfe St. This 3-storey flat iron shaped office building was meticulously converted in 2009 from the historic Dalby House. The Dalby House was built around 1862 to be a 3-storey hotel, also known in the past as Gordon Block or The Iroquois Hotel. As one of the oldest hotels in the province and the oldest hotel in the county, it has an interesting history. Robert Dalby became a hotel owner in 1862 and undertook a stagecoach line that ran from Guelph to the doorstep of his hotel which served them cold beers on arrival. This photo was taken with my handy Canon Powershot SD600 that I keep in the car for emergency photos. Setting was f/3.5 with an ISO setting of 82; shutter speed of 1/1000 sec.
The Old McLean House
Walking down Henderson St. takes you past some historic buildings. The Old McLean House is located at 17 Henderson Street and is significant for its association with Reverend John MacGregor, the Headmaster of the Elora Grammar School, from 1853 to 1871. McLean sisters, for whom the home is named, owned the house until it was sold in 1975. There are other homes and a church worth looking at as well. This photo was taken with my handy Canon Powershot SD600. Setting was f/2.8 with an ISO setting of 107; shutter speed of 1/60 sec.
Elora’s Victoria Park Lookout
The Elora Gorge is one of the most beautiful and spectacular natural area in the Grand River valley. The cliffs are 72 feet high in some places and the Grand River rushes right through the middle of the cliffs. Victoria Park and the lookout over the gorge are free things to do in Elora, Ontario. It’s a public park in the middle of downtown Elora and you can park your car for free on the street there. As you head into the park, start on the left side with the “Tooth of Time” waterfalls, then head along the gorge to “Lover’s Leap”. Great views and photo opportunities are had from both locations. This photo was taken with my 16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 with an ISO setting of 1000; shutter speed of 1/40 sec.
“Tooth of Time” Waterfalls
There is much history attached to the iconic “Tooth of Time” rock. Elora almost lost this rock in the early 20th century. The entire riverside wall of the Elora mill had fallen into the river and the riverbed between the north shore and the islet rock was completely filled with rubble. In 1927 the “Islet Rock” was secured with a steel rail at the point and the rock was faced with cement, with the hope that it would last forever in the middle of the Grand River. This is the starting point of the famous “Elora Gorge”. You get a great view of the falls and “Tooth of Time” from Victoria Park. This photo was taken with my 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/16 with an ISO setting of 125; shutter speed of 1/20 sec.
The David Street Bridge
At the end of the Elora’s Victoria Park, you can go down the stairs to get to the river bed. You can get some beautiful photos of the river with David Street bridge in the background. The David Street Bridge in Elora has spectacular views on either side and is beautiful as photographed from the river. This historic bridge was first built in 1868, and reconstructed in 2002, with the original pier still remaining. It is one of the most popular views in the Elora Gorge and one of the most photographed from the river below. This photo was taken with my
24-105mm lens; in Manual mode; at f/11 with an ISO setting of 100; shutter speed of 6 sec; camera in tripod using a 10-stop neutral density filter.
Lover’s Leap Trail – Elora
It is called Lover’s Leap to commemorate a legendary Indian princess, who is said to have leapt to her death here after her beloved had been killed in battle. Lover’s leap has a great overlook over the Grand River Gorge and the Irvine Gorge, all seen from Victoria Park above or down along the river bed. There are some very small caves that can be explored on the far side of this gorge. This view of Lover’s Leap was taken off the Wellington Rd 7 bridge. This photo was taken with my 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/13 with an ISO setting of 100; shutter speed of 1/50 sec.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this wonderful place and will pay it a visit when travelling in Ontario, Canada.
Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy.
I hope you find these tips useful and welcome you to visit my website for more informative information – www.photographyadventures.ca
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Dulis is an award-winning photographer & large format-printing executive having worked with Canon Canada for the last 14 years. “I’ve had the chance to meet & work with some incredible people in the industry. Photography isn’t just about making photographs; it’s about choosing a life of curiosity, exploration, and wonder, immersing yourself in the world around you. Follow us on our adventures and grab your FREE e-book today – “5 Truly Amazing Places to Visit Before it’s too late!
