Soaking Up Autumn: Fall Views and Adventure in Haliburton Highlands

We left our home in Northumberland on Saturday morning excited to sneak away; even if it was only for one night, we knew we’d make the most of it. We headed north towards the Haliburton Highlands, taking delight in the winding county roads just as the fall colours were hitting their peak. 

The drive itself always feels like part of the trip, and in mid October the rolling hills are still wrapped in some reds, orange, and gold, the air crisp enough to hint that winter wasn’t far behind.

Our first stop was downtown Haliburton, where I hopped out of the truck and laughed at the sight of deer droppings scattered across the median.

In case you didn’t know… the deer are like squirrels here. You are sure to see young bucks, does and this years fawns wandering all over town, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire from seeing whole families curled up on the lawn of the Tim Hortons.

From there, we wandered through Algonquin Outfitters, picking up a few additions for next year’s camping gear. A few doors down at Up River Trading Co., I got my hands on their new colour-changing Haliburton Highlands foliage mug I’d been eyeing up, and of course a couple of delicious iced coffees from the cafe to keep us moving.

Before checking in, we detoured to Sir Sam’s Ski & Ride. The covered carpet lift carried us slowly up the slope to the Eagle View Observation Tower, where we climbed to the top and stood surrounded by a sea of colour. The view stretched endlessly across Eagle Lake and the surrounding forests, the kind of panorama that makes you pause without meaning to.

By late afternoon, we arrived at Sir Sam’s Inn & Spa, a historic lodge perched on the edge of the lake. A perfect couples getaway. Our room overlooked the water, and the dining room was just a quick walk downstairs… more time for everything else! 

We launched the boat right away, cruising across the calm water and fishing until the sun sank behind the hills, painting the lake in streaks of orange and rose.

Dinner that evening was excellent. Local flavours, attentive service, and a laid-back atmosphere that made the meal feel special without trying too hard. Afterward, we changed into swimsuits and wandered down to the Water Spa, which, to our luck, we had entirely to ourselves.

The water jets hummed, and the air filled with laughter as we floated, relaxed, and pretended there was nowhere else to be. A visit to the sauna and a few quiet minutes lakeside ended the night on the perfect note.

Back down at the dock, we couldn’t resist casting a line or two into the dark. When the stars came out, we decided to build a fire in the communal firepit. With a bit of work after the previous day’s rain, the flames finally caught, and we sat outside for hours, the cool air balanced by the warmth of the fire and that rare sense of complete stillness.

Morning came gently. We slept in, as you do when the bed feels better than your own, then made our way to breakfast, part of the inn’s bed-and-breakfast package. The service was as good as the food, and we tucked away a few muffins from the breakfast buffet to take on the boat.

Out on the lake, the air was cool but the sun made it feel warm enough to stay for hours. The shoreline was a reflection of autumn itself; vibrant, fleeting, and beautiful. We passed the “Lady Hughes”, the inn’s tour boat, quietly gliding along with guests taking in the same view. An entire family of loons swam nearby, calling softly back and forth across the water. They seemed to be doing the same as us, squeezing out the last bit of autumn before flying south.

We wrapped up the trip with massages back at the spa, then one last bit of fishing before packing up. On the drive home, we made a final stop at Skyline Park, which overlooks downtown Haliburton. With coffee in hand, we watched the sun dip below the trees, the town glowing in the last light of the day.

It felt like the perfect ending to a weekend that somehow managed to stretch time; peaceful, unhurried, and full of colour. The kind of trip that makes you start planning your next one before you’ve even left the driveway.