South Grey County

Spectacular vistas. Dramatic cliff faces. A world renowned fossil locality. Hidden waterfalls.

These are just a few of the highlights to be explored along the Niagara Escarpment in southern Grey County.

The area also offers outstanding recreational opportunities and some of the most beautiful rural scenery in Canada.

Southern Grey County is well known for winter sports such as cross-country and alpine skiing. Blue Mountain and its neighbouring ski resorts along the Escarpment -- Osler Bluff, Craigleith, Alpine and Georgian Peaks -- attract thousands of skiers each year. With a vertical drop of 244 metres, these hills offer the best alpine skiing in Ontario.

The Escarpment trends northward for most of its march through central Ontario. When it reaches southern Grey County, it suddenly cuts back to the south, forming the wide, U-shaped Beaver Valley. This is one of the most scenic sections of the Escarpment. From several vantage points along the cliffs that rim the valley, hikers can view the swampy lowlands of the river and the apple orchards and farms laid out in a patchwork of greens and browns on its broad, fertile banks.

The Beaver Valley has a unique microclimate which makes it particularly suitable for growing apples. Grey County grows more apples than any other county in Ontario.

Apple blossoms in spring. Hiking, biking and swimming in the summer. Magnificent fall colours and the apple harvest in autumn, great skiing in winter.

Any time of the year is a good time to visit this enchanting section of Ontario's Niagara Escarpment.