Free
Jones Falls and Pottawatomi
A waterfall and footbridge in the Pottawatomi Conservation Area.
Grey County, Ontario
Owen Sound
A harbour city at the foot of Georgian Bay ringed by waterfalls, with an art gallery for Tom Thomson, a big farmers' market and a history as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Photo: Owen Sound harbour by the grain elevator, Hannah Clover, CC BY 4.0
Owen Sound sits at the head of a long bay on Georgian Bay, with the Niagara Escarpment rising on both sides. Rivers tumbling over the escarpment make waterfalls in and around the city. Go waterfall hunting.
Painter Tom Thomson grew up nearby, and the city's art gallery carries his name. Owen Sound was also a northern terminus of the Underground Railroad, remembered by the Black History Cairn in Harrison Park.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Weaver's Creek Falls
A small waterfall reached by a short trail near Harrison Park.
Free
Harrison Park
A big riverside park with trails, gardens and a swimming pool.
Cheap
Inglis Falls
An 18-metre waterfall on the Sydenham River just south of the city.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Black History Cairn
A memorial in Harrison Park to the people who escaped slavery on the Underground Railroad.
Free
Owen Sound harbour
The working harbour and grain elevators, with a walkway along the river.
Cheap
Tom Thomson Art Gallery
Paintings by Tom Thomson and changing Canadian art shows.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Owen Sound Farmers' Market
A long-running Saturday market downtown.
Paid
Summerfolk Music Festival
A folk music festival at Kelso Beach every August.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Harbour and Sydenham River paddle
Guided kayak and canoe tours from the harbour up the Sydenham River to the Mill Dam, or a full day to Harrison Park.
Kayak and SUP rentals on the harbour
Short kayak and paddleboard rentals from Owen Sound Harbour into the River District.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Grey Roots Museum Tickets
Part of our Georgian Bay guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The Saturday farmers' market is a good reason to stay over.
- Waterfalls in the morning, the harbour in the evening.
- The Bruce Peninsula is an easy day trip north.
Nearby and worth the drive
Sauble Beachabout 35 min · Guide ↗
Lake Huron's long sandy beach.
Collingwoodabout 60 min · Guide ↗Blue Mountain and the Georgian Trail.
Ready-made trips with Owen Sound
Good to know
- Tourism: owensoundtourism.ca.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Owen Sound harbour by the grain elevator, Hannah Clover, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Inglis Falls, Owen Sound, Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jones Falls, Owen Sound, Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Harrison Park in Owen Sound, Richard Eriksson from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Hibou Conservation Area in Owen Sound, jockrutherford from Owen Sound, ON, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Owen Sound harbour, Whpq, CC BY-SA 4.0