Norfolk County's main town, with rail trails out to Port Dover and Waterford, a carillon war memorial, a historic arts centre, and conservation land at the ponds and on the Lake Erie bluffs.
14 things to do8 free1 ready-made trip
Photo: Norfolk Soldiers' Memorial Tower, the Carillon, in Simcoe, Ontario, JFVoll, CC BY-SA 4.0
Simcoe sits inland from Lake Erie, about fifteen minutes north of Port Dover, in the heart of Norfolk County. Rail trails leave town in several directions: the Lynn Valley Trail toward the harbour, the Waterford Heritage Trail north toward the ponds, the Norfolk Sunrise Trail through town, and the Delhi Rail Trail west. Downtown parks along the water (Grant Anderson Park, Wellington Park, Clifton Park and Lynnwood Park) give you an easy walk among trees and a small lake, and they are the setting for the Simcoe Christmas Panorama in December.
The Carillon Tower, Norfolk's war memorial, stands in town with twenty-three bells. A short walk away, the county archives occupy an 1845 heritage house, the former Eva Brook Donly Museum, and Lynnwood Arts still works from its historic house on Lynnwood Avenue, with a planned move later in 2026.
Show
Free No charge to enter · Cheap A small entry, permit or parking fee · Paid Tickets, tours or rentals
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Lynn Valley Trail
A rail trail from Simcoe to Port Dover. Official county pages list a downloadable trail map and ask that you use the trail in daylight only, with dogs on leash and no camping, fires or motorized vehicles. An official notice, read on 12 November 2026, said the section between Norfolk Street South and the Rotary Bridge was to close for erosion repairs, with anticipated dates of 29 October–19 November 2026, subject to weather; use the Victoria Street access for the Port Dover direction, and check before you go. Free.
Season An official county notice, read on 12 November 2026, said the section between Norfolk Street South and the Rotary Bridge was to close for erosion repairs, with anticipated dates of 29 October–19 November 2026, subject to weather. Official trail etiquette is daytime use only (check before you go).
A rail trail through Simcoe. Official county pages list a downloadable trail map. Daytime use only; dogs on leash; no camping, fires or motorized vehicles. Free.
Season Official county trail etiquette is daytime use only, with dogs on leash and no camping, fires or motorized vehicles (check before you go).
A rail trail from Simcoe to Waterford and north toward the County of Brant. Official county pages list a downloadable trail map. It is a short way from Waterford North Conservation Area. Daytime use only; dogs on leash; no camping, fires or motorized vehicles. Free.
Season Official county trail etiquette is daytime use only, with dogs on leash and no camping, fires or motorized vehicles (check before you go).
Trails in a conservation area in Simcoe, near the Rotary Bridge and the Lynn Valley Trail. Official county pages list a downloadable trails map. Daytime use only; dogs on leash; no camping, fires or motorized vehicles. Free.
Season Official county trail etiquette is daytime use only, with dogs on leash and no camping, fires or motorized vehicles (check before you go).
Adjoining downtown parks at 50 Bonnie Drive, with Crystal Lake, walking trails, benches, picnic tables and a playground. Official park pages also list nearby Clifton Park, at 243 Norfolk Street North, with trails, a river and the Chapel in the Park, and Lynnwood Park at 57 Argyle Street, with paths and a gazebo. These parks are the setting for the Simcoe Christmas Panorama in December, check the official Panorama site for this year's dates. Free.
Also known as the Waterford Ponds, at 226 Concession 8 Townsend, Waterford, a short drive north of Simcoe. Official pages describe three ponds (Pickerel Lake, Willow Pond and Bass Lake) with paddling, fishing, an unsupervised sandy swimming beach, picnic areas and canoe and kayak rentals in season; visitors may launch their own boat, with a maximum motor size of 9.9 hp. The Waterford Heritage Trail is close by. A day-use pass is required in the official operating season, 1 May–15 October; in the off-season the park is freely accessible from dawn until dusk, unstaffed, and used at your own risk. Check before you go.
Season Official operating season 1 May–15 October; a day-use pass is required in that season. In the off-season the park is freely accessible from dawn until dusk, unstaffed, and used at your own risk. In-season day-use hours for this park were listed as Sunday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and Friday–Sunday 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (check before you go).
A 46-acre conservation area at 3065 Front Road, with views of Lake Erie from the bluffs, picnic pavilions and a campground. Official pages note that it is a convenient base for day trips to Port Dover and Simcoe. A day-use pass is required in the official operating season, 1 May–15 October; in the off-season the park is freely accessible from dawn until dusk, unstaffed, and used at your own risk. Check before you go.
Season Official operating season 1 May–15 October; a day-use pass is required in that season. In the off-season the park is freely accessible from dawn until dusk, unstaffed, and used at your own risk. In-season day-use hours for this park were listed as Sunday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and Friday–Sunday 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (check before you go).
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Carillon Tower
Norfolk's war memorial in Simcoe, a 60-foot tower with twenty-three bells, completed in 1925 as the second carillon in Canada. It was built in honour of the 216 men and one woman from Norfolk who died in the First World War; later plaques also honour those who died in later wars. Free to look at from the grounds.
A compact downtown of shops and old buildings along Norfolk Street and the streets around it, a short walk from the parks and the Carillon. Free to wander.
Norfolk County's public arts centre, in a historic house at 21 Lynnwood Avenue since 1974, with exhibitions, a permanent collection and programs. Official hours were posted as Wednesday–Friday 12 p.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The official about page said the centre is moving in late 2026 to 109 Norfolk Street South, to share the archives building. Check before you go. Free to visit during posted hours.
Season Official hours were posted as Wednesday–Friday 12 p.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at 21 Lynnwood Avenue. The official about page said the centre is moving in late 2026 to 109 Norfolk Street South (check before you go).
The municipal archives, in an 1845 heritage house at 109 Norfolk Street South, the former Eva Brook Donly Museum, one of the oldest residential brick buildings in Simcoe. Admission is by donation. Official hours were listed as Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Saturdays by appointment. Check before you go.
Season Admission is by donation. Official hours were listed as Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Saturdays by appointment (check before you go).
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Paid
Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show
A week-long fall fair and horse show at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds, 172 South Drive, with agriculture, entertainment, competitions and a midway. Official dates for 2026 were 6–12 October. Admission is required; check the official page for tickets and hours before you go.
Season Official dates for 2026 were 6–12 October, at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds, 172 South Drive. Admission is required (check before you go).
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.
Reservation
LPRCA day-use or season pass
A day-use or season pass for Long Point Region Conservation Authority campground parks, including Waterford North and Norfolk Conservation Areas, in the official operating season.
Lynn Valley Trail: An official county notice, read on 12 November 2026, said the section between Norfolk Street South and the Rotary Bridge, near the Brooks Conservation Area trails, was to close for erosion repairs, with an anticipated start of Thursday 29 October and an anticipated end of Thursday 19 November 2026, subject to weather. Trail users heading toward Port Dover were asked to use the Victoria Street access. The southern portion of Memorial Ball Park was also listed as a temporary staging area, though not the ball diamond itself. Check the official notice before you go.
Trails: Official county trail etiquette is daytime use only, dogs on leash, no camping or fires, and no motorized vehicles. Stay on marked routes.
Conservation areas: Long Point Region Conservation Authority listed the operating season for its campground parks, including Waterford North and Norfolk Conservation Areas, as 1 May–15 October. A day-use pass is required in that season; in the off-season the parks are freely accessible from dawn until dusk, unstaffed, and used at your own risk. Check the official passes page before you go.
Simcoe Christmas Panorama: Official tourism lists the lights in December, in the downtown parks around 50 Bonnie Drive. The official Panorama site, read on 12 November 2026, still showed 2023 dates and hours. Check the official visit page for the current dates before you go. Attendance is described as free.
Lynnwood Arts: Official hours were posted as Wednesday–Friday 12 p.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at 21 Lynnwood Avenue. The official about page said the centre is moving in late 2026 to 109 Norfolk Street South, to share the archives building. Check before you go.
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: Norfolk Soldiers' Memorial Tower, the Carillon, in Simcoe, Ontario, JFVoll, CC BY-SA 4.0
