26 Things to Do in Milton: Your 2024 Guide

When I first set out to write about things to do in Milton, I never imagined the list would grow to over 25 items long. The possibilities are endless, including exploring the parks and outdoors, attending Milton Centre for the Arts events, and strolling through the Farmer’s Market. 

To start the list, we’ll look at nine local conservation areas. There is so much to do at each of them, and I felt it was only fair to emphasize what makes them unique in their own right. What I love about the conservation parks is that something is going on for every season Canada offers. To help you decide which park you’d like to visit, I’ve highlighted some of their seasonal activities beneath each one. But really, you can’t go wrong with any of them at any time of year. 

We’ll then explore farms, botanical gardens, escape rooms, paintball, and more! Without further ado, here’s our list of 26 things to do in Milton.

Rattlesnake Point

I love coming to Rattlesnake Point for its magnificent tall trees and breathtaking views. Now, when I say magnificent trees, I mean it. The cedars that line the paths are over 800 years old! The park resides on the escarpment and has many lookout points. Insider tip: keep your eyes peeled for the turkey vultures in the warmer months. 

Rattlesnake also makes a fantastic spot for outdoor rock climbing. I have fond memories, and even a picture of my toothless grin, of climbing the rocks as a little girl with my family. It’s available to all who want the challenge. 

Suppose you are a real hiking enthusiast and don’t mind walking for 4-5 hours. In that case, the Nassagaweya Canyon connects to Crawford Lake Conservation. A word of caution, it has been closed during COVID restrictions, so hopefully, they will reopen it soon.

For those with little ones, even little dogs, the Buffalo Crag Trail, which leads into the Nassagaweya Canyon Trail, has two paralleled paths. The first path goes along the edge of the rock wall for those who want the view. The second path avoids the rock edge and is better for strollers or those who aren’t there for the heights. 

Beyond hiking, you can also use one of their campsites available all year round. Camping at Rattlesnake offers the perfect weekend of adventure. Hike, climb the cliff face, then relax with hotdogs and smores around the campfire. 

If you still want more to do in the summer, why not add some outdoor yoga to your list? As a yogi, it’s a fun way to shake up your routine. If you are around for the autumn, you can’t get any better than the spectacular hues of the changing leaves. Rattlesnake is filled with golden yellow, vibrant red, and rusty orange-coloured leaves. 

Hilton Falls

Hilton Falls is one of the more popular parks to visit with the family. The paths are pretty even, and the biggest attraction is the waterfall at the Old Mill Ruins. They have small campfires set up just outside the falls. If you are craving some fireside hotdogs, you’re in luck!

While many will head straight to the stunning waterfall, you can also hike to the Hilton Falls Reservoir. It’s a great spot for another picnic and some peace and quiet. There are a few different trails to choose from, including XC mountain bike trails. 

If you’re here in the winter, you may enjoy doing some cross-country skiing. The chickadees still come out in winter, and the falls freeze over. It’s an incredible sight to see!

Crawford Lake

Crawford Lake is another excellent spot for families, offering an educational visit for young and old alike. Its boardwalk makes it stroller-accessible and allows for the preservation of the wetlands below. But what possibly makes this park so unique is its meromictic lake.

A meromictic lake is a body of water with layers of water that do not mix, so often, the bottom of the lake lacks oxygen. This type of lake allows for the accurate dating of sediment cores. Archaeologists say, “it’s like taking a photograph of Earth every year for a thousand years.” 

Recently, I witnessed some scientists taking a piece of the sedimentary core to confirm a new episode in the world’s geological time scale known as the Anthropocene. How cool is that?

Beyond this unique lake, there is the educational 15th-century Iroquoian village. Almost every local child has taken a field trip here during their elementary years. The village was discovered during excavations conducted on the land to reveal 11 longhouses and over 10,000 artifacts that showed the daily lives of the Iroquois. 

Three longhouses have been reconstructed to allow visitors to wander through and feel the history come alive right before their eyes. Crawford Lake also has programs such as Longhouse Lore, where they give fire-starting demonstrations. 

If you are visiting in the spring, you won’t want to miss maple season and all the delicious treats and activities they offer. Crawford Lake, specifically, demonstrates maple sugar making as it was done by the First Nations people many years ago. 

If you decide to visit in the winter, you can cross-country ski and snowshoe on the Pine Ridge Trail. They even have moonlight-guided snowshoe hikes if you prefer a romantic starry night. Whatever you choose, be sure to warm up by the campfire afterwards.

Mountsberg

Mountsberg is the perfect family day outing. The kids can release some energy along the trails and then visit the animals and Raptor Centre before heading home for the day. 

Just as Crawford Lake has its maple season in the spring, so does Mountsberg. During Maple Town season, families can learn how to tap sap and then boil it down to delicious maple syrup! They offer wagon rides along the Sugar Bush Trail and make sure everyone’s tummies are satisfied with their yummy pancakes and maple syrup. 

Know someone who is an avid bird watcher? Then be sure to check out the Lakeshore Lookout Trail, where you are sure to spot lots of local feathered friends. The Raptor Centre is a great educational spot to learn about some amazing creatures and how they came to live there. 

Mountsberg may also be most well-known for its winter entertainment, from its Christmas Town encounter to its Winterlit Trail experience. For Christmas Town, children get the chance to visit Santa and Mrs Claus in their woodland hideaway. 

Expect cookies, scavenger hunts, pictures, and Santa himself! Everyone is brought to this secret and magical hideaway with horse-drawn wagons and enjoys some delicious hot chocolate by an outdoor fire before heading home with a lingering magical glow of the twinkling overhead lights. 

Kelso

Kelso is the Milton attraction for those looking for physical activities and who want to go beyond a typical hike. The summit is the perfect spot for mountain bike lovers who want to test their skills along its labyrinth of trails.

Come summer, the reservoir is open below for beach lazing and splashing around in the water. Kayak, paddleboard, and paddleboat rentals are also available. 

Work up an appetite on one of its challenge courses: The Escarpment Walk, a balance challenge involving ropes, or The Vulture’s View Climbing Tower. Afterwards, walk the reservoir’s boardwalk, with picnic tables scattered around. It’s the perfect place for a family lunch. 

During the warmer months, Kelso also offers Family Outdoor Movie Nights, followed by sleeping under the stars at one of their campsites. Or maybe you prefer to relax with some Yoga in the Park. Whatever you choose, their summer activity list is fully packed. 

If you are a lover of the autumn season, then Kelso may be one of the perfect parks to visit during their Fall into Nature Festival. Thanks to their chair lift, you get splendid views of the changing fall foliage.

They also love to celebrate the fall with their Hops and Harvest Festival, with plenty of local craft beers, food vendors, and artisans to experience. It’s also worth noting that this is a family event, so children are welcome to attend. 

Glen Eden

Glen Eden is Kelso Conservation Park turned ski hill come wintertime. Though smaller than Blue Mountain, you can’t beat having 13 ski runs and 70m of vertical drop only a 10-minute drive from downtown Milton. Tubing is also available for those not wanting to ski or snowboard.

Mount Nemo

Mount Nemo is another great park to visit if you can’t get enough of the stunning views or giant ancient cedars. If you attend in the spring or summer, you’ll enjoy a lovely view at Brock Harris Lookout to spot one of the turkey vultures flying high. 

It’s also worth noting that you can rock climb at Mount Nemo. You may find that it isn’t as busy as its sister park, Rattlesnake Point. I love this park because the trails are kid and pet-friendly, so it’s a great visit for the whole family. 

Robert Edmondson

Robert Edmondson is the smallest park listed so far, but it’s the perfect quiet spot to get away from it all. You’ll love the lush marigolds that pop up everywhere along the 2-kilometre hike in the spring. Afterwards, pause by the reservoir and enjoy a serene canoe ride. 

And if you love to fish, then this is the perfect spot for you; in the summer, they have a Fishing Derby! Finish your trip with a picnic lunch by the reservoir. It’s the ideal spot for a quiet getaway and to fully immerse yourself in all that nature offers. The best part, no reservation is required!

Area 8

Area 8 is the newest park to join the Halton Conservation family. It’s so new that it has yet to be named! It took more than 20 years of restoration work to get this former quarry open to the public. Visits are currently limited, but they sometimes open up for the weekend and yoga in the park during summer.

Mill Pond

Possibly one of the most recognizable areas of all of Milton, Mill Pond is a 2.9-kilometre loop that is the perfect place to go for a short 30-minute walk with kids or pets. Enjoy resting at the gazebo and feeding the ducks. It’s also an ideal spot for fishing or for taking beautiful photos. 

Springridge Farm

Springridge Farm is open in the spring and summer every year. It’s fun for the whole family with loads of delicious treats, a new and improved giant sandbox, and farm animals. 

Kids will love their fun spiderweb climber, farmyard tube slides, and a giant hill climb to see the fantastic escarpment views. Be sure to stop at their barn market for exclusive artisan finds and delectable farm-fresh treats. 

Chudleigh’s

Chudleigh’s is an entertainment farm that is also only open during the warmer months. If you are craving some of their tasty treats during the colder months, check out Blossom Café, located in downtown Milton.

You can play on their slides at the farm, walk a nature trail, or feed some of their friendly farm animals. Enjoy one of their summer night music festivals or food events in the warmer months. I highly recommend their fire-roasted local corn on the cob. 

If you want to get the best of what they offer, visit them during the fall for their apple picking. And be sure to stop off in their store for some great souvenirs and mouth-watering signature build a blossom, not to be missed. 

Lochland Botanicals

Lochland Botanicals is a family-owned farm and the perfect place to pick herbs and flowers. They also have wagon ride tours, a build-a-bouquet workshop, secret villages to explore, and demonstrations in their oil distillery. 

Their botanical farm is a great place to enjoy the buzzing of bees and flutters of butterflies as they make their way through the rows of flowers and herbs. It’s an educational experience, too, as many plants have signage to elaborate on their medicinal uses. 

They also have a shop where you can load up on various essential oils, farm-sourced honey, homemade teas, and more. You can also enjoy one of their workshops to learn how to make tea and tinctures. There are also several pop-up events, such as yoga. 

Aspire Rock Climbing

For the times when outdoor rock climbing isn’t available, Aspire answers the call. They have over 11,000 square feet of climbing walls, 16 feet of bouldering walls, and 24 feet of auto-belay walls. 

They are the first climbing gym in Canada to feature a ninja warrior course! Kids of all ages love this course – trust me!

Milton Centre for the Arts

Also known as FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton, the Milton Centre for Arts is where you want to be to feed your artistic soul. It offers gallery exhibitions, shows, and events, including art programs and workshops. Its programs are for children and adults and are run by skilled instructors. 

It has Milton in Focus, an art scavenger hunt that encourages locals and visitors to learn more about the Milton community and the art they can find around it.

Milton Public Libraries

Milton Public Library – Main Branch

Milton Public Library – Sherwood Branch

Milton Public Library – Beaty Branch

Milton has three public library locations: Main, Sherwood, and Beaty. Each place provides a wide array of reading material and community with its assortment of programs. Any Milton parent will tell you how grateful they are for the summer programs it has to offer to keep their children occupied. 

The libraries welcome long-time residents and newcomers with endless possibilities for those days when you don’t know what to do.

Milton Community Centres

Milton Sports Centre

Milton Leisure Centre

We are a town that loves to keep busy! You can find any number of locals at any one of our community centres, including the Milton Sports Centre and the Milton Leisure Centre. Swim, skate, practice Zumba, and more!

Milton Farmer’s Market

While the Farmer’s Market location may have changed throughout the pandemic, the Milton community has worked hard to keep it alive. It is open Saturday mornings from May to October. It’s an outdoor event in the warmer months while the Winter Market finds a home inside. The location sometimes changes, so check online before you go!

At the market, you can enjoy freshly picked fruits and vegetables, baked goodies, ethnic and specialty foods, and possibly mine and my kids’ favourite, popcorn. But you will also find anything and everything from specialty crafted local cheeses to hot sauces and Kombucha. It is run by the Milton Chamber of Commerce and is free to attend. 

Halton County Radial Railway 

The Halton Country Radial Railway is the perfect place to visit if you have an inspiring engineer in your family or someone who loves to hear about local history. The HCRR is a full-size operating electric railway and museum formed in 1954. It was started by a group of men who wanted to save the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcar 1326 from being sent to the scrap yard. 

But the rescuing didn’t stop there, and soon other radial and streetcars joined the museum. It operates on two kilometres of track along a scenic path and is operated by the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association (OERHA), a non-profit educational organization. 

The HCRR celebrated 60 years of being in operation in 2014 and is proudly supported by its numerous volunteers. It provides a great family outing and an educational experience for all who want to know more about Radial Railway. 

Orange Snail Brewers

Our local craft brewery provides the community residents with its blissfully ignorant ales. It has four regulars, Iron Pig Pale Ale, Rattle’ N’ Nemo Amber Ale, 16 Jasper IPA, and Milton Strong Backstretch Cream Ale. There are also seasonal and special rotations. 

Orange Snail Brewers has found a way to be there for its community, including offering up their Tap Room to local mom groups as a place to hang out. They also provide delicious beers to local events and donate 5% of their profits to charities. They offer a chill atmosphere and friendly service to all who want to quench their thirst. 

Mattamy National Cycling Centre

Otherwise known as the velodrome to locals, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre is a track cycling facility built for the 2015 Pan American Games. It is a great space to explore when the weather is not cooperating outside, and you need to get the energy out of your children. 

The velodrome is of course perfect for track cycling. It is also home to a community recreation space where visitors are free to partake in cardio or strength training classes, group fitness, or walk around the 300-meter walking/jogging track. It also offers three courts to play volleyball, badminton, or basketball. 

Milton Fall Fair

Every year I look forward to the Milton Fall Fair, for what better way to feel like you are part of a community than to attend the fall fair? The tradition goes back to 1853 and has since expanded beyond educating children about agriculture to include a wide array of fun activities. 

Organized and run by the Halton Agriculture Society, its activities include:

• Contests
• Face painting
• Rides
• Food vendors
• Animals to pet
• Horses to watch
• Tractor races to cheer on
• Music to listen to
• Fun to be had by all

It’s an annual event you don’t want to miss. 

Mission Possible Escape Rooms

I love escape rooms; they offer a different experience where you put your brainpower to the test. Milton’s Mission Possible Escape Rooms let you pick the difficulty level, so they are the perfect entertainment for the whole family. 

Select from three different rooms and take one hour to plan your escape. After solving the puzzles, treat yourself to a delicious feast for a job well done. They share space with Champs restaurant and bar. 

Ultimate Paint Ball

If attacking your friends with paintballs is more your thing, might I suggest Ultimate Paint Ball? Giving people an excuse to chase each other around since 1984, our location is the biggest in Southern Ontario at over 85 acres! 

You can book a private event or drop in for one of their public bookings. With over 12 fields from which to challenge friends or family, gather up the troops and get ready to have an adrenalized time. 

Royal Ontario Golf Club

Because sometimes you want to swing the clubs and not have to have a membership, the Royal Ontario Golf Club offers both options. Built on the former home of an equestrian centre, you’ll enjoy the nine large ponds, uneven grounds, and surrounding trees for a picturesque and challenging round of golf with friends or family. 

Toronto Premium Outlets

Technically these outlets are not in Milton, but they aren’t quite in Toronto either. Still, they are called Toronto Premium Outlets. I figured I could include them here since they are a 10-minute drive outside of Milton. 

I like coming here when I want to go shopping but don’t want to be stuck indoors and want to find some great deals all at the same time. They offer a variety of stores, from posh clothing stores to housewares and beauty and cosmetics. If shopping is your favourite pastime, then be sure to add the outlets to your list. 

Further Reading

For more activities in Milton, check out our other articles:

• 4 Best Swimming Lessons In Milton
• 2 Dog Parks in Milton
• 10 Best Golf Courses in Milton
• 9 Places for Strawberry Picking in and around Milton
• 13 Places for Apple Picking in and around Milton
• 14 Splash Pads in Milton
• Milton Farmers’ Market
• Milton’s Hops And Harvest Festival
• 13 Best Campgrounds near Milton
• Milton Fall Fair
• 12 Hiking Trails Near Milton