Lilac Tour

Season: End of May, beginning of June.
Length of this tour: Approx. 1 hr 45 minutes.
Tidbit of trivia: The early pioneers planted a lilac outside their front door for good luck.

Download the free map that accompanies this text or call 1-866-401-3278.

Exit Hwy 401 at County Rd 45 (exit 474) and south towards Cobourg to the second set of lights (Dairy Queen on left), then turn left on Elgin. Follow this road approx. 3 km to a fork in the road taking you past a long fenceful of lilacs. Keep left at the fork which is Greer. Right turn on Danforth then left turn on Nagle which will lead you over Hwy 401. Once you reach a couple of bends in the road, keep an eye out for the masses of hillside lilacs on both sides of the road under a hydro line. This is a spectacular display of white and purple lilacs. Proceed to Van Luven Road and turn left past the Baltimore firehall and then right onto County Road 45 proceeding north through the hamlet of Baltimore watching for Harwood Road on your left.

Head along Harwood Road north (take a picnic break at the Ball's Mill Conservation area immediately on your right up the hill) past County Rd 9 and proceed a little further to Corkery Rd on your right. At Rice Lake Scenic Road (County Road 18) turn right and then another right at Lilac Valley Road which will take you south to County Rd 9. Left on 9 to Beagle Club Road which will take you back to County Rd 45. Right on 45 to County Rd 22 and take 22 to South Burns Road and turn right. Left on Boomerang to County Rd 23 and a short jog down on your right is Pipeline Road on your left. Another great spot to view the lilacs.

Right on Broomfield Road takes you down to Shelter Valley Road which is a lovely drive south to County Rd 2. Turn left on 2 to Wicklow Beach Road on your right and this road turns into Lakeport Road along Lake Ontario for more lilacs. Lakeport to Ontario St. brings you into Colborne, which at this point, you can follow the signs back up to Hwy 401 or travel east or west on County Rd 2.