Lilac Tour

Season: End of May, beginning of June.
Length of this tour: Approx. 2hours.
Tidbit of trivia: There are no native lilac species in North America.  The familiar common lilac was first brought here by early European immigrants and planted outside their front door for good luck. 

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

Exit Highway 401 at #461 Port Hope and continue south to your second left which is Jocelyn St.  Beyond Trefuss St. make a left on Victoria Street north heading out of Port Hope.  Just beyond Hwy 401, watch for lilacs on your left.

Proceed north (Victoria becomes Cranberry) and at Dale Rd #74 continue north on Sylvan Glen Rd.  Right turn on 4th Line.  As you approach County Rd 28, watch on your left hand side for a small hill leading up to a gate with a stop sign.  This is where the Ganaraska Hiking Trail heads north along an abandoned rail line.  It's a nice flat 10 minute walk to a picturesque stream.  Give it a try!

At County Rd 28 make a left turn for a short journey north to the sign "Bethel Grove to 5th Line" and turn right. There are lovely lilacs at this corner.  Continue east on Bethel Grove and make a right turn southbound on Jibb Road which turns into Willilamson Rd.  Watch for lilacs on both sides of the road.  South on Williamson to Dale Road and then go across Dale to Danforth Rd West and about 4km along you'll come to County Rd 45.  Turn right and head into Cobourg, over Hwy 401 and your third set of lights will be Elgin Street (Dairy Queen on left). 

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. A real treat that you might want to consider is an overnight stay in an 8,000 square foot mansion (open April - October) located right on Corkery Road.  You can have your very own indoor pool just steps outside of your bedroom door.

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.