Halloween, Saturday, October 31 · Ontario's Highway 7

Take the slow road.

270 kilometres of small towns, Shield lakes, and chip trucks. The field guide to everything worth stopping for on Highway 7, kept fresh every week by people who actually drive it.

This weekend

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Happy Halloween

From all of us on the 7. Drawn for Halloween

This weekend on the 7

Fri, Oct 23 to Sun, Oct 25

Wed, Oct 21 – Fri, Oct 23 Eerie Ashburnham Ghost Walk: East Side Stories Peterborough · km 270 Trent Valley Archives walks the east side after dark, from the haunted history of the Lift Lock to the Peterborough Theatre Guild's resident ghost and the sightings at the old St. Joseph's Hospital. Meet in the museum parking lot 5 to 10 minutes early. The route climbs Armour Hill and runs rain or shine. $20 on Eventbrite. Details Fri, Oct 23 – Sat, Oct 24 Haunted Heritage House Smiths Falls · just off the 7 Second weekend of the haunted museum, running into the Spooktacular downtown. Details Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Oct 25 The Falls Spooktacular Smiths Falls · just off the 7 The town's Halloween weekend, run by Smiths Falls itself. Details

See all 44 events this weekend

Fall on the 7

The colour this autumn, from readers' cameras. Send yours → See the album

Sunrise over an open field, the low sun shining through bare trees, mist in the valley beyond and orange and red maples along the treeline

A maple leaf held up close to the camera so it looks giant beside a small figure reaching for it on a sandy beach, with a blue lake and white clouds behind

Bright red staghorn sumac in front of gold and orange autumn hardwoods under a blue sky near Oconto

Still water covered in fallen leaves runs between yellow trees on one side and red maples on the other, with blue sky reflected in it, at Mathison Conservation Area in Havelock

The sun bursting through yellow and orange maples over a leaf-covered gravel lane, with a small dog out on the path

A weathered grey barn and white-roofed outbuildings across a lake under an overcast sky, with red and orange trees along the far shore and evergreen boughs in the foreground

See them all

The Route

Tap any stop. Small dots are towns just off the highway.

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Perth

KM 85

The anchor of the corridor — a stone-built heritage downtown, Stewart Park on the Tay, and restaurants worth planning a trip around.

Town guide →

Browse every town →

Field Guides

The big reads, researched on real drives and updated every season. All 9 guides

Guide 01 · August 2026

Public Boat Launches Where to put in along the corridor — free township launches, park put-ins, and the lakes worth trailering to. Read the guide

Guide 03 · August 2026

Beaches & Swimming Holes Where to actually get in the water between Ottawa and Peterborough — town beaches, park lakes, and the stops worth planning a towel around. Read the guide

Guide 06 · August 2026

Bingo on the 7 Eight halls, five nights a week, from Carleton Place to Marmora. Where each one is, when the doors open, when the cards stop selling, and what the canteen is serving. Read the guide

From the road

What people say about places on the route, in their own words. Tell us about one →

Hawley's Haunted Farm · Sep 2026 Dirty & Loaded, Perth →

The Tater Time truck in navy and red, a timber pergola over blue and yellow planters, with a pig standing by the bench — A reader · Sep 2026 Tater Time, Perth →

I highly recommend Markus. He is a knowledgeable, honest, clear thinking mechanic with very fair pricing. The go-to in the area for maintenance, repair, and winter storage.

Jim Hayes · Aug 2026 · via Google Land of Lakes Motor Sports & Marina, Sharbot Lake →

Funky cafe in an old church. Good food & hot drinks.

A reader · Oct 2026 Cardinal Café + Shop, Sharbot Lake →

The Mine Town Burgers & Fries truck, with its Fresh Cut Fries window and yellow umbrella seating — A reader · Sep 2026 Mine Town Burgers & Fries, Marmora →

They have the best poutine, pulled pork and some killer mini donuts for dessert. It's a father son operation and they are always busy. The father and son are very friendly and always make sure their customers are taken care of. Also, their portions are big.

Jaclyn M. · Aug 2026 Sugar Shack Mini Donuts, Havelock →

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