Toronto 
Escaping the noise of Toronto is as simple as a 30-40 minute drive north! Directly north of Markham is the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. While much of Stouffville includes landscapes of green and lush farmlands around the creeks, the York Regional Forest, Oak Ridges Moraine and Rouge Urban National Park create a natural boundary between city life and rural life.
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, established in 1971 through the amalgamation of Whitchurch Township and the Community of Stouffville, is bounded by Davis Drive, Highway 404, the York-Durham Line, and just north of 19th Avenue. While “Whitchurch-Stouffville” remains the official name, the town is now branded simply as “Stouffville.” Stouffville, the main urban centre, lies in the southeast and has the town’s largest population and land area.
Around Stouffville, there are several opportunities to take it easy for a day trip or a weekend trip. Explore that farming culture in many different ways, enjoy the green space and relax around town with local dining and shopping. Even for those who prefer a more adventurous getaway, Stouffville offers family fun around its rural roads.
Trails & Stouffville Sightseeing
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
To the north, south, east, and west, Whitchurch-Stouffville is surrounded by trails and park space. This includes conservation areas, the York Regional Forest, and a National Park!
- The Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area to the west of Stouffville has much to offer a day trip from town, including historical exploration, nature trails, and Treetop Trekking, which offers ziplines, the Treewalk, and Discovery Courses. Famous for maple season fun, the conservation area is an excellent visit during fall for the various hues of autumn.
- The trails around the Stouffville Reservoir and Conservation Area loop the entire reservoir before heading further north and creating an even larger loop.
- The York Regional Forest is all throughout the York region, with several trail options in Stouffville. These are the Clarke, Dainty, Davis Drive, Drysdale, Eldred King, Hall, Hollidge (accessible), Mitchell, North, Patterson, Porritt Robinson, Scout Tracts of the York Regional Forest, with options to create simple to more moderate hikes.
- To the southeast of Stouffville is the Rouge National Urban Park with close to 50km of trails to explore. The Northeast Trail connects Stouffville to Markham, crossing wetlands, forests, meadows, and farmland. The entire Northeast Trail is 10.7 km and features seven durable fibreglass boardwalks, including a marsh-side pergola. The shorter section from Glasgow Trailhead to Sideline 30 in Pickering is only 3.1 km, offering a nice afternoon or early morning walk.
- Coultice Park, a 5-acre community park in Musselman’s Lake, features a playground, splash pad, fitness equipment, accessible washroom, parking, and a scenic trail leading to a Cedar Beach lookout.
Treetop Trekking – Upla, Treewalk Village & More
Credit: Treetop Trekking
Located in Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area, this Stouffville adventure park offers a variety of forest-based activities for all ages. Highlights include aerial zipline courses, Discovery Courses for kids, and Treewalk Village with rope bridges and slides.
- Uplå, North America’s largest outdoor trampoline park, features nets, tunnels, and slides suspended in the trees.
- Evening experiences like Treewalk Village Enchanted, Uplå Aglow, and Night Trek transform the park with lights and sounds.
- Visitors can also enjoy guided forest bathing sessions to relax and reconnect with nature in this immersive outdoor setting.
Arts, Culture, & History in Stouffville
Credit: Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Exploring the history and culture of Stouffville can take many forms and can take you all across the rural areas north of Whitchurch-Stouffville. And between these local attractions will be a variety of events across the summer to further help you get into the local arts, culture, or history.
- Stouffville Museum and Community Centre, north of town, display a set of permanent exhibits and continuously create rotating exhibits. The Museum grounds are also dotted with preserved historical buildings that date back to the 1850s.
- 19 on the Park is the main live entertainment venue in Whitchurch-Stouffville with outdoor patio concerts coming up for summer 2025.
- Stouffville’s Latcham Art Centre is a hub for local creativity with a public gallery, kids’ and adult programming, and rotating exhibitions. The Centre also hosts the annual Art in the Park at Memorial Park.
Fishing, Farm Tours & Fun Farms around Stouffville
The town of Whitchurch-Stouffville resembles many of the other towns in southern Ontario with a long stretch of main street filled with local shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and pubs. But beyond the downtown, and around the larger Stouffville town, are several kilometres worth of rural roads, and even more rolling farmlands. These beautiful rural parts of the province are easily enjoyed with the local farms, which welcome the public for various reasons.
- Burd’s Family Fishing offers fun for all ages with guaranteed trout catches from stocked ponds. It has onsite fish cleaning, barbecuing, and a picnic area.
- Visit with farm animals at the petting zoos of Lionel’s Farm (also offers pony rides), or Carma Farms (also offers farm produce sales and u-pick). Alternatively, the Sweet Acres Pig Sanctuary allows visitors to interact with the rescued and rehabilitated pot-belly pigs they house there and collect donations for admission.
- Stouffville’s Applewood Farms are open seasonally for apple, strawberry, and pumpkin u-pick, plus family activities like the market, animal visits, the chip truck, and play area
- Visit the Simpson Family Farms to shop the farm store of fresh potatoes and various other types of produce.
Stouffville Summer Events
There are several upcoming events through early to late summer that offer chances to explore, enjoy, and embrace all the best parts of Stouffville: local food, culture, art, music, and more.
- Stouffville’s outdoor market runs every Saturday from mid-May to mid-October, featuring a vibrant mix of vendors, artisans, and local creators offering fresh produce, handmade goods, and unique finds. Each week brings something new, making it the perfect spot to shop, explore, and support the local community in a lively, welcoming atmosphere.
- Doors Open Whitchurch-Stouffville is part of the larger Doors Open Ontario event which sees numerous local attractions around the province open for free admission and hosting unique or one-day-only activities. Around the Whitechurch-Stouffville region alone, there will be 17 Doors Open sites to see!
- Take to the fresh summer air with several outdoor events and showcases taking place this summer: Art in the Park pops up at the Latcham Arts Centre, while Symphony Under the Stars and Movies in the Park, both pop up at Memorial Park.
- Load up your Canada Day Long Weekend in Stouffville with the Strawberry Festival, followed by Canada Day Fireworks, both held at Memorial Park.
- The Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre will play host to the town’s Annual Antique & Classic Car Show, the longest-running event in town!
Summer Dining in Stouffville
The summer dining opportunities go well beyond Whitchurch-Stouffville and extend into the more rural parts of Stouffville. But while around the main parts of town, be sure to check out the wide array of local options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.
- Plan for a culinary and dining trip centred around a summer barbecue this August with the annual Stouffville Ribfest. The three-day event will have a huge variety of barbecue treats, most notably the ribs. The festival also boasts live entertainment, a market, and a kids’ zone.
- During the warmer months, any type of meal while on vacation in Stouffville will likely call for a patio. And Whitechurch-Stouffville’s Main Street has several options: pop by patios at The King’s Landing Bar & Grill, Fickle Pickle Restaurant, Main Street Bakehouse, or the Chucks Roadhouse Bar & Grill.
- The local drink scene is about as busy as the local food scene. Get tasting opportunities, or possibly tours, with Gallucci Winery, Willow Springs Winery, or Muddy York Brewing Co.
- Satisfy a sweet tooth with the dessert options around Whitchurch-Stouffville like the Reesor’s Market & Bakery, Ahna’s Ice Cream Bar, or Country Style.
Accommodation Options around Stouffville
Whitchurch Stouffville’s Days Inn by Wyndham Hotels is the premier hotel option within town.
Cedar Beach Resort, located on Musselman’s Lake, offers seasonal fun with a two-tier beach, pools, watercraft rentals, sports courts, playgrounds, a licensed restaurant, and 520 serviced sites—plus an annual lakeside fireworks show.
Plus, the private rental options around Stouffville on sites like Airbnb include places both within Whitchurch-Stouffville, and around the rural areas. Choose between homes in town, rural properties, cabins, or camping/glamping options.
