6 Of The Quietest Ontario Towns

Ontario is Canada's most populous province by quite some margin, housing well over a third of the country's residents within its borders alone. While portions of this province can get quite crowded, its enormous geographical size of 415,598 square miles means there is still plenty of room for everyone.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Toronto or any of Ontatio's other big cities and discover these quiet towns we'll be discussing today. From scenic greenspaces to historic downtowns full of charm, any of these destinations will surely provide you with some much-needed peace and solitude this year.

Apsley

Apsley is a township in North Kawartha, located about 2 hours northeast of Toronto. Surrounded by numerous lakes and the vast forests of Ontario’s Kawarthas region, this rural community is an ideal destination for a weekend escape to the lake this summer.

Chandos Lake stands out as one of the more notable bodies of water near Apsley, as it is one of the largest in the area and features public beaches and boat launches. Meanwhile, Eels Creek passes directly through town and is best known to residents and visitors alike for its scenic waterfalls and adjacent footpaths.

Silent Lake Provincial Park, located just north of town along Highway 28, is another major draw for outdoor enthusiasts in the area with a beautiful trail network circumnavigating the lake, campsites, yurt rentals, and other fun activities in the area's pristine woodlands. The park prohibits motorboats on the aptly named Silent Lake, making it truly a great spot to find some peace and quiet in nature.

The community is also a gateway to the Petroglyphs Provincial Park, home to one of Canada’s largest collections of Indigenous rock carvings and a great way to learn about the region's earliest inhabitants.

Apsley’s small-town atmosphere is complimented by the handful of local shops and events that can be found dowtown, including a newly built grocery store, the Calm N Ground cafe, The Grape and Wedge ( a specialty food market), and several other small businesses that are convenient in the heart of Ontario's cottage country.

Kagawong

Kagawong, located on Manitoulin Island, is one of many quiet lakeside villages you can find on the largest lake island in the world. It sits along the shores of Mudge Bay near the northern shoreline, with a small marina that provides access to the North Channel of Lake Huron.

The area’s most notable natural feature is Bridal Veil Falls, a 36-foot cascade that can be reached via a short forested trail. Here, you can walk behind the falls or swim in the pool below, making it a cool spot to visit on a hot summer day. A network of maintained walking paths extends from the falls into the surrounding woodlands, where you can hopefully see some of the area's wildlife in this remote part of Ontario.

Moreover, Kagawong’s historic downtown is quite compact but features key landmarks like the Old Mill Heritage Centre, housed in a former pulp mill. Open in the warmer months, this nice little museum showcases a variety of exhibits based on local history. St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, known as the “Boat Church” due to its nautical-themed interior, is another unique site that you should check out during your time in Kagawong.

Westport

Westport sits on the shores of Upper Rideau Lake, and as part of Ontario’s Rideau Canal system, it is an ideal attraction for boaters looking for a quiet stop along their journey. The village itself is compact, with a handful of locally owned shops, restaurants, and a historic grist mill that has been converted into a museum and gallery space.

Wesport's waterfront is a central gathering place, with a public dock and picnic areas providing top-notch lake views. There are also a number of accommodations nearby in case you wish to stay in town for a night or two, with The Cove Inn just steps from the water and The Victorian Luxury Suites situated closer to the middle of the downtown core.

The area around Westport makes it more than just a boat stop too. Be sure to pay a visit to nearby greenspaces like Foley Mountain Conservation Area, which provides an unobstructed view of the town from the high-up Spy Rock lookout. The park’s trails pass through mixed forests that are particularly picturesque in the fall when the area's foliage changes color. Birdwatchers often visit the area as well, with the lack of crowds in this park making it attractive to a number of species.

There are also a couple of nice local golf courses, including the Rideau Lakes Golf & Country Club, which sits perched on the scenic shores of Upper Rideau Lake, and the Evergreen Golf Course just west of town on Wolfe Lake.

Bayfield

Bayfield is a perfect small town to spend some quiet time on the Great Lakes. It is not as popular as many other communities on the shores of these massive lakes, mainly due to its distance from major cities. This fact may be a plus for you, however.

Resting beside Lake Huron, this beach town is idyllic for a variety of travelers, whether you're looking to soak up some sun on a summer day, are going leaf peeping in the fall months, or are simply looking for a new place to discover in southern Ontario, regardless of the season.

Pioneer Park is a good place to start your visit. Located atop a bluff, it offers expansive views over Lake Huron and is a popular spot for watching the sunset. A staircase in this small urban park leads down to a quiet stretch of beach where you can walk along the shoreline on the "heritage trail," which circles all the way around town if you follow it though. This unique trail leads to several other points of interest. For example, the Bayfield River hugs part of this pathway, and flows into the lake at a spot where the Bayfield Pier Beach can be found. near the pier, Bayfield's marina is a hub for sailboats, with mooring options for those traveling along the Great Lakes.

Although small in size, this town does have a few notable events that make it worth the trip. Seasonal festivals, such as the Bayfield Volkfest, towards the start of fall, and the Christmas in Bayfield celebration, in mid-November, make this destination a year-round attraction.

Perth

Perth is a location that appeals to both nature lovers and history buffs. With the Tay River passing right through its downtown, and several historic landmarks dotted near its banks, there are tons of intriguing places to check out during your time here.

Stewart Park, located in the center of town, is one of Perth’s most notable features. This riverside park has walking paths, stone bridges, and open green spaces shaded by mature trees. The Tay River flows gently around it, creating a calm setting for picnics and leisurely strolls at any time of the year. From here, you can access downtown easily on foot, with popular spots like the Perth Museum and The Mammoth Cheese (a 22,000-pound cheese wheel) a short walk away. You can say the latter is a Gouda place to learn more about Ontario's renowned cheese-making industry, literally, while the former is both educational and notable for being housed in a gorgeous 1840s-era mansion.

The town’s connection to the Rideau Trail also provides access to scenic hiking routes through other nearby parks, like the Perth Wildlife Reserve where the Tay Marsh Lookout Tower can be ascended for a 360-degree view of the surrounding wetlands.

Espanola

If you're headed to northern Ontario this year, Espanola is a good destination to drop by if you want to stay out of the much larger, nearby city of Sudbury. Located along the Spanish River and surrounded by seemingly endless boreal forests, this town was originally established as a hub for the pulp and paper industry but has since developed into a low-key community for outdoor adventurers.

The Spanish River, which flows just south of town, is clearly a key attraction for boaters and anglers alike. Its waters contain a mix of rapids and calm stretches, making it a favored route for paddlers looking for a scenic but manageable excursion. If you're seeking out flatter waters, nearby Clear Lake and Lang Lake provide additional opportunities for boating and fishing, both containing healthy populations of sport fish too, such as muskie, pike, lake trout, bass, and more.

In the winter, the Black Creek Sno-Trails is a top-notch destination for snowshoeing, while doubling as footpaths in the warmer months, going through forested terrain with minimal foot traffic. For most, however, Espanola is most closely associated with Killarney Provincial Park. This famed park is a short drive south of town and contains a landscape of icon quartz mountains and undisturbed lakes. It provides one of Ontario's greatest autumn landscapes as well, with its forests creating a stunning backdrop as the year draws to an end.

The neighboring town of Massey is also worth visiting for sightseers, with the rugged yet beautiful Chutes Provincial Park sitting right on the northern edge of town.

Find Your Quiet Spot in Ontario

Ontario has no shortage of quiet towns, and these are only a handful of a massive selection you can choose from. Free from large-scale tourism and commercial development, they remain some of the best places in the province for some relaxation that you probably deserve.

For those seeking a quieter side of this otherwise busy province, these towns stand out as ideal getaways for anyone. From the forested trails of Apsley to the lakeside charm of Bayfield, each of these destinations offers a distinct setting for a peaceful escape during any season.