5 Summer Activities to Do in and Around Blue Mountain

Looking for summer activities to do in and around Blue Mountain? There’s plenty to choose from, whether you want to spend time in the Village, get out on the trails, take in the views from above, or slow things down with some time on the water. 

In this blog post, we’ll walk through five great ways to enjoy the area in the warmer months, from popular resort activities to a few nearby experiences that help round out the trip.

1. Explore Blue Mountain Village

If you like having options, Blue Mountain Village is a solid place to start. You can grab a coffee, wander around for a bit, and then decide whether the day is going in a laid-back direction or a more activity-heavy one. 

If you tend to have a more active group, the Village is home to some of the area’s more built-in fun. Some family-friendly summer activities in Blue Mountain Village include:

• Mini golf

• The Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster

• Climbing attractions

• Ropes courses

The great thing about the Village is that you don’t really need to commit to one thing. Maybe you do an activity, find a patio and people-watch for a while, and then try another activity. Whatever you end up doing, it’s one of those spots that gives your trip a little energy right out of the gate.

2. Ride the Open-Air Gondola

If at any point you’re looking for Blue Mountain summer activities that are a little more low-key, the Open-Air Gondola is one of the easiest ways to get the big Blue Mountain views without turning it into a whole workout. You just get on, head up, and let the scenery do the rest. The ride gives you wide views of the escarpment and Georgian Bay, which is exactly why it ends up on so many people’s must-do lists.

The “only lift in North America that is both gondola and chairlift”, according to the Blue Mountain website, the attraction typically operates from May to October, making summer the perfect time to check it out. Better yet, it’s included through Blue Mountain’s summer activity ticket options rather than feeling like some extra, hidden add-on.

3. Spend Time on the Trails

Blue Mountain has plenty of built-in attractions, but getting out on the trails gives you a different kind of summer day. It’s a little less structured, less scheduled, and a little more connected to the landscape people often come for in the first place. You’re not just looking at the scenery from a patio or a ride — you’re actually in it.

The nice part is that this doesn’t have to mean some intense hike. You can keep it casual and go for more of a scenic walk, or try something a bit more active if that’s more your speed. Either way, it is an easy way to break up the day and step away from the more polished resort side of things for a while.

And honestly, that shift is part of the appeal. Not every summer activity needs tickets, timing, or a lineup. Sometimes the best part of the day is just heading out for a walk, taking your time, and catching a few really good views along the way.

4. Visit Scenic Caves Nature Adventures

Scenic Caves is a good choice when you want the day to feel a little more like an outing. Instead of casually drifting between shops or heading out on an unplanned trail walk, you show up ready to explore a specific spot, and it gives you a mix of things to see along the way, like caves, lookout points, forested paths, and the suspension bridge.

It also brings in a slightly different side of the area. Blue Mountain can lean pretty resort-focused (which is definitely part of the appeal for many people), but Scenic Caves feels a bit more rooted in the surrounding natural landscape. You still get the views, but the experience feels less polished and a little more hands-on.

In other words, a visit to the Scenic Caves gives the trip some variety without making things complicated. Close enough to fit in easily, but different enough to feel like you did something separate from the usual Blue Mountain loop.

5. Take a Boat Cruise on Georgian Bay

Blue Mountain summer plans usually keep you in the Village, on the trails, or somewhere up on the mountain. And all of that has its place, but something like a boat cruise on Georgian Bay shows you the area from a completely different angle. Instead of looking out from land, you’re surrounded by open water, shoreline views, and that wider stretch of scenery that makes this part of Ontario so popular in the summer.

Even better, there are a variety of boat cruises on Georgian Bay to choose from, including:

• Sightseeing tours

• Sunset cruises

• Dinner cruises

• Fishing charters

• Live music cruises

You can even book a private charter if you want the whole boat to yourself. This kind of variety gives you a bit more flexibility than a lot of the other activities around Blue Mountain, since you can choose something casual, something more planned, or something built around a specific occasion.

Add One More Summer Activity to Your Blue Mountain Trip

If you are looking to add a relaxing, scenic activity to your Blue Mountain summer activity plans, Collingwood Charters offers a range of boat tours on Georgian Bay, including sightseeing tours, sunset cruises, dinner cruises, fishing charters, and private charters. It is an easy way to round out the trip with one more way to enjoy the area.

Check out our events calendar to book your Georgian Bay boat cruise today.