Renfrew County is not a place that makes most Ontario travel lists, and that is part of its appeal. The county offers a range of things to do that reward curiosity and a willingness to explore without a fixed itinerary. The best experiences here tend to be found by driving the back roads, stopping at the small museums and heritage sites, and talking to the people who live here.
Museums and Heritage Sites
The county has a good network of small museums that tell the story of the Ottawa Valley's settlement and industries. The Champlain Trail Museum in Pembroke is the most comprehensive, with exhibits covering Indigenous history, the fur trade, the lumber era, and the military presence at Petawawa. The Arnprior and District Museum covers the lumber heritage of the lower valley, and the Madawaska Valley Museum in Barry's Bay focuses on the Kashubian settlers who established communities in the highlands.
Pembroke's Heritage Murals are one of the county's best-known attractions, a collection of large outdoor paintings on downtown buildings that depict scenes from the city's history. A walking tour of the murals takes about an hour and provides a good overview of the region's past.
Scenic Drives
Renfrew County is excellent driving country. The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17) follows the Ottawa River through the heart of the county, but the most interesting driving is on the county roads that branch south into the highlands and along the river valleys.
The Opeongo Line, running from Dacre west to Barry's Bay, follows one of Ontario's original colonization roads through a landscape that has changed remarkably little in a century. The road passes through small communities, former lumber villages, and stretches of forest that were once cleared farmland. In fall, the drive is spectacular, with the hardwood forests along the route putting on one of the best colour displays in the province.
The road from Pembroke to Deep River along the Ottawa River is another scenic route, with views across the water to the Quebec shore. Highway 62 from Pembroke south to Barry's Bay winds through the Madawaska Highlands, passing lakes, forests, and small communities along the way.
The county's back roads reward slow driving and frequent stops.
Local Food and Markets
The county's farmers' markets, operating through the growing season in Pembroke, Arnprior, Renfrew, and other communities, are good places to find local produce, baked goods, and artisan products. The agricultural heritage of the Ottawa River valley is still very much alive, and the markets reflect a range of farming traditions from livestock to maple syrup to craft beverages.
The restaurant scene in the county's larger towns has grown in recent years, with Pembroke and Arnprior in particular offering options that go beyond the standard small-town fare. Local pubs and restaurants in the smaller communities are often the best places for a genuine valley dining experience.
Community Events
Renfrew County's communities host events through the year that are open to visitors. Agricultural fairs, held in late summer and early fall, are a valley tradition that has continued for well over a century. The Arnprior Fair, the Cobden Fair, and the Renfrew Fair are among the best attended. These are genuine agricultural events, with livestock judging, produce displays, and midway rides, not the curated experiences of the big-city food festivals.
For outdoor activities and other highlights of the county, see our dedicated guides.