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These 5 Christmas Tree Farms Near Toronto Are Dog Friendly

ByNina Clapperton

Finding the perfect Christmas tree is a great family tradition, but who wants to leave their dog behind? Now you don’t have to! These Christmas tree farms allow dogs so the whole family can join.

My family have always gone Christmas tree “hunting” together. But that usually meant just going to the closest place with Christmas trees in a parking lot in Toronto while someone waited in the car with the dog.

Sure, we could have left them at home, but we wanted the dog to be apart of the celebration too!

Had I known there were so many dog friendly Christmas tree farms within an hour of where I grew up, you can bet I’d have dragged the whole family to these lots just so our dogs could help us find the perfect tree.

So as a local Torontonian and a dog lover, I’ve got you covered finding the best spot to go this winter where you’ll probably find me and my dog Theo this year.

Please note that all of these farms require dogs to be on leash and well-behaved. I recommend leaving reactive dogs at home.

short-coated brindle dog near the plant

1. Drysdale’s Tree Farm

The most epic Christmas trees in Toronto come from Drysdale’s, including the giant one in the TD Centre downtown.

You can get your own tree here too – but on a smaller scale, so you don’t have to cut a hole in your roof just to fit it.

This year, Drysdale’s is starting the holidays on November 18th. You’ll be able to cut your own Christmas tree and enjoy their weekend celebrations.

(Or if you’re a cut-your-arm-off risk like my dad is, you can get pre-cut trees and help loading them onto your car).

Every weekend until December 17th, they host horse rides, wagon rides, and have photos with santa.

Plus, dogs are always welcome! That means a perfect holiday shot can include your dog, rather than someone needing to photoshop them in later.

Theo’s terrified of horses, otherwise I’d bring him with. But since I’m not, you’ll find me on a horse drawn carriage every chance I get!

It’s totally free to attend, which is so great when the cost of living is so crazy in Toronto right now.

Don’t miss out on the bonfire and marshmallow roasting after dark! It’s the perfect winter activity.

Note: You can’t head out to cut your own tree after 4pm as it’s too dark.

Where: Simcoe

Opens: November 18th

man carrying christmas tree

2. Erin Hill Acres

From 3ft to 35ft, Erin Hill Acres has your Christmas tree covered!

I’ve always preferred a teeny tiny tree, since I’m usually alone for Christmas with all my travels. But my family loves a massive tree – I think my sister got a 12 ft one last year that they had to cut down because it wouldn’t fit in the living room.

Make a day of it and pay for access beyond the tree area to go on wagon rides, go on the walking trails, and even meet the Grinch.

Theo met the Grinch last year and was not a fan. He much preferred santa.

I love the wood fired pizza (although I can’t eat it now that I’m celiac) and the courtyard area outside around fires. Your dog can happily lounge in the snow while you chat for hours.

Or if they’re like Theo, they can body slam all the snow piles on the trail and then dry off a bit by the fire before you take them home.

Where: Hillsburgh

Opens: Now

Depositphotos 171065412 XL

3. Vivian Plantation

The Christmas tree farm at Vivian Plantation opens November 25th this year.

Stroll the forested trails before chopping down your tree – or getting a pre-cut one.

My favourite part is the complimentary hot cider or hot chocolate that you can have beside a bonfire with marshmallows. Growing up, we’d always have hot chocolate with marshmallows after a long time in the snow. Now I’m more of a cider girl, so this is so perfect.

Theo loves marshmallows so I’d need to keep him away from them. But the epic photo spots amongst the pine trees and the snow will make the perfect Christmas card this year.

Last year we tried in Truckee, but he just kept dive bombing the snow instead of sitting cute for one. Hopefully the lure of a marshmallow will keep him in line!

Note: Cash only!

Where: Stouffville

Opens: November 25th

Depositphotos 220243310 XL

4. Prestonvale Tree Farms

I don’t know a lot about trees, but my sister always makes a big deal out of which type we get. Luckily Prestonvale has a whole variety for you.

You can choose: Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Spruce or Pine.

I’m semi-allergic to all of them, so I always let her pick and I’d just ensure they were suitably fluffy for the ornaments.

Dogs can wander with you through the 60 acres of trees to find the right one to cut down – or just to the lot to pick one up that’s already cut.

Saws are included and something called “shaking and baling”, which I believe is wrapping it up and removing any extra needles that are loose.

I love the idea of wandering with the family to find the perfect tree. But solo, it’d be much harder since Theo tends to go a bit wild in the snow and pulls me like crazy.

Note: Cash only!

Where: Courtice

Opens: Now

nina theo snowshoeing lake tahoe

5. Hockley Valley Farm

Bring your pup on a leash to explore Hockley Valley Farm. You can get pre-cut fir trees that will look perfect in any living room.

They’ve also got horse drawn wagon rides and hot chocolate to stay warm in those cold Toronto winter days. I recommend going on a weekend for the horse rides and finishing up beside the bonfire.

You can also check out their store for local artisan gifts that would be great stocking stuffers for any family member.

If you’d like a family photo for your Christmas card, you can take advantage of their special photography packages. I’ve done 2 photoshoots now with Theo, and it always turns out so much better than the selfies I take of us.

Where: Mono

Opens: November 18th

Conclusion

I’m not a big Christmas fan but I do love outdoor activities and bonfires (could you tell?). So going to get a Christmas tree is always fun for me, because it’s not just the usual in-home traditions.

And with all of these being just an hour away from Toronto, it’s a super easy road trip to do in a day.

I love that I get to bring my dog, Theo, along for the ride so he’s not just shocked when I suddenly drag a tree into our house after forcing him to leave all his sticks outside.

I hope you have a lovely winter season with your family and, of course, with your dog.

Read More About Things To Do in Toronto:

Canada Travel Planning Guide

🚑 Should I buy Canada travel insurance?

100% YES! â€” Canada has “free” healthcare but it’s only for citizens! Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. I recommend World Nomads – starting at just $5 a day!

💧Can you drink the water in Canada?

Yes â€” In all major cities in Canada, you can drink the tap water. There are very few, rural areas that you can’t. However, you should never drink river or lake water anywhere in the country! I recommend a Brita Water Bottle for long hikes and backcountry camping to stay safe and hydrated.

🚙💨 Is it safe to rent a car in Canada?

Yes â€” Renting a car is a necessity in most of Canada! If you want to go on road trips or adventures outside of the major cities, you’ll need to rent a car. (Read more)

📲 Will my phone work in Canada?

Maybe â€” Some American companies work in Canada, but many will not. If your phone doesn’t work in Canada, I recommend getting a Canadian SIM card so you can get around and stay in contact with loved ones. We don’t have a lot of free WIFI in Canada, so you’ll need your phone for maps.

🏩 What’s the best way to book my Canada accommodations?

My go-to for Canadian hotels is Booking.com. For hostels, I use Hostel World. If you want a home-y feeling, check out VRBO (which is cheaper and safer than Airbnb).

Or get free accommodations with Trusted Housesitters!

✈️ What’s the best site to buy Canada flights?

For finding cheap Canadian flights, I recommend Skyscanner.

🎫 Do I need a visa for Canada?

Likely Not â€” US, UK, and EU passport holders don’t need Canadian visas. However, some other countries do (check here!). And if you plan to stay for more than 4 weeks (an average tourist visa length), you will need to look into visas to live in Canada.

Nina Clapperton is the founder of Nina Out and About. She has lived in 18 countries in the past 10 years, explored more than 30 countries, and has done most of it solo. A Canadian native, she also shares her favourite things to do in the True North. She helps over 100,000 people per month plan their expat adventures and Canadian trips.