Character
Craigleith sits on the shore of Georgian Bay in the Town of The Blue Mountains, between Collingwood and Blue Mountain Resort. The name goes back to 1854, when Sandford Fleming, the railway engineer, settled his family here and named the area. The Northern Railway station opened in 1880. In the early 1940s it was the stop for ski trains from Toronto, which helped start what became Blue Mountain Resort. Skiing is still a big part of life here: the private Craigleith Ski Club is on the hill above.
Homes you'll find
Homes range from properties along the shore to chalets and newer communities closer to the hills. Some are full-time homes and others are weekend or ski-season bases. Across The Blue Mountains, the Town counted over 7,000 full-time residents plus more than 6,000 seasonal and part-time residents in its 2021–22 community profile.
Amenities & things to do
The 1880 railway station is now the Craigleith Heritage Depot at 113 Lakeshore Road East. The Town bought the building in 2001, opened it as a heritage centre in 2008, and since 2016 it has been part of The Blue Mountains Public Library, with a museum, archives and a library branch. Blue Mountain Village and Collingwood's shops and restaurants are each a short drive away.
Trails & outdoors
Craigleith Provincial Park, on Highway 26, has a shoreline of flat shale with fossils that are about 450 million years old, plus campsites for tents and RVs. The park covers about 66 hectares and was established in 1967; its 2026 season ran April 10 to October 18. The Georgian Trail, more than 30 km of former rail line between Collingwood and Meaford, passes through Craigleith, and the Bruce Trail follows the escarpment above.
Who it suits
Craigleith suits skiers who want to be close to the hills, people who want the bay and the Georgian Trail on their doorstep, and weekenders looking for a base between Collingwood and Blue Mountain.
Schools
The Blue Mountains is served by the Bluewater District School Board. The nearest public elementary school is Beaver Valley Community School in Thornbury, which teaches JK to Grade 8. School boundaries and busing depend on the exact address, so check the board's school locator, and ask about Catholic and French-language options, for any home you're considering.
Short-term rental rules
In The Blue Mountains, any rental of less than 30 days is a short-term accommodation (STA) and needs a Town licence under By-law 2021-70. STAs are only allowed in certain zones, shown on the Town's STA Zone Map. New Type B licences are currently on hold under a moratorium. The Town lists the initial two-year licence fee as $2,500, and operators must also register for the Municipal Accommodation Tax. Don't assume a property can be rented short term because it has been in the past. Check the zone map and the property's licence status.
Content checked November 1, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your lawyer or the municipality.
Peter's take
Craigleith gives you the bay, the trail and the ski hills within a few minutes of each other. If you're thinking of renting the home out short term, check the Town's STA zone map and licensing rules before you buy; it makes a real difference to which properties fit your plans.
Last updated November 1, 2026. Municipal rules (especially short-term rentals) and school arrangements change. Details come from the public sources below, so please confirm anything important for a specific property.