Wayward, the Netflix thriller miniseries, is set in the fictional small town of Tall Pines, Vermont , in the early 2000s. However, the show itself is filmed almost entirely in Canada, mainly in Ontario, using several real locations to stand in for this eerie New England town.

In-universe setting

  • The story takes place in Tall Pines, a remote Vermont town surrounded by dense forests and cliffs, which makes it feel isolated and hard to escape.
  • A major location in the plot is Tall Pines Academy, a harsh “troubled teens” institution that functions as the psychological and physical center of the series.

Real-world filming locations

While Tall Pines and the academy are fictional, multiple real Canadian spots were used to create them.

  • Millbrook, Ontario – Its quaint, largely unchanged downtown streets were used as the main streets of Tall Pines.
  • Christie Lake Conservation Area (Dundas, Ontario) – Provided the surrounding woods, trails, and the area around Alex and Laura’s cabin and student escape attempts.
  • Toronto locations –
    • Alexandra Park Pool was used for the key flashback scenes involving Leila and her sister at the pool.
* Various diners and restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area (like Ted’s Restaurant, Aristotle’s Steak & Seafood House) were used for investigation and flashback scenes.

Quick recap

  • Where is Wayward set?
    • Fictionally: Tall Pines, Vermont, early 2000s.
  • Where is Wayward filmed?
    • Primarily: Ontario, Canada (Millbrook, Toronto, Christie Lake Conservation Area, and nearby areas).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.