Fall is a very serious time for a certain crowd of people: leaf peepers. In layman’s terms, “leaf peeping” is the ritual of making a dedicated journey to immerse yourself in the fall colours. It entails precise planning to time your travels right: Fortunately, there are dedicated foliage trackers — such as Ontario Parks’ regularly updated webpage at ontarioparks.ca/fallcolour — detailing the colour changes and leaf fall as they happen.
Ontario is particularly flush with picture-perfect places to put on your cosiest sweater, grab a hot apple cider and watch the colours pop. From Toronto, you could head north to watch the leaves change from green to garnet over the Canadian Shield, or east to admire the autumn foliage set against Lake Ontario. Head west to the parks and trails on the Bruce Peninsula to catch forests turning ruby. If you don’t have a car, you can still hop on the Go train to reach quaint, tree-lined towns.
Leaf peeping can, of course, be combined with Ontario’s other favourite outdoorsy pastime: hiking. For inspiring routes, writer Nicola Ross covers numerous Ontario destinations in her Loops & Lattes guidebook series. Eager to take in nature’s show? Read on for some of Ontario’s best places for gorgeous fall colours.
1. Wellington
Wellington County encompasses seven towns and townships, including picturesque Elora and Fergus, all near the city of Guelph, so it’s easy to spend a whole day (or weekend) touring around. Come late September, the banks of the Grand River light up in russet red and golden yellow. Hike the Elora Gorge Conservation Area, where you can see the plunging waterfall surrounded by sunset-coloured foliage. When the leaves start showing flickers of orange, locals also know it’s time for Royal City Brewing’s Oktoberfest (Sept. 26 to 28) in Guelph. For the occasion, the tents go up, the fairy lights are hung, the kegs are chilled, and the bands get ready. After a day of exploring the gorge, grab a pint and a pretzel, and lean into the fall feeling.
Best way to experience it: Make a day of it. Start with fresh doughnuts at Holtom’s Bakery in Erin, Ont., take in a scenic hike, then stop for a pint at Royal City, and wind the evening down in the elegant dining room of the Evelyn in Elora.
2. Mono
In the town of Mono, Ont., Hockley Valley’s ski hills are the big draw in the winter. But in the fall, you can head to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park on the Bruce Trail to see the soaring limestone cliffs turn vibrant. Filled with ferns and cedars, the day-use park offers numerous hiking trails, which will take you up, down and through the canyons and cliffs. The Lookout Trail is an essential stop for prime foliage watching.
Best way to experience it: Start with a hike, take a break halfway to fuel up, then hike off lunch on your way back to the parking lot. Your options include Mono Cliffs Inn for finer country fare, or the 150-year-old Peter Cellars Pub, below the inn, for burgers by a crackling fire. Spot the large model train circling the ceiling.
3. Grundy Lake
Halfway between Parry Sound and Sudbury lies Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Don’t underestimate its relatively small size; what it lacks in acreage and big-name fame, it makes up for in activities and visual appeal. There are several glacier-carved lakes, challenging trails to hike, and a mixed forest that envelops you in the fall colours.
Best way to experience it: Take in the fall foliage from the water. Just across from the provincial park’s entrance, you’ll find Grundy Lake Supply Post, which rents canoes and kayaks, and stocks gear for fishing, another popular pursuit at Grundy Lake.
4. Unionville
When fall arrives, you may feel the urge to break out your best cardigan and snuggle into an episode of “Gilmore Girls.” Or you could find the next closest thing to Stars Hollow in Unionville, Ont., where the pilot of the TV series was shot. Come early October, the trees lining the charmingly twee Main Street turn into a riot of russet red and burnt orange. Window-shop your way down the street, first established in 1794, then stop into a café for a pumpkin spice latte and pretend it’s Luke’s Diner.
Best way to experience it: A former village that’s now part of Markham, Unionville is a perfect destination for Torontonians who don’t have access to a car. The Unionville Go Station is just about a 20-minute walk from Main Street.
Presqu’ile Provincial Park
If you’re driving east toward Prince Edward County or Montreal, make a pit stop in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, near Brighton, right off the 401. A series of boardwalk hikes take you through fields of grasses and oaks. While you’re admiring the foliage, you’ll likely catch the park’s other main draw: the birding spectacle. More than 330 species of birds have been spotted here. Also notable is the historic Presqu’ile Point Lighthouse; step into the nearby lighthouse keeper’s cottage, now an interpretive centre (open seasonally), to learn about the region’s history of shipwrecks and rum running.
Best way to experience it: You can make Presqu’ile a pit stop on your road trip along the 401, or stay a while longer. The park has numerous campground loops for car camping, available from late April to late October.
