Fall is your chance to experience Ontario at its absolute best. The infernal bugs have all but disappeared, the heat is less daunting and the trees put on one of the greatest shows on earth.
The clock has begun ticking on a couple of perfect months for exploring the wild but, get it wrong and you risk wasted trips with hours in traffic, drab trees and a gauntlet of bussed-in tourists. We plan over 100 outdoor adventures every year and think of ourselves as pretty expert at getting it right - here are our trips to experience Fall like a pro and have the magical experience you deserve.
Trees change colour as a response to the approach of winter, sensing the change of light and temperature. That happens first up North, gradually moving South so you'll want to plan your adventures accordingly - in early Fall, head North, in late fall, head South.
Ontario Parks have a regularly updated map showing how colours are changing throughout the park system. This should be your first stop to planning an adventure. Want to be even more confident? We review webcams in the area we want to visit before heading out. Windy.com has a very helpful webcam layer that is our go-to.
Most people's first thought for spectacular fall colours is Algonquin. Our controversial take is that there are far better places to go. The park gets extremely busy with long queues to access the visitor centre and bus-loads of tourists detract from the wilderness setting you're looking for.
We have one trip there this Fall and it's worth it because if you do it right, it can be fantastic. Here's what that looks like:
Book in advance
Whatever you do, make sure you book a Daily Vehicle Permit (DVP) in advance. Every year people make the drive to Algonquin and spend hours in line to get to the park office only to be turned around because permits have sold out. DVP's go on sale here 5 days in advance at 7am - set an alarm and make sure that you're ready to book. In most cases you're looking for a Permit for Algonquin - Hwy 60 Corridor.
If it sounds a bit like securing tickets for a Taylor Swift concert, that's because it is. It can get pretty gross and busy up there so the next thing is to choose a good place to go.
Where to visit
The spots that are easy to get are bananas so it's a perfect excuse to check out two of the most beautiful hikes in the park. Both Centennial Ridges (11km) and the Track and Tower trail (8km) have absolutely gorgeous viewpoints. Neither are easy but you'll think it's well worth it when you get to the top. Both of these trails are just off Highway 60 so you'll get to enjoy a beautiful drive on your path towards them.
What if we told you there was a park that was the same distance from Toronto, that was just as beautiful as Algonquin but is practically deserted? Our Frontenac Fall Colours trip has been one of our most popular each year we've run it.
Frontenac has a unique landscape, shaped by beavers and barrens that feels like a very different wilderness to those parks directly North of Toronto. There's an incredibly picturesque series of boardwalks that provide some stunning photo opportunities and best of all, there's barely anybody there. It's a little South of Algonquin so peak colours tend to come a couple of weeks later. There are a range of trails that have beautiful viewpoints but our favourite for a daytrip is the 13km Dedication Trail.
Later in the season, the colours will have moved further south and there are some great options to see the full show closer to the city. Within Toronto, High Park, the Humber River Trail and Don Valley are all great options to see some colour and feel detached from the city. Further out, Rouge National Urban Park is very beautiful and technically accessible by TTC. Heading in the opposite direction, Conversation Halton has a few areas on the Niagara Escarpment with absolutely sensational views. Reservations are strongly advised this time of year - get your pass here.
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