8 Ontario Parks Where You Can See Incredible Fall Colours & The Best Spots To View Them
It's fall, y'all! 🍂🍁
Fall leaves at Algonquin Provincial Park. Right: A person stands at a lookout at Chutes Provincial Park.
Fall is here! Ontario is about to transform into a mesmerizing tapestry of fall colours, so it's time to start planning some autumn adventures.
As the leaves change into a breathtaking kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and golds, there's no better time to explore Ontario parks, where you can get a breathtaking view of the display.
To help with your trip planning, you can consult the Ontario Parks Fall Colour Map, which details what colours the leaves are in each provincial park, how many leaves have fallen and the prime time for viewing.
Here are eight Ontario Parks where you can get incredible views of the fall colours this season.
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 451 Arrowhead Park Rd., Huntsville, ON
Why You Need To Go: About 3 hours from Toronto near Huntsville, Ontario, Arrowhead Provincial Park has lookouts and multiple hiking trails where you can get a spectacular view of the changing leaves.
While the leaves have begun to change, the dominant colour in the park is still green, according to the most recent update.
For the best viewing in the park, visitors will want to head to Big Bend Lookout, which can be reached on a short walk from the parking lot on Roe Campground Road and offers a panoramic view of the meandering Big East River and the surrounding Muskoka terrain.
The Arrowhead Lake Trail, an easy, 6.6-kilometre loop trail, also offers picturesque views of the fall foliage.
Bon Echo Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 16151 Hwy. 41, Cloyne, ON
Why You Need To Go: Bon Echo Provincial Park, located about 3 and a half hours from Toronto and 2 and a half hours from Ottawa, has long been a popular destination for day-trippers, and it's not hard to see why.
The park offers several trails perfect for viewing the fall leaves, including the Cliff Top Trail, which leads hikers to the top of Mazinaw Rock to three observation decks overlooking the lake.
While this trail is a bit difficult and is only accessible by water, the views definitely make the trek worth it, with hikers able to see red, yellow, and brown leaves from Sugar Maple, White Birch and Red Oak trees.
For those wanting something easier, there are other easy loop trails in the park that will take you past a variety of forests, wetlands, beaver swamps and quiet ponds.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchair available.
Killarney Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 960 ON-637, Killarney, ON
Why You Need To Go: Killarney Provincial Park is a 645 square kilometre wilderness landscape where you'll find clear, sapphire lakes set among Jack Pine hills.
The area has inspired artists including some from The Group of Seven, like A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and A.J. Casson, so much so that they persuaded the Ontario government to make Killarney a park.
Beautiful in the summer, the park is even more stunning in fall. To best enjoy the changing colours, visitors will want to hike to the lookout on the Granite Ridge Trail or plan to have lunch at the bog area of the park's Cranberry Bog Trail.
If you’re looking to beat the crowds, the Lake of the Woods Trail is perfect for more of a solitary experience, says Ontario Parks.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchair available.
Forks Of The Credit Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 17760 McLaren Rd., Caledon, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located on the famous Bruce Trail, Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is home to numerous scenic trails offering gorgeous views of the fall hues.
The park is located in Caledon, about 1 hour from Toronto. As of the latest update from Ontario Parks, the leaves in the park have yet to start changing colour. However, when they do change, visitors will find the best fall colour viewing spot along the Trans Canada Trail in the park.
The park can get quite busy during the season, especially on weekends. If you’re planning a trip, consider visiting on a weekday to beat the crowds. You'll also need to obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance.
Pancake Bay Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 12729 Hwy. 17 N., Batchawana Bay, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located on the shores of Lake Superior, Pancake Bay Provincial Park has kayaking, hiking trails and impressive lookouts, including the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout where you can get views of Lake Superior.
The Lookout Trail, located across from the park, leads through lush forest where you'll find tall Sugar Maples and Yellow Birch, and provides the best views of Pancake Bay as well as opportunities to see the local wildlife, including moose.
The trail is a moderate trek at 7 kilometres return (2-3 hours) to the lookout, but for an easier hike, visitors can hike the Pancake Bay Nature Trail, a 3.5-kilometre walk that takes you over forested beach ridges, through a wetland and along a shallow creek.
As of the most recent update, the leaves are already turning red at Pancake Bay, with about 20% having changed colour.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchairs available.
Petroglyphs Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 2249 Northeys Bay Rd., Woodview, ON
Why You Need To Go: About 2 and a half hours from Toronto northeast of Peterborough, Petroglyphs Provincial Park is home to emerald lakes as well as the "largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings (petroglyphs) in Canada."
There are three trails in the park that are each great for seeing fall colours. Visitors can hike the Marsh Trail, a 7-kilometre moderate hike that winds through dense pine forest and marsh, or the Nanabush Trail, an easier 5.5-kilometre trek that crosses wetlands and rock outcrops.
There's also the West Day Use Trail, a moderate 5-kilometre trail that winds through large pine stands and areas of oak and birch and leads to a bridge crossing an ancient streambed made thousands of years ago.
While the leaves have begun to change here, the park is still mostly green. Once things do change, you will find pops of colour throughout the park from maples, birch, and oak trees among the pine and spruce.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: ON-60, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located just under 3 hours from Toronto, Algonquin Provincial Park is a classic Ontario park for seeing fall colours, and was even named among the best spots in North America for taking in fall foliage.
As of the latest report, the leaves in Algonquin are starting to change but are still mostly green.
According to Ontario Parks, some of the best fall colour viewing opportunities can be found along the Highway 60 Corridor and other access points in the park, such as the many hiking trails and day-use areas.
Since the park gets so busy in the fall season, it's recommended that visitors obtain a daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance to guarantee access.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchair available.
Chutes Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 650 Imperial St. N., Massey, ON
Why You Need To Go: One kilometre from the Trans-Canada Highway and near the town of Massey, Chutes is the only provincial park between Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie.
The park offers hiking, fishing and bird-watching opportunities, with many species of birds choosing to nest in the park.
The leaves in the park are still predominantly green, as of the most recent update, and the leaves haven't yet started changing colour.
According to Ontario Parks, for the best fall colours viewing opportunities, visitors will want to head to the Twin Bridges Trail and the Main Falls Lookout where they can catch the glistening leaves and the change of season next to the Aux Sables River.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
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