Although autumn is a beautiful time of year everywhere, it is special in Canada because of the large amount of red foliage in all shades. Autumn looks most impressive in the eastern provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Autumn is the best time in Canada, and many tourists from abroad come to see it. It is often compared to the cherry blossoms in Japan.
Residents of Toronto are very lucky in this respect, they do not have to travel far to admire the Canadian autumn. It can be seen both in the city itself, thanks to the fact that there are enough parks, and in the countryside.
The most popular is a family or company trip to one of the provincial parks, of which there are many around Toronto. Not all of them are picturesque, however, so here are the most popular places.
In the Greater Toronto Area
High Park. Located in the Etobicoke neighbourhood near Downtown Toronto. It is the second largest park in North America (after Central Park in New York City) and very popular among citizens. The park is equipped for walking, there is a large lake.
Scarbourough Bluffs Park, Cathedral Bluffs Park and Buffer’s Park. A single park area, located in the Scarborough area (east side of town), on the shores of Lake Ontario. It is home to the famous Scarbourough Bluffs, which gave its name to both the park and the neighbourhood. Not far from the park is the architectural complex of St. Augustine’s Seminary.
Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area. A state-protected forest park area. Located in the western suburbs of the Milton metropolitan area. The Niagara Escarpment mountain range passes through here and has great views from its peaks.
Kortright Center for Conservation near the town of Kleinburg, part of the northern suburb of Vaughan. The town of Kleinburg is known for its historic center and the McMichaels Museum, which has the largest collection of the Group of Seven (Canadian Impressionists) artists.
Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area near the town of Stouffville, north of the suburb of Markham.
Outside the Greater Toronto Area
Outside of Toronto, there are several regions that are most popular with fall lovers.
The most interesting ones are those that lie north of the city. First of all, we are talking about Muskoka resort area with its many lakes and forest streams, the huge wooded area of Algonquin Park and the Huliburton Heights area adjacent to it from the south, as well as the shores of Lake Guron (more precisely, Georgian Bay).
It is here that the most intense fall colors are observed, which, combined with the beautiful landscape and developed infrastructure, make this region a place of pilgrimage for beauty lovers from all over the world, especially photographers.
The most interesting places in this part of the province are:
Algounquin Provincial Park. Probably the most famous and most visited park in the whole province of Ontario (if not in the whole eastern part of Canada). The Hwy 11 expressway leads from Toronto to it. More precisely, this route leads to the city of Huntsville, from which the Hwy60 highway departs, passing through the southern part of the park.
The town of Huntsville is worth a special mention. It is a very popular resort center, around which there are ski slopes, there are some of the best golf clubs in Canada, with a large hotel complex and a lot of cottages.
When it comes to Algounquin Park, it covers a huge area with several entrances. However, the most popular (because of its accessibility) is the southern part of the park, through which Hwy60 passes.
There are stops along this route with access to lakes, lookouts, and paved walking trails. Before entering the park through the east gate is the small but very scenic Oxtongue River- Ragged Falls Provincial Park.
Arrowhead Provincial Park. Located near Alqonquin, this park can safely be called a little treasure. In the fall, you can see some of the most beautiful views here, thanks to the interesting mix of red and yellow foliage, the large number of white birch trees, lakes, and waterways.
The park is just north of the city of Huntsville. It’s a small area so you can combine your visit with a visit to Algonquin.
Dorset. Dorset is a small town in Huliburton Heights (southeast of Huntsville) on the shore of picturesque Lake of Bays. There’s an old fire tower on the mountain that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The tower is open to the public and there’s parking in front of it.
Killbear Provincial Park. Located north of the town of Parry Sound on the shore of Georgian Bay. It is one of the most beautiful parks in Ontario with a very picturesque fall color palette dominated by yellow. It is accessed by the Hwy400 Expressway, which turns into Hwy69 and has an off-ramp to the local road.
Killarney Provincial Park. Ontario’s most beautiful park, called its crown jewel, a favourite workplace of the artists of the Group of Seven. The LaCloche (“White Mountains”) mountain range runs through here, there are many lakes and access to the northern shores of Georgian Bay.
The downside of this park is its relative remoteness, it is about 4-5 hours away by car, so it is best to go there with an overnight stay.
Blue Mountains. This is a resort area that combines the Blue Mountains resort complex and Collingwood. It is located near the south shore of Georgian Bay (Lake Guron), not far from Wasaga Beach (the most popular place for out-of-town beach vacations for Toronto residents).
There is a mountain ridge here, so there are a lot of ski slopes in the area. The centerpiece of the area is Blue Mountain Resort and Alpine Village, built by Intrawest (which has also built similar complexes in such world-class ski resorts as Mont Tremblant and Whistler).
Although the views and fall colors here are not as spectacular as in the Muskoka area, the big advantage of the area is its proximity to Toronto.
Another popular spot is the Niagara Peninsula along the Niagara River, home to the famous Niagara Falls. The Niagara Escarpment ridge runs through here, which makes for hilly terrain, and there are many small waterfalls and streams.
In addition to the beautiful views, there are two major tourist destinations here, the towns of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The area is also a center for Canadian winemaking, with many distilleries that are a popular tourist attraction. This area lies southwest of Toronto.
If you choose this region to contemplate the fall colors, it’s best to drive along the banks of the Niagara River, from the city of Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie.
To the west of Toronto lies another interesting region that stretches along the banks of the Grand River. It is not as popular as the Muskoka or Niagara Peninsula areas, but also offers beautiful views and interesting towns to visit, most notably St. Jacobs (a Mennonite settlement) and Elora with its famous waterfall.
Another great place to visit is Rockwood Conservation Area, a small park in the town of Rockwood. It is located near Toronto and offers very scenic views.
Finally, to the northeast lies the interesting Kawartha Highlands, located between Peterborough to the south and Huliburton to the north. It also has hilly terrain, many lakes and small waterfalls.
The center of the area is picturesque Kawartha Lake and Sturgeon Lake. There is also Fenelon Falls, a picturesque waterfall with a beautiful park around it.
A little further away from this region is Bon Echo Provincial Park. It is one of the most colorful places in Ontario and has also been a favourite workplace of the artists of the Group of Seven.