Leaf Colour Reporting Guide
Best Places To See Fall Colours in Ontario
NOTE: See you in Fall 2021!
Ontario Park is no longer posting new updates and we are no longer able to update this page. The leaves all over Ontario are falling now and the fall colour season is pretty much done. It’s still awfully pretty and there is still a lot ‘to do’. Thank you for using this page this year, we will be back again next year (2021) with new ideas and improvements and the same great reliable colour reporting. Please continue to travel safely, do not travel if you do not feel well or may have been exposed to Coronavirus. Remember always to wear your mask and keep social distance when out and about.
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Autumn leaf changing in Ontario is a very special time. The spectacular display of fall leaf colour is visible all over beautiful Ontario and makes fall road tripping a mandatory tradition. This seasonal show takes place in the months of September and October.
You have come to right place to find details about the current state of progression in leaf colour change in across Ontario.
Please remember to travel and visit safely. Always wear your masks indoors and keep social distance. Avoid overcrowding when visiting locations, stops and places. Thank you.
Please note that the always popular Dorset Tower in the Township of Algonquin Highlands is closed this year (2020) due to Covid-19 restrictions and safety.
Leaf Peeping Destinations
Click on your region below to expand details and useful links.
Algonquin Park
100% – Leaf Fall: 80% // Predominant colours: Red, Orange
*Ontario Parks report date Oct. 15
*note this park is extremely busy making parking difficult and social distancing as well.
Best viewing : With the recent wind and rain, the crowns of trees are showing bare branches in many areas, and a few trees have lost their leaves entirely. From a distance, bare trees will appear as gray/brown patches. The dominant colour of remaining leaves is yellow as the birch, aspen and tamarack trees are turning a rich yellow and really starting to shine. You can still find good pockets of colour in the understory of the trees, with a few patches of orange and reds remaining. There is now an impressive carpet of fallen leaves on the forest floor.
Parry Sound
100% – Leaf Fall: 70% // Predominant colours: Yellow, Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 19 from Killbear Park
Best viewing : Lots of vibrant red and orange trees throughout the park, especially near wetlands. While peak colour is usually the week leading up to Thanksgiving, it might be a bit earlier this year. Our beech trees hold on to their leaves until late October, adding a golden glow to late fall camping at Killbear. Best places for viewing are Lookout Point Trail, along the Eddie Ramsay Parkway and the Recreation Trail.
Georgian Bay
90% – Leaf Fall: 20% // Predominant colours: Red Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 20 from Wasaga Beach
Haliburton Highlands
100% – Leaf Fall: 50% // Predominant colours: Yellow, Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 15 from Silent Lake
Best viewing : All trails offer good viewing of fall colours. The lookout on the Bonnie’s Pond trail is a favorite spot to view the lake from an elevated perspective.
Midland | Penetanguishene
100% – Leaf Fall: 50% // Predominant colours: Pops of red, yellow and orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 19 from Awenda Park
From Ontario Parks: The park is officially past peak and the weekend rains have knocked off quite a few leaves. There is still some good colour along the park road. The campground is officially closed for the season but we remain open for day use. Park and pay at the Trail and Activity Centre.
Barrie | Horseshoe Valley | Orillia | Simcoe County
80% – Leaf Fall: 30% // Predominant colours: Yellow
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 13, Bass Lake
Southern Georgian Bay | Grey County | Blue Mountain
90% – Leaf Fall: 30% // Predominant colours: Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 15, Craigleith
Kawarthas / Northumberland
90% – Leaf Fall: 30% // Predominant colours: Yellow, Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 14, Petroglyphs
Muskoka
100% – Leaf Fall: 50% // Predominant colours: Red, Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 7, Arrowhead
Muskoka Driving Tour Ideas:
- Take Muskoka Rd 17 from Gravenhurst to Bracebridge, you can stop at Muskoka Beach for a gorgeous view of Lake Muskoka and enjoy the canopy views along the way
- Take Hwy 117 to Baysville and Dorset, stop and walk along the river in the park then to Dorset to the Lookout Tower
- Take Hwy 118 east Bracebridge to Hwy 35
- Take Hwy 118W to Port Carling, climb the hiking trail Huckleberry Rock, the pink granite rock cut overlooking Muskoka Lake, and loop through Windermere and Minett
- Take Muskoka Road 38
- Take Muskoka Rd 13 Severn Bridge to Torrance is a winding road, with lots of maple trees,
stop and hike through the Torrance Barren
Best Places and Things To Do To See Fall Colours:
Cranberry Harvest at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery
Muskoka Fall Colour Cruise
Best Way To Experience Fall Colours in Muskoka
Top Fall Driving Roads in Muskoka
Wye Marsh’s Fall Events
Fall Tours in Orillia & Lake Country
My Haliburton Highlands Fall Colour Report
Algonquin Park 3 Day Fall Colour Canoe Trip
Blue Mountain Village
Township of Algonquin Highlands Lookouts
Prince Edward County
90% – Leaf Fall: 30% // Predominant colours: Yellow
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 14 Presqu’ile
Best viewing : Some nice reds and oranges in Picnic Area 2. Under story leaves just starting to turn.
Upper Ottawa Valley/Renfrew County
90% – Leaf Fall: 60% // Predominant colours: Yellow
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 4 Bonnechere
Best viewing : Cabin road, Main park road, Riverloop, Day use
Ottawa Area
100% – Leaf Fall: 50% // Predominant colours: Orange, Yellow
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 13 from Fitzroy
Visit the following websites for more information and activities:
Wellington County | Fergus/Elora
70% – Leaf Fall: 20% // Predominant colours: Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 9 from Mono Cliffs
Lambton County
10% – Leaf Fall: 0 // Predominant colours: Green
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 8 from The Pinery
Best viewing : Not ready to give up on Summer? We are here for you! Pinery’s mighty Oaks are still lush and green, with a hint of yellow. Oak leaves tend to change colour and drop much later than other species. Pinery typically reaches full fall colour around early November. Stay tuned for updates!
Essex County | Leamington
50% – Leaf Fall: 10% // Predominant colours: Green
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 13 from Wheatley
Thunder Bay Area
90% – Leaf Fall: 40% // Predominant colours: Red, Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 2 from Pancake Bay
Sault Ste. Marie | Agawa Canyon
90% – Leaf Fall: 40% // Predominant colours: Orange Red
Northeastern Ontario
70% – Leaf Fall: 40% // Predominant colours: Yellow, Orange
Ontario Parks report date Sept. 28 from Grundy Lake
Best viewing : The leaves at Grundy Lake are nearing their peak showing brilliant yellow and orange with some splashes of red throughout the park. Chose one of our three hiking trails or take a paddle through our scenic lakes.
Niagara Region
Niagara Region | Niagara Falls
100% – Leaf Fall: 30% // Predominant colours: Yellow, Orange
Toronto & Area
York Region
100% – Leaf Fall: 20% // Predominant colours: Yellow
Durham Region
100% – Leaf Fall: 20% // Predominant colours: Yellow
Headwaters Region
70% – Leaf Fall: 20% // Predominant colours: Orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 9 from Mono Cliffs
Caledon Region
80% – Leaf Fall: 20% // Predominant colours: Green
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 9 Forks in the Credit
High Park
90% – Leaf Fall: 40% // Predominant colours: Red
Burlington
90% – Leaf Fall: 40% // Predominant colours: Yellow, orange
Ontario Parks report date Oct. 7 Bronté Creek
Fall Ontario Road Trip and Drive Ideas
- Alliston Nottawasaga Valley-Hockley Valley-Alton-Caledon
- Algonquin Park Area Fall Colour Drives-Choice of 3 routes
- Lake Simcoe-Round the Lake, Barrie, Orillia Fall Colours
- Georgian Bay Fall Colour Routes
- Muskoka Fall Colour Road Trips
- Barrie to Orangeville Fall Colours Route
- Haliburton – Huntsville Fall Colours Route
- Lake Simcoe Fall Colours Circle Tour
- Lake Ontario Shores From Grafton to Picton
- Lakefield to Barry’s Fall Colours Bay
- Land O’Lakes: Lennox Addington Fall Historic Tour
- North Bay to Timmins, Gogama, Sudbury, North Bay Fall Colors (Colours)
- North Bay – Sudbury Fall Route colours (colors)
- Peterborough – Kawarthas Fall Route colours
- Sault Ste. Marie Fall Route Colours
Fall Leaf Colour Progression Report
As reported by Ontario Parks for the 2020 season.
All data posted here is pulled from reports from provincial parks all over Ontario.
Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report
Fall Colour Reports direct from Ontario Parks’ website are a great resource if you’re heading to an Ontario park north in Ontario this fall.
View the full Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report here.
Predominant changes occur in Algonquin Park & area, and areas north of Highway 60.
Note that Dorset Tower is closed this year and due to crowding AP reserves the right to close the park when at safe capacity.
See suggested Algonquin Fall colour road trips and drives and our featured Ontario Parks here.