Breathtaking Places to Visit This Fall in Ontario

Ontario is filled with great places to visit this fall, ranging from provincial parks to charming towns throughout the province. There are so many breathtaking places to admire fall foliage, whether you enjoy hiking through the forest or relaxing near one of the lakes.

The picturesque parks are amazing to visit during the fall as the temperature cools and the leaves change colours. Hiking during the fall is an absolute must with the colourful red and orange trees! Whether searching for a day trip or a fall weekend escape, there’s definitely an amazing destination for you in Ontario!

Continue reading to explore incredible places in Ontario to visit this Fall!

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Best Places to Visit in Ontario in Fall

Algonquin Provincial Park

By Mikaela of Voyageur Tripper

Algonquin Provincial Park is the quintessential autumn destination for backcountry camping in Ontario. Rich boreal forest and shimmering lakes cover nearly 8,000 sq km and offer more than 2,000 km of canoe routes. While a trip to Algonquin is excellent anytime of year, it is especially magical in the fall. Leaves of the many species of deciduous trees, most notably birch and maple, change to yellows and reds. Set against a backdrop of dark green pine and spruce, the hills come alive with the colourful pallet.

Although the evenings may get a little chilly, autumn is still an excellent time to be camping in the backcountry. There are tons of canoe routes suitable for all levels (including beginners) and there are three backpacking trails. For those not wanting to spend the night in the wilderness, there are also day hikes and day paddles available in the park.Visitors to Algonquin will want to bring a camera to capture the beautiful foliage. A tripod is also recommended for capturing the Milky Way at night and fog on the lake in the mornings. Regardless of how you choose to enjoy the park, Algonquin in autumn is sure to be a beautiful adventure!

Bruce Peninsula National Park

Bruce Peninsula National Park is one of the best places to visit in Ontario during the fall season due to the incredible hikes and stunning scenery. Located about 300 km from Toronto, it is a great choice for a weekend fall trip! As it is one of the most beautiful places in Ontario, the park can be quite busy this time of the year with travellers desiring to see the beautiful fall foliage. It is best to arrive early so you can enjoy the park with little people around.

On a day trip to Bruce Peninsula National Park, you can hike, swim in the cool waters by the grotto, canoe, take a ferry to Flowerpot Island, and so much more! There are many hiking trails with varying difficulty levels, but they are all scenic routes through the forest and along the cliffs in the park.

Inglis Falls

Located within Inglis Falls Conservation Area near Owen Sound, Inglis Falls drops over an 18-meter cliff and is a cascading type fall. The paths are great to explore the surrounding nature and are very well maintained. It is a great spot to take the family for a day in nature and a picnic!

It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southern Ontario and the best in the area. The viewing platforms are right off of the parking lot, making it a quick stopover on your way to your fall destination.

Toronto

Who doesn’t love visiting Toronto during the fall? The city is lively and full of events during the fall, just as it is every season. Visitors love to explore High Park for scenic walks and picnics with the beautiful fall foliage, along with visiting the shops along King Street or Queen Street. During the fall, it’s a great time to go bar-hopping and visiting one of the many patios in the city for a drink.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

By Sarah of In Search of Sarah

Tucked away on the shores of Lake Ontario and sitting at the mouth of the Niagara River lies Niagara-on-the-Lake, a charming Victorian town well known for the Shaw Festival Theatre and the abundance of wineries, all unique in their own way. It makes for a popular tourist destination and a wonderful weekend getaway, whether you choose to stay in a vintage hotel or bed and breakfast.

Fall is an incredible time to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake and offers fun activities to do like wagon tours through the vineyards at Small Talk Winery (be sure to try their Pumpkin Cider too!), and guided tours through wineries throughout harvest season (there’s lots to learn about with winemaking!), or enjoying a meal at one of many restaurants along Queen Street. There are almost 30 wineries to explore, leaving limitless options for winery visits and tastings.

You can also take guided ghost tours through town, and what better time to do this than the fall with the lead-up to Halloween? 

Niagara-on-the-Lake is only 20 minutes from Niagara Falls as well, and offers numerous hiking paths which are perfect for witnessing the changing colours of the fall season!

Not a wine drinker? See this list of 12 unique things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake that aren’t wineries!

Lake Superior Provincial Park

Lake Superior Provincial Park is a great place to visit this fall in Ontario due to the amazing lake and scenic trails through the forest. This is one of the largest parks in Ontario, covering over 1500 square kilometres. It is located near Sault Ste. Marie and is definitely one of the best places in Northwestern Ontario to visit in fall.

Within the park, you can hike, swim, boat, fish, and so much more. The many hiking trails make for great walks through the stunning fall foliage! Depending on where you are travelling from, you can visit the park on a day trip, or opt to camp in the area for a night or two. Backcountry camping is a popular activity in this area and is definitely enjoyable during the cooler fall weather!

The park is home to a long stretch of beach, where you can set up a picnic and admire the amazing views of Lake Superior. Depending on the weather, you may be able to jump into the lake for a swim. It definitely gets cold later in the year, though!

Arrowhead Provincial Park

By Brianna of Curious Travel Bug

Arrowhead Provincial Park is a fantastic destination to experience the fall colours of Ontario. Located in the Muskokas outside of Huntsville, it’s only a 2.5 hour drive from Toronto so it can be done as a day or weekend trip.

The fall colours of Arrowhead are vibrant with bright red and golden yellow leaves. At the park, there are two things not to miss on your visit. The first is Big Bend Lookout. This viewpoint looks out over a huge bend in the river and is beautiful with the fall colours around it.

After Big Bend, take the short hike to Stubbs Falls. This 3.9km hike takes you to a scenic bridge with a small waterfall. It’s a really pleasant hike and easy enough that it is accessible to most people. This is the most popular hike in the park so you likely won’t get it to yourself but there are beautiful autumn leaves to be seen here. If you have time, you can end your time at Arrowhead by canoeing around the lake.

On the way to or from Arrowhead, you should get off the highway and take one of the scenic drives here. One of the prettiest is from Baysville to South Portage Road. It’s a small detour but gives plenty of scenic views along a lake and with bright fall colours.

The area around Huntsville is perfect for a fall destination, with lots of viewpoints and scenic drives to explore.

Ottawa

Ottawa is one of the best places in Ontario to visit in fall due to the stunning photogenic buildings and great events throughout the city. Outdoor markets are still lively during the early fall season, with ByWard Market being a great place to explore. Visitors can explore the city on foot, enjoy outdoor music, or even take a cruise along Rideau Canal.

The cool weather comes quick in Ottawa, so be sure to visit early on in the fall if you are looking for foliage and exploring comfortably outdoors!

Places to stay in Ottawa: Holiday Inn Express & Suites | Sandman Signature Ottawa Airport Hotel | Fairmont Chateau Laurier | …and more!

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County is one of the best places in Ontario to visit to experience fall foliage and enjoy the outdoors before winter hits. It’s an ideal destination for a day trip from Toronto as it is only about 2.5 hours away and located right off the highway.

Here, you can visit two beautiful parks – Sandbanks Provincial Park and Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Both offer fantastic fall hiking trails through the forest and views of the water. Sandbanks is the most popular park to visit due to the great beaches and roaring hills of sand in the park. At the tip of Presqu’ile Provincial Park, there is a neat lighthouse overlooking the water. Both are great options, but you’ll likely only have time to visit one on a day trip.

Prince Edward County is also known for its wineries and vineyards. The cooler fall weather makes for a great winery hopping adventure, where you can taste wine at one or more of the over 40 wineries in the area. Most wineries offer snacks and small meals to enjoy while you taste many varieties of wine that the county has.

After wine tasting, head to one of the amazing restaurants in the area to enjoy before heading back to your hotel or back home!

Niagara Falls

By Christina of Travel2Next

Fall season is one of the best times of year to visit Niagara Falls, which straddles both the USA and Canada. The Fall colours in this iconic region are spectacular and one of the best times to go on a trip is in September or October. Throughout Niagara Falls, the leaves of the maple trees turn into brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. It’s possibly the most beautiful time of year for photography.

One of the fun things to do in Niagara Falls during this season is going on a Hornblower cruise to the base of the Falls. And if you take the journey at night, you’ll be amazed to see the waterfall illuminated by colourful lights. Another favourite tour is exploring behind the Falls on the ‘Journey Behind the Falls’. The weather in Fall is warm and sunny, making it a fantastic place to enjoy outdoor activities such as zip lining, hiking, cycling, jet boating and doing yoga beside the falls.

Kawartha Lakes

By Oksana & Max of Drink Tea & Travel

The Kawartha Lakes region explodes with colour in the fall. It is one of the best places in the province to experience local culture and fall foliage. You can go for a scenic drive, attend one of the region’s many fall fairs or explore lesser known places along the Arts and Heritage Trail.

The Kawartha Lakes region encompasses Balsam Lake Provincial Park. This beautiful park has camping available, a robust fall activity program and a plethora of hiking trails. The lookout trail is 2.6 kilometers and is a great way to take in the fall foliage.

The Arts and Heritage Trail is not a physical trail. Instead it is made up of a series of local shops and attractions that have been given the Arts Trail designation for their cultural importance. You’ll find galleries, historical sites, and artisan shops along the “trail”. 

The Bobcaygeon Fall Fair is one of the most anticipated fairs in the region. It is a celebration of local agricultural businesses and first began in 1858. You can find rides, vendors, entertainment, music, competitions and more at the Bobcaygeon Fall Fair. 

While you’re there don’t miss your chance to sample Kawartha Lakes ice cream. The region’s namesake ice cream has a long history in the area. 

Hamilton

Hamilton is a great destination in Ontario for a fall trip due to the 100+ waterfalls in the area and the scenic hiking trails. Conveniently located just over an hour from Toronto, the city makes for a great day trip via car or Go Train. Hamilton is home to some of Ontario’s most stunning waterfalls, most with beautiful hikes through the forest in the area. Due to the large number of waterfalls, you can definitely visit multiple in a single day!

Some of the best waterfalls with scenic fall hikes in Hamilton include:

• Albion Falls
• Webster Falls
• Tew Falls
• Devil’s Punchbowl

After enjoying a scenic fall hike in the area, head to downtown Hamilton to explore the charming downtown area. There are plenty of different restaurants to choose from with numerous different cuisines. You can also opt to checkout one of the many bars and clubs in the city too!

What are your top places to visit in Ontario during Fall? Let me know in the comments!

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