Ontario “More to Discover” Fall Colour Report
The FALL COLOUR PROGRESSION REPORT is posted weekly on www.ontariotravel.net. You can call 1-800-ONTARIO for updated reports each Monday and Thursday during the beautiful fall colour season in the province of Ontario.
This is the report for Thursday, October 10, 2002
Northern Ontario
There is an 80% colour change in Dryden and south to Thunder Bay area and the colour is now at peak in Fort Frances. The drive north of Fort Frances on Highway 71 is beautiful. Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park is showing some excellent colour. Yellow and golds from the poplar, ash and birch trees in the region are dominant with some nice pockets of red.
Colours are at peak and spectacular now in the region along the north shore of Lake Superior across to Sault Ste. Marie. There are some beautiful areas of deep burgundy and orange along with gold and yellow in the region. Keep in mind the Agawa Canyon Tour train adventure is a great way to enjoy the beautiful fall colour, north of the Sault Ste. Marie region. It is best to call ahead and make a reservation for this outstanding tour. The last fall train excursion is Monday, October 14th.
In the Northeastern region we have an 80% colour change, at this time, in the Kirkland Lake area with some nice areas of bright yellow and orange along with pockets of red. Highway 66 near Esker Lake Provincial Park is showing some beautiful colour.
The North Bay region across to Temagami area is reporting an 80% colour change at this time. Bright reds, orange and yellows are predominant in the region. The Sudbury area is reporting some bright orange and red with about an 85% change.
Algonquin Park area is a favourite fall colour destination with the colour a little past peak. There is still a good mix of red, gold and yellow with about 80% colour and 20% leaf fall at this time. The highway 60 corridor through the park is always outstanding and the lookout, to the south from the Algonquin Park visitor centre, is an ideal viewing location.
Central Ontario
The Minden, Haliburton County region now enjoys a 70% change, with bright patches of red, yellow and orange. Haliburton will reach peak this Thanksgiving weekend. The fire tower lookout in Dorset, on Highway 35, is an outstanding fall colour location.
In the beautiful Muskoka region, the colour is peaking in the northern areas with close to an 80% change in the Gravenhurst area, south Muskoka region. Windermere area is especially nice. Colours are now brighter. The bright red and burgundy in the sumacs is beautiful. An ideal viewing location is Lion’s Lookout, in Huntsville.
The fall colour season has progressed to about a 60% change at this time, in the Parry Sound region. Highway 559 and Highway 69 northwest of Parry Sound are showing some very nice colour. Colours are further advanced south of Parry Sound.
The colour has been slow to advance to a 40% change in the Kawartha Lakes region. Colours are muted. The Barrie, Huronia area features a 70% change with some nice pockets of bright red and orange in the Horseshoe Valley region, northeast of Barrie.
Eastern Ontario
The Pembroke region along the Ottawa River is showing some nice areas of colour, about an 80% colour change, with pockets of red, yellow and orange. Highways 512, 514 and 41 are especially nice.
The Brockville, 1000 Island area is featuring a 40% colour change at this time with pockets of muted orange and yellow with green for contrast along the 1000 Island Parkway region. A cruise through the 1,000 Islands is always an outstanding way to enjoy the colours of the area.
Ottawa Region
The Ottawa area is offering nice pockets of colour, about a 50% colour change. Yellow, orange and red are dominant with a walk along the beautiful Rideau Canal, an excellent way to enjoy the colours of the Ottawa region. Colours should be close to peak this upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
Western Ontario
This is an excellent time to tour the Owen Sound area, along the Georgian Bay shoreline to Meaford and Thornbury and south into the beautiful Beaver Valley area. There is a 60% colour change at this time, in the Owen Sound region, with yellow and gold being dominant colours. There are some nice pockets of colour on highway 6 in the Bruce Peninsula heading toward Wiarton. There is an 80% colour change in the spectacular Beaver Valley with colours close to peak.
The Inglis Falls area, near Owen Sound, offers an outstanding viewing location and the drive into the Beaver Valley from Highway 4 in the south, is always excellent. There are several scenic lookouts in the area. The Hockley Valley region and Caledon area are always popular fall colour destinations. The area is just starting to show some nice colour with about 35% change. Green still the dominant colour in the area.
The Royal Botanical Gardens is just starting to show some small pockets of colour with just a 10% change. Pinery Provincial Park, along the shoreline of Lake Huron is a great fall colour destination with beautiful hiking trails. The colour is just starting in this area with a 20% change, mainly in the sumacs.
Niagara Falls Region
We are just starting to see some small pockets of colour with about a 10% change. The Niagara Parkway from Niagara on the Lake to Fort Erie is always an outstanding fall colour destination. The spectacular view to the north, from the Brock Monument in Queenston, is always outstanding but especially nice in the autumn. Also the many wine routes offer excellent fall colour tours as the season advances.
Greater Toronto Region
The Greater Toronto region is starting to show some pockets of colour. A few pockets of red and yellow along Lakeshore Drive and the Don Valley Parkway Region. The High Park area is still mostly green at this time.
There are fall colour studio tours around Ontario that offer travellers the opportunity to purchase some one of a kind hand crafted items and enjoy the beautiful colours at the same time. These are selfguided tours that start and finish where you like. The following tours take place this Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
Haliburton Studio Tour- in Haliburton County
Images Studio Tour- Barrie through Orillia region
Victoria County Studio Tour – Lindsay region and north/Kawartha Lakes
Escarpment Studio Tour- Owen Sound region
Thanksgiving Studio Tour – Parry Sound
Perth Autumn Studio Tour
