Fall is near, that short period where the lush green foliage of summer gives way to the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges of autumn. Take your leaf peeping adventure beyond your neighborhood this year. Get outside and experience the magic and splendour of fall colours. Enjoy the sights from the ground, air or water, find out why the real beauty of an Ontario fall is best experienced in cottage country.
Go on a Cruise
Instead of limiting yourself to your hometown leaf display, opt for a fall foliage cruise. Experience the colours on Muskoka’s waterways on board Lady Muskoka down the Muskoka River, or through Lake of Bays on board the SS Bigwin. View the colours by water on these other majestic vessels:
Lady Muskoka – in Bracebridge
Muskoka Steamships – in Gravenhurst
Sunset Cruises – in Port Carling
SS Bigwin – in Lake of Bays
Midland Tours – in Port Severn
Island Queen Cruise – in Parry Sound
By Hike or Bike
Thousands of visitors from around the world are attracted by the outstanding fall colour viewing opportunities at many Ontario Parks. Explore foliage through the trails at Algonquin or Arrowhead Park by hike or bike. (Keep track of the colour changing in the region with this handy Fall Colours Report from Ontario Parks.)
From High Above
One of the best ways to view the annual fall colours show is by aircraft. Leaf peep by helicopter over Muskoka and Algonquin Park on a sight seeing tour with Heli Muskoka. View the pristine waters and vivid colours by seaplane during a Fall Colours Tour across Lake Manitouwabing, Lake Rosseau, and Lake Joseph with Georgian Bay Airways.
In the Trees
Enjoy breathtaking views of the fall colours on a 3.5 to 4 hour Canopy Tour at the Haliburton Forest. Climb, swing and zip through a canopy of coloured leaves at Treetop Trekking zip line park in Huntsville. Freefall your way back to the ground off the 41 foot high Jump Tower at Muskoka Zip Lines & Aerial Park in Bracebridge.
On Horseback or Wagon Ride
A unique way to admire the colours is by horseback or carriage. Ride through pastures and forest trails at Winding Fences Farm in Utterson or Maple Lane Farms in Bracebridge, for a little romance experience a horse drawn wagon or carriage ride at Back of Beyond Equine Centre in Huntsville.
Best places to view the fall colours
There are tons of great spots to view the autumn foliage in cottage country. Here are places to consider when you’re making your fall getaway plans.
Muskoka
- Huckleberry Rock Lookout
- Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Near North
- High Rock Lookout
- Fire Tower Trail Lookout
Huntsville
- Big Bend Lookout and Stubbs Falls at Arrowhead Park
- Lion’s Lookout Trail
Lake of Bays
- Dorset Look out tower
- Oxtongue Rapids Trail
Bracebridge
- Strawberry Point Trail and Lookout
- Silver Bridge and Bracebridge Falls
- Huckleberry Rock Lookout
Gravenhurst
- Lookout Park
- Peninsula Trail
Georgian Bay
- Georgian Bay Islands National Park
- Big Chute Marine Railway
Parry Sound
- Killbear Provincial Park
- Parry Sound Fire Tower
Haliburton
- Skyline Park
- Panorama Park
Kawartha Lakes
- Burleigh Falls
- Warsaw Caves
Where to Stay
We offer cottage vacation destinations to help you embrace the great outdoors and take in all the beautiful foliage. Come and experience the colours at some of the best fall foliage getaways by the water.
Ontario Cottage Rentals is a registered member of TICO (The Travel Industry Council of Ontario.) Registration #: 50021215