Fall Colour Report: Ontario

This is the report for Tuesday, October 14, 2008

In the far north western region of Ontario the colours are now past peak. The drive from Kenora to Minaki continues to offer some bright yellow with pockets of orange. The colour is past peak in the Fort Frances region with some areas of dull yellow and pockets of red along Highway 11. The colour is now well past peak in the Thunder Bay region. We still have some small pockets of yellow and orange remaining with about 60% leaf fall. The colours are now fading in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma region. There are still pockets of burgundy, orange, gold and red with about 40% leaf fall. The colours are now just past peak with some bright red and orange being the dominant colours on Manitoulin Island and across to the Sudbury area. The A.Y Jackson Lookout at Ramsey Lake is a great viewing location. The North Bay region features colour past peak with some remaining pockets bright red, orange and yellow along with some leaf fall. The colour is now well past peak with about 50% leaf fall in Temagami. The remaining colours have faded. The Algonquin Park area is an extremely popular fall colour destination. The highway 60 corridor is offering colour past peak at this time. It continues to be a good time to tour the park although the colours are fading and there is some leaf fall. Dominant colours continue to be red, orange, burgundy and dull yellow. An ideal viewing location, during the fall colour season is the view from the observation deck at the world class Algonquin Park visitor centre. There are several hiking trails, with start points on Highway 60, that offer an outstanding fall colour experience including Track and Tower, Centennial Ridges, Booth’s Rock and Lookout Trail. Ragged Falls, just off highway 60 outside the west gate of Algonquin, also offers an ideal viewing location during the colour season.

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The colours are at Peak in the Parry Sound region featuring vibrant red, golden yellows and burnt orange. Highways 141 and 124 are showing some excellent colour. The Muskoka area and across to the Haliburton region is also at Peak with bright pockets of burgundy, red and orange. Ideal viewing locations are the fire tower lookout in Dorset and Lion's Lookout in Huntsville. Highways 35, 117 and 118 always offer outstanding fall colour. The various boat cruises of the 30,000 islands and the beautiful Muskoka Lakes are a great way to enjoy the fall colour season. In the Kawartha Lakes region the colours are just past peak. Pockets of vibrant red, rust, yellow and deep orange are the dominant colours in the area along with some leaf fall. The Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls area and onto the Kinmount region always offer some nice fall colour touring. Highways 35 and 121 are excellent fall colour routes. The colour is now at Peak across the Barrie, Orillia, Midland area and over to Collingwood. During the fall colour season, ideal viewing locations include the Horseshoe Valley region and at the top of Blue Mountain at Scenic Caves. The colours are advancing in the beautiful Hockley Valley region with Peak colour change. The Airport Road area of the Hockley Valley is always outstanding during the fall.

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The colours have advanced quickly over the last week in the Ottawa area and are at Peak. A walk or bike ride along the beautiful Rideau Canal is always a great way to enjoy the colours in Ottawa. The area parkways offer great fall viewing as well.

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In the Pembroke area the colours are now past peak with about 30% leaf fall. Highways 60, 62, 515,512, 514 and County Road 64 are still offering nice pockets of colour at this time. There is a 70% colour change in the Belleville region with the Loyalist Parkway, in Prince Edward County, a beautiful drive any time of the year but especially nice during the fall. The Taste and Art Trails, throughout the area are a great way to take in the colours of the region. The 1,000 island region is reporting a 75% colour change with the 1,000 Island Parkway offering nice pockets of burgundy, red and orange. The Brockville region to Prescott is reporting some nice pockets of colour as well and a 70% change. There is an 80% change now in the Cornwall region.

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The colour season has certainly advanced in the Owen Sound region with colours now at Peak. Ideal viewing locations, in this area, include Inglis Falls and Harrison Park. The Beaver Valley, Kimberley area is a very popular fall colour destination with the colours slightly past peak. The area still offers colours of bright orange and yellow with some leaf fall. There are numerous lookouts along County Road 13 as you head north into the valley from County Road 4. The views are spectacular. The Elora Gorge area, near Fergus is always a great area for a fall colour hike. The area is offering a 90% change. The eastern shoreline of Lake Huron around Goderich is offering a 70% colour change with some beautiful pockets of colour and about 20% leaf fall. Further to the south west the Sarnia region is reporting a 50% change at this time, in particular the area along the St. Clair Parkway.

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There is a 40% colour change now with areas of bright yellow, orange and bright red. The colours should peak by this weekend or the first of next week. The Niagara Parkway from Niagara on the Lake to Fort Erie always offers an outstanding fall colour drive as the colours advance. A great way to enjoy the colours in the region is by biking or hiking the recreational trail that runs parallel to the parkway. The view to the north, along the Niagara River from the Brock Monument is always beautiful but especially nice during the fall. Regional Road 81 always offers a great fall colour drive.

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We are now seeing some nice colour in the Toronto parkland areas and along the waterfront. There is a 50% change at this time with High Park, always an excellent location, for a fall colour walk. Just north of Toronto, York Region has advanced to a 70% colour change with the Kortright Centre for Conservation, a great spot for a fall hike. The various conservation areas just north of Toronto including Bruce’s Mill, on Stouffville Road offers great fall colour this time of year as well.

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