My Top 10 Fall Foliage Trails
This past fall, I took the opportunity to explore various hiking trails that were highly recommended for its epic fall foliage colours. The season for these fall colours to emerge is from late September to mid October. Southern Ontario has several popular locations where most flock to capture these splendid colours; however, there were some surprising spots below that for me were previously unheard of.
#1 Mill Pond - Milton, ON
Right in the heart of Milton downtown, is Mill Pond; which includes Centennial and Livingston Park. This hidden gem had the most spectacular colours on display in fall. The entrance along Garden Lane is where the image above was taken and the sun’s reflection on the canal with the fallen leaves, enhances the colours and beauty of this site. Livingston Park also had some gorgeous colours where you can hike through the tall trees and the gazebo at Centennial Park is a great spot to observe a peaceful view of Mill Pond. There is plenty of parking along Garden Lane and Livingston Park and It is also not too far from anyone living within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
#2 Mono Cliff Provincial Park - Mono, ON
This is a popular spot for Torontonians to check out north of Caledon. There are plenty of trails at this provincial park, including boardwalks along the limestone cliffs and trails along ponds and lakes. However, the best spot to capture the fall colours is the Lookout Trail and Lookout Point like the above image. This spectacular view captures the endless fall colours covering the hills, valleys and escarpment.
3# Caledon Trailway Path (The Great Trail of Canada) - Caledon, ON
The Caledon Trailway Path is part of the Great Trail of Canada; which connects the country from Nova Scotia to B.C. This is another hidden gem; which is a straight pathway trail; going between various farmlands, residences and even a golf course. The image above was captured crossing this bridge going over a creek at the Caledon Country Club, surrounded by some fantastic mixture of fall colours.
#4 Beamer Memorial Conservation Area - Grimsby, ON
This spot tucked up in the Niagara Escarpment in Grimsby is another spot with terrific fall colours that one can observe from its observation deck that is built at this lookout point. This Conservation Park includes several lookout points from the top of the escarpment but the path from this point takes you along the cliff next to a wilderness filled with colourful leaves and side trails that can take you down towards the Forty Mile Creek, where you merge into the Bruce Trail. One can also take this path towards Ridge Road West to visit both Beamer Falls and Lower Beamer Falls.
#5 Silver Creek Conservation Area - Halton Hills, ON
This is another surprising location found within Halton Hills. This is a massive conservation area filled with forests, valleys, waterfalls and diverse species of plant life. There is also several lookout points from above the escarpment to view the fall colours. There are also caves and bouldering rocks that one can hike through and a walk along a boardwalk through wetlands and a pond. The best place to park and start your hike here is at Scottsdale Farm.
#6 Lions Valley/16 Mile Creek - Oakville, ON
This is a popular spot for locals in Oakville and a great trail along the 16 Mile Creek. The trails go along the high and lower portions along the valley and there are several lookout points and observation decks to capture beautiful shots of the fall colours. Parking is quite limited at the main entrance but you can find residential streets at alternate locations and entry points from high above the valley.
#7 Rouge Urban National Park - Scarborough, ON
This is a great spot to check out the fall colours in the northeast corner of the GTA, along the borders of Scarborough and Pickering. The highlight would have to be the observation deck near the Zoo Road entrance of the Park. Anytime of the year, this spot would capture the endless view of the Valley, but the colours during the fall are priceless.
#8 Chedoke Radial Trail - Hamilton, ON
This a popular trail for those residing within the Hamilton area. Just south of the Chedoke Golf Club, lies this trail that passes by several popular waterfalls including Chedoke, Lower Chedoke, Westcliffe and Scenic Falls. The hike along the creek towards Chedoke Falls is a great site to check out the fall colours while hopping over rocks and streams and climbing up hillsides.
#9 Terra Cotta Conservation Area - Halton Hills, ON
This is a peaceful spot in Halton Hills for a morning walk. The trails surrounding the lake is clear and open and a quick walk to capture the natural beauty surrounding this fresh body of water. There is a trail going into the wetland, where there were some good lookout points to capture some images. There were also some intense trails that went through the wilderness and valleys.
#10 Robert Edmonson Conservation Area - Milton, ON
This is one of the smallest conservation areas that is part of the Halton Region Conservation Parks. Its a great place for a quick hike. The walk along the lake has some beautiful fall colours. The trails into the conservation area include boardwalks over wetlands and trails through the wilderness. This spot is no too busy either so its a great place to have some alone time and be at peace with nature.