Fall Colours Reach Peak in Parts of Southern Ontario Heading Into First Weekend of October

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NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE

Fall colours have been slow to arrive in parts of Southern Ontario due to a relatively mild September, but as we move into the first weekend of October, the transformation is starting to take hold. Several parks are now within their 'peak' fall colours range, providing excellent viewing opportunities.

The best spots to see the vibrant colours this weekend will be in Central and Eastern Ontario, as well as Bruce County along the Lake Huron shoreline. Many parks in these areas are showing between 40-50% colour change, with some even nearing full transformation!

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Note: The above map is extrapolated using data from OntarioParks.ca, but some parks may not have updated their latest report yet. As such, the actual colour change in your area may be further along than currently reported.

All provincial parks in Southern Ontario are reporting at least 10% colour change, indicating that the seasonal shift is well underway. However, it could take another week or two for many areas to reach their 'peak.'

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s likely that much of Southern Ontario will be hitting its peak fall colours, making it the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of the season during the long weekend.

For those wondering, 'peak' fall colours occur when at least 60% of the leaves have changed. Based on this, Algonquin and Mikisew Parks are officially in their peak, though this won’t last long. Mikisew is already reporting 70% of its leaves have fallen, so Algonquin might be a better option for now, with only 20% leaf fall reported.

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Several provincial parks are currently showing between 40-50% colour change, mostly in Central and Eastern Ontario:

  • Arrowhead (50%)

  • Charleston Lake (50%)

  • Frontenac (50%)

  • MacGregor Point (50%)

  • Sturgeon Bay (40%)

  • Darlington (40%)

  • Turkey Point (40%)

  • Murphys Point (40%)

  • Bon Echo (40%)

  • Silent Lake (40%)

  • Driftwood (40%)

These parks are offering good chances to catch the fall display, and since the data can be a few days old, they may already be approaching peak colours by the weekend.

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The remaining parks in Southern Ontario are reporting 20-30% colour change, especially around Lake Ontario and Southwestern Ontario near Lake Huron.

Parks like Pinery, Awenda, Presqu’ile, Forks of the Credit, and Port Burwell are still at about 10%, but with cooler fall weather settling in, this will likely change quickly in the coming days. The peak for these parks is expected to arrive in 10-15 days, just in time for Thanksgiving weekend or shortly after.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to track the progress of fall colours across Southern Ontario!