EXPLORE THE FALL COLOURS
Image – Bear Lake Area
Nothing like a road trip
Weather by car or motorcycle, enjoy the majestic views from the side of the road.
Fall Colour Update
| Colour Change | Leaf Fall | Date Reported | Comments | |
| Dorset Lookout Tower | 30% | 5% | Sept 24, 2026 | In Dorset the reds and oranges of the maples have rapidly increased over this past week. Of the more than 800 square kilometers that can be seen from the top of the Tower, we are observing patches of fall colours throughout the distant hills… Advanced Tickets for Fall Colours |
| Algonquin Park | 90% | 25% | Oct 2, 2026 | There are spectacular viewing opportunities along the Highway 60 Corridor and the Park’s trails and day use areas. Obtain your daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance to guarantee your access to the park. Please use designated parking areas. Do not park on the side of the road, which is dangerous and illegal. To learn more, visit our blog: Fall Colours at Algonquin |
| Oxtongue Lake | 90% | 20% | Oct 2, 2026 | The entire length of the short trail leading to the top of the falls shows spectacular colours. The view from the top of the waterfalls is the best view. |
| Minden Village | 90% | 30% | Oct 2, 2026 | The cooler nights are starting to have and effect of the trees, colours are really showing |
| Haliburton Village | 40% | 10% | Sept 27, 2026 | A few chilly nights have really made the colours pop! The bright oranges and reds in Haliburton are gorgeous at any time, but they look especially magical against the blue sky on a sunny day… Haliburton Museum |
| Silent Lake | 80% | 25% | Oct 2, 2026 | Silent Lake has many beautiful scenic locations and hiking trails to view fall colours: Lakehead Loop (1.5 km), Bonnies Pond (3 km), and the Lakeshore Hiking Trail (15 km). These trails offer a variety of viewpoints such as a lookout, beaches, heavily forested areas, and many lakeside viewing areas. |
| Eagle Lake | 80% | 20% | Oct 2, 2026 | Peak colour is coming! The ski hill summit and surrounding hills are alive with bold oranges and golds at their brightest yet. Grab your camera, hit the trails, or take a lift ride to our observation tower for a panoramic view. Peak colour doesn’t stay around for long but it looks like colours will be good through Thanksgiving weekend…. The view from the Eagle View Lookout Tower offers an unobstructed view across 3000 hectares of forest. Add some fall fun at the Thanksgiving Festival at Sir Sam’s. It’s a beautiful drive through Haliburton and the village of Eagle Lake then up Sir Sam’s Rd…. Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike |
| South Gate Algonquin Park | 50% | 0% | Sept 24, 2026 | Many reds, deep purply reds, yellows and oranges. Looking across the lake now is giving a beautiful view, almost at a quilt stage.. it is coming up fast! Looks like it will be a perfect weekend for exploring the highlands! www.algonquinsouthgate.com Enjoy the colours on a stunning drive up Elephant Lake Road, by paddle up the York River or along the High Falls Hiking Trail! Compl. of Deep Roots Adventure |
| Wilberforce Village | 65% | 3% | Sept 29, 2026 | Here is a link to Highlands East mineral sites where you can enjoy some of the fall colours. https://www.highlandseast.ca/explore-play/mineral-collecting/ ... Parts of the Prospector Trail are a must see. |
Maple, Aspen & Tamarack
There are so many ways to experience the transform the forest canopy into a blazing sea of red, orange and yellows.
Plan a Trip to Algonquin Park and the Haliburton Highlands
These dates are our best guess for when to see the fall colours this year. Please note, these are just educated guesses based on historical trends. There are many factors that affect when the fall colours will be best for viewing, and these conditions and dates may change slightly from year to year.
- Early fall colour viewing opportunities: Sept 14 – Sept 30
- Peak maple fall colour viewing opportunities: Oct 1 – Oct 12
- Peak golden encore fall colour viewing opportunities: Oct 13 – 21
Dorset, Halls Lake & Oxtongue Area
Buttermilk Falls
Best places to view the fall colours:
- Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower
- Algonquin Provincial Park
- Haliburton Highlands Water Trails – Frost Centre
Best ways to experience the fall colours:
- Discover the Group of Seven at Oxtongue Lake
- See the colours from the water with boat rentals from Little Hawk Resort & Marina
- Get up close and personal with the roaring sound of water at Hawk Lake Log Chute
- Find this great lookout at the end of James Cooper Lookout Trail
- Take the popular Ragged Falls Canoe Trip, a three to four hour paddle offered by Algonquin Outfitters or try a Geology Road Cut Tour where your guide will lead you to several road cuts, pulling off to the side of the road to examine rock formations unique to the area and explaining how they came to be.
Eagle Lake, West Guilford & Village of Haliburton Area
Haliburton Highlands Golf Course
Best places to view the fall colours:
Best ways to experience the fall colours:
- Take a walk in the clouds at Haliburton Forest and be one with the fall canopy, and while you are there, check out the Wolf Centre
- One of the best spots for hiking is the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, a unique outdoor collection of sculptures located in the forest of Glebe Park
- Golf at the Haliburton Highlands Golf Club and enjoy the scenic grounds and don’t forget the Pinestone Resort and Lakeside Golf Club
- Discover local artists at the Rails End Gallery and find something to take home with you
- The Haliburton Farmer’s Market runs every Tuesday, 10am to 2pm, until Thanksgiving weekend
Gooderham, Harcourt & Village of Wilberforce area
Silent Lake Provincial Park
Best places to view the fall colours:
Best ways to experience the fall colours:
- With over 70 lake & over 30 public water access points you can find someway to go every day during this fall season, just ask Deep Roots Adventure
- Still time to create family memories while searching for treasure, learn more about Geocaching Capital of Canada
- Two of the best spots for satisfying your hunger are Agnew’s General Store in Wilberforce and Algonquin Cookhouse in Harcourt
- Explore the rich minerals deposits, unique geological features, and rugged autumn landscapes of the area while enjoying the great hospitality and fine folk of the Highlands
- If you are driving around looking at the colours why not see if you can find these four ghost towns
Village of Minden & surrounding Area
Panorama Park – Lookout
Best places to view the fall colours:
Best ways to experience the fall colours:
- Unique to the world, visit the Minden Hills Cultural Centre and find the Art, History and Nature that tells a story and has a large Andre Lapine collection…
- Minden Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday 10am to 2pm until Thanksgiving Weekend
- Find a Walking trail around town and discover a boardwalk in the middle of the village that takes you through a beautiful wetland
- Exceptional golf at Gull River Golf Club or the Blairhampton Golf Club, two of the area’s top courses
- See the colours from the water. Visit the Minden White Water Preserve
We can fix your hunger while you are visiting
With the fall season also here that means it is harvest season… be sure to visit one of our local marketsplaces.
Also check out our Feast ON certified restaurant, as well as our 2 local Breweries, you’re going to be amazed…
Why not stay overnight and be able to see more of the highlands
Adventure at High Falls
Pick your adventure at High Falls By Rick Whitteker - Nature writer & outdoor guide I like taking the road less travelled. During my international travel days, I enjoyed the adventure of avoiding the bolded attractions in the Let’s Go or Lonely Planet guides,...
Savour Snowdon Park
Savour Snowdon Park's slow Adventure By Darren Lum - Adventurer. Biker. Freelancer. Former Dogsled guide, and long-time “newspaper guy.” Come for the lookouts, but stay for the discovery. Snowdon Park offers an approachable trail for beginner hikers and a...
Escape to Ritchie Falls
Escape to Ritchie Falls By Darren Lum - Adventurer. Biker. Freelancer. Former Dogsled guide, and long-time “newspaper guy.” Bask in everything Ritchie Falls can offer with a visit to tantalize the senses. It's where you can forget your troubles for however...
Pat Monaghan – Where the stars hang out
Where the Stars Hang Out By Kimberly Strong-Knight Pat Monaghan is no stranger to the Haliburton Highlands. A well-known radio personality on Canoe.FM with his Buckslide Blues Cruise on Tuesday nights, he has been calling this area his home off and on for more than...
Fire Tower Trail – Loop with all the fixings
A loop trail with all the fixings By Rick Whitteker - Nature writer & outdoor guide If you are looking for a looped hiking trail in the Haliburton Highlands that checks off all the boxes, I have a suggestion. Moderate terrain, lakeside vistas, mature forest, well...
Abbey Gardens- Trails and more
Abbey Gardens- Trails and more! By Rick Whitteker - Nature writer & outdoor guide I like hiking. It is the best way I can find to move the body, exercise the heart, and calm the mind. At Abbey Gardens, everything is anchored in a philosophy of sustainability and...