25+ Bucket List Ideas for Fall Activities and Getaways in Ontario

When Ontario comes alive with vibrant colours in autumn, cities and towns across the province offer a unique environment, and distinct character for visitors and locals to truly explore.

No matter what you choose to do in Ontario, there are hundreds of fun things you’ll want to add to your bucket list this fall. Here are just 25+ ideas to add to your Fall bucket list.

For events & festivals in 2025, see – 50 Activities and Festivals to Experience in Ontario This Fall Season

1. See Salmon Run

As the temperature cools, Pacific Salmon (Coho, Chinook) migrate upstream from Ontario’s Great Lakes to lay their eggs in the shallows before winter settles in. Here are a few places to see the silver-coloured fish, which is now almost black in colour, making the final trip of their lives. Visit from late September to early October.

• Owen Sound: Walk the trail from Harrison Park to Inglis Falls Conservation Area and see Salmon migrate up the Mill Dam & Fish Ladder.
• Port Hope – Ganaraska River: Exit Hwy 401 at exit 464 and head to Jocelyn Street, turn right and follow it until you meet the Ganaraska River where you can experience the wonder of migration.
• Nottawa: See Chinook salmon making their way up spawning grounds in the Pretty River. (Festival on Sept. 27th)
• Various Locations in GTA

Fall Across Ontario:

• Sudbury
• Ottawa
• Kingston
• GTA:  York, Durham, Peel, Halton
• Hamilton
• KW Region
• London
• SW Ontario
• Guide: Must Visit Ontario Small Towns & Cities During Fall

2. Harvest Some Cranberries

Harvest your own cranberries or see how cranberries are harvested at Ontario’s Cranberry Farms.

• Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, 1074 Cranberry Rd, Bala
• Upper Canada Cranberries, 2283 Stagecoach Rd, Osgoode/Ottawa (Mid September to Early November)

3. Navigate a corn maze

Corn mazes are a fall staple where you can immerse yourself in a memorable experience with friends and family and navigate your way through an in-person puzzle. List of Corn Mazes in Ontario. 

• The Hanes Corn Maze,  #1001 HWY #5 West, Dundas
• Wagon Wheel Produce & Corn Maze, 1371 Charlotteville Rd 7, Simcoe
• Cooper’s CSA Farm & Maze, 266 Ashworth Rd, Zephyr
• Cricklewood Farm, 14953 County 2 Rd, Brighton
• Strom’s Farm & Bakery, 5089 Wellington Rd 32, Guelph

4. See Lighted Pumpkin Displays

Take a tour on foot or by car and check out some pumpkin displays to brighten up your evening.

• Pumpkinferno: Take a tour through this spectacular outdoor art exhibit of 7,000 handcrafted pumpkins all lit at night along a kilometer-long path in a picturesque 19th-century backdrop @ Upper Canada Village, Village Rd, Morrisburg
• Pumpkins After Dark:  Over 150 one-of-a-kind pumpkin sculptures, displayed with a showcase of jack-o-lanterns, will light up the grounds at Country Heritage Park in Milton.
• PumpkInferno: See magical outdoor exhibits of artificial hand-carved pumpkins located on the grounds of Discovery Harbour.
• Fall Pumpkin Celebration:  Royal Botanical Gardens – Rock Garden, 1185 York Boulevard, Hamilton

5. Experience Autumn Colours at an Ontario park

Head over to an Ontario park and marvel at the changing fall scenery, including the red, orange, and yellow leaves, while you take in the cool air on a hike or on a bike ride. Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report.

• 25 Hikes to Enjoy Fall Colours in Ontario

6. Go on a Cruise

Perhaps the best way to see fall colours is to go on a cruise across Ontario’s waterways.  Traverse the Trent-Severn lift locks, or enjoy various scenarios of Ontario’s Cottage Country as you cruise the myriad waterways. Thanksgiving weekend is the last day of operation for many cruise operators and is also one of the most popular weekends for fall colour tours. So book soon if you are planning to go on one.

• The Island Queen Cruise, 9 Bay Street, Parry Sound
• Liftlock & The Riverboat Cruises, Peterborough
• Grand River Cruises, 36 Brant County Road 22, Caledonia
• 1000 Islands Cruise, Gananoque

7. Go Apple Picking

Visit an apple orchard and get moving this fall by picking your own apples to take home, either to eat fresh on their own or to bake and cook with. Find an apple orchard near you. 

• The Apple Orchard Inc,  1668 ON-6, Hamilton
• Apple Land Station, 329 Richmond St, Thorndale
• Royal Orchards, 3105 16th Sideroad, King City
• Mountain Orchards, 10175 Clark Rd, Mountain
• Pine Hill Orchard, Saint Félix Road, Bourget

8.  Watch Fall Bird (Hawk) Migration

As fall arrives, birds start to migrate south to escape Canadian winters. Many of Ontario’s parks are perfect to see this phenomenon occur, including the famous Point Pelee National Park.

• Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington
• Long Point Provincial Park, 350 Erie Blvd, Port Rowan
• Holiday Beach Conservation Area, 6952 50 Cr, Amherstburg
• Port Burwell Provincial Park, 9 Wilson Ln, Port Burwell
• Hawk Cliff, Port Stanley
• Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough
• Kingsville Migration Festival

9.  Fall Waterfall Chasing

Experience the beauty of fall surrounding the serene waterfalls of Ontario. Visit waterfalls in Ontario Conservation areas and Parks to enjoy the best of nature.

• Ragged Falls, Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park
• Hatchery Falls, Hwy 141, Utterson
• High Falls, Bracebridge
• Hilton Falls, 4985 Campbellville Rd, Burlington
• Balls Falls, 3292 Sixth Ave, Lincoln

You may like:

• Waterfalls near Toronto
• Waterfalls near Ottawa

10. Pick Your Own Pumpkin at a Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkins are synonymous with fall, and you can go out and pick your own pumpkins at a wonderful array of pumpkin patches across Ontario. 

• Warner Ranch and Pumpkin Farm,7705 Schisler Rd, Welland
• Snyder’s Family Farm, 936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright
• Merry Farms, 1974 Concession 2 Rd W, Lynden
• Pepe’s Pumpkin Patch, 2651 Front Rd, Windsor
• Proulx Maple & Berry Farm, 1865 O’Toole Rd, Ottawa

11. Go on a Ghost Tour

This fall, take a ghost tour and learn about the haunted places you visit while you listen to stories from your tour guide.

• Haunted Ghost Walk – Pickering Museum Village, Concession Road 6, Greenwood
• The Haunted Walks
  • The Haunted Walk of Kingston, 200 Ontario St, Kingston (various tours)
  • The Haunted Walk of Toronto, 30 Gristmill Lane, Toronto (various tours)
  • Haunted Walk of Ottawa, 46 ½ Sparks St., Ottawa (various tours)
• Ghost Tours of Niagara at Fort George, 55 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Haunted Trolley Tour — Kingston Trolley Tours, 209 Ontario St, Kingston
• The Ghost Walks
  • 126 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake (various tours)
  • Various Tours in Hamilton
• Paranormal Investigations

12. Stay at a Resort

Go for a staycation at one of Ontario’s resorts, where they offer fall activities and ways to relax and take a breather away from the city.

• Beachwood Resort, 3043 Beachwood Dr, Lakefield
• Severn Lodge, 116 Gloucester Trail, Port Severn
• Blue Waters Acres Resort, 1052 Rat Bay Rd, Huntsville
• Cedar Grove Lodge, Peninsula Lake, 167 Grassmere Resort Rd, Huntsville
• Elmhirst’s Resort, 1054 Settlers Line, Keene

13. Do an ‘Oktoberfest’ Brewery Tour

Attend Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival, the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, or choose a designated driver and go on a brewery route tour. A great way to enjoy classic fall scenery and celebrate Ontario’s craft breweries!

• Windsor Essex — Barrels Bottles & Brews
• Simcoe, Bruce and Grey Counties — Saints & Sinners Tour
• Almaquin, Haliburton, Muskoka, Parry Sound — Cottage Country Beer Trail
• Peterborough & the Kawarthas — Brews, Bites and Barns

14. Visit a Sculpture Garden

Sculpture gardens are especially beautiful during fall – explore outdoor galleries with unique, handcrafted art pieces that can be found backdropped with fall colours.  As you stroll or bike through these outdoor galleries, you’ll find yourself experiencing a unique story at each location.

• Screaming Heads Midlothian Castle & Gallery, Midlothian Road, approximately 5 km from Hwy 520, Burk’s Falls.
• Cambridge Sculpture Park, 53 Grand Ave S, Cambridge
• Haliburton Sculpture Forest, 297 College Dr, Haliburton
• McMichael’s Canadian Collection, 10365 Islington Ave, Kleinburg

15. See Fall Colours From a Scenic Lookout

Marvel at the beauty of  Fall at a scenic lookout that gives you a view of escarpments, forests, flora, and fauna.

10 Ontario Towers to Climb For Sweeping Views of Summer & Fall Colours

• Eagle’s Nest Lookout, Greater Madawaska
• Dorset Lookout Tower, Dwight
• Rattlesnake Point, 7200 Appleby Line, Milton
• 1000 Islands Tower, 716 Highway 137, Hill Island, Lansdowne
• Foley Mountain Conservation Area, 105 Foley Mountain Ln, Westport
• Sir Sam’s Ski Area, 1054 Liswood Road, Eagle Lake
• 15 Scenic Lookouts In and Around Ottawa

16. Do a Fall Canopy Tour

Challenge yourself physically and mentally at a treetop adventure park. Explore the tree canopies while you navigate your way through an exciting obstacle course, and you can enjoy fall colours at the same time.

• Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, 1095 Redkenn Rd, Dysart et al
• Treetop Trekking, Various locations in Ontario
• Treetop Eco-Adventure Park, 53 Snow Ridge Court, Oshawa
• Boler Mountain, 689 Griffith St, London

17. Step Back in Time at a Pioneer Village

Found around the province, pioneer villages are an interactive and fun way to learn about Canadian history. Pioneer Villages are especially a great visit in the fall, as you can enjoy Thanksgiving activities and explore heritage buildings (make for great pictures) surrounded by fall colours.

• Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto
• Fanshawe Pioneer Village,2609 Fanshawe Park Rd E, London (Enter at 1424 Clark Road)
• Backus Heritage Conservation Area, 1267 2nd Concession Rd, RR #1 Port Rowan
• Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg
• Lang Pioneer Village, 104 Lang Road, Keene

18. Take a Train Tour

Go on a train tour and enjoy some see fall colours.

• South Simcoe Railway, 28 Mill St W, Tottenham
• Waterloo Heritage Railway,90 Northfield Drive West, Waterloo
• Polar Bear Express, Cochrane and Moosonee (This is a regular train service)
• Muskoka Heritage Place, 88 Brunel Road, Huntsville
• Agawa Canyon Train Tour

19. Go Canoeing

Row your way through the waters and enjoy fall colours from a new perspective.

• Algonquin Canoe Tours, 1023 Copper Lake Rd., Dwight
• Ahoy Rentals, 21 Ontario St., Kingston
• Killarney Outfitters, 1076 ON-637, Killarney
• Canoeing The Grand, 3734 King St E, Kitchener
• Frontenac Outfitters Canoe & Kayak Centre, 6674 Bedford Rd, Sydenham (Frontenac Provincial Park)

20. Enjoy a Wagon/Trail Rides

A timeless activity, a trail ride will take you through valleys, fields, and past hills and bodies of water on a relaxing journey.

• Duel Acres, Fire No. 300218 Grey Road 170, Shallow Lake
• HorsePlay Niagara, 11061 Ellsworth Rd N, Port Colborne
• Pathways on Pleasure Valley, 2499 Brock Rd, Uxbridge
• Texas Longhorn Ranch, Strathroy
• Von Doeler’s Ranch, 1286 von Doeler Rd., Rutherglen

21. Visit a Ghost Town for Halloween

Ontario is dotted with abandoned ghost towns with an extensive and intriguing history. Visit some or all,  this fall.

• Swords, Seguin, Parry Sound
• Cooper’s Falls, Black River, Ramara Township (Near the village of Washago)
• Newfoundout,  Opeongo Road, Renfrew
• Balaclava, Renfrew County
• Indiana, Part of Ruthven Park National Historic Site (North of Haldimand County)
• 14 Ruins to Explore in Ontario

22. Go on a Ski-Lift Fall Colour Tour

Ski lifts are not just for winter. Come fall; some Ontario ski resorts open their lifts for visitors to enjoy fall colours adorning the towns from a high vantage point.

• Kelso Conservation Area, 5234 Kelso Road, Milton
• Blue Mountain Village, 150 Jozo Weider Boulevard, The Blue Mountains
• Sir Sam’s Ski / Ride, 1054 Liswood Road, Eagle Lake
• Calabogie Peaks Resort, 30 Barrett Chute Road, Calabogie

23. Visit Ontario’s Wine Country/ Wine Festivals

Late summer/early fall is harvest time for Ontario wineries and a perfect time for a quick getaway.  A winery experience can provide you with an intimate time tasting great wines, touring the site, and perhaps indulging in farm-to-table cooking too.

• Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
• Wassail Wine Festival – Prince Edward County
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine-Tasting Tour

24. Check out Some Stops on the Apple Pie Trail

Explore South Georgian Bay and tour Meaford, Thornbury, the Blue Mountains, Beaver Valley, and beyond on the Apple Pie Trail. The Apple Pie Trail is an apple-inspired regional trail where you can explore art,  delectable seasonal menus, award-winning local ciders, apple tarts & treats, and apple pies at 28 local orchards, restaurants, cafes, wineries, cider houses, shops and farmer’s markets.

25. Enjoy Fall Colours From a Suspension/Scenic  Bridge

Suspension bridges are a fantastic man-made asset to complement nature, a place where you can look out at incredible views, whether fall sceneries, great rocky heights, or other aspects of nature’s beauty.

• White River Suspension Bridge, Pukaskwa National Park
• Eagle Canyon Adventures Suspension Bridge, Dorion
• Roy Wilson Suspension Bridge, Dryden
• Menesetung Bridge, Goderich (not a suspension bridge)
• Scenic Caves Suspension Bridge, 223-401 Scenic Caves Rd, The Blue Mountains

26. Visit a “Haunted Farm”

Make your way through a corn maze or a farm at night with only a flashlight. Some farms have live actors and other scares placed within the corn maze and farms.

• Fear Farm, 936685 Blenheim Rd, New Dundee
• Kustermans Berry Farm, 23188 Springwell Road, Mount Brydges
• Acres of Terror, Cannamore Orchard, 1480 County Rd 32, Crysler
• Cooper’s Night Corn Maze, Uxbridge

27. Scream Your Way Through Halloween Haunts

Pay money to get scared! — Halloween Haunted Attractions, Farms and Night Mazes in Ontario

• Screemers, Vaughan
• Grimm Grounds Hallowe’en Attraction, Georgian Bay Park, 4230 Crossland Rd, Tiny
• Bingemans Screampark, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener
• Haunt Manor – Hayrides & Haunted Houses, 9387 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls.

28. Go on an Autumn Studio Tour

Go on a tour that showcases Ontario’s finest selections of contemporary fine arts and crafts against a backdrop of Mother Nature at her best.   It is also a great way to start your Christmas shopping and support Ontario artisans.

• Uxbridge Studio Tour
• Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour
• Innisfil Studio Tour
• Images Studio Tour – Simcoe  County
• Bancroft Studio Tour
• Crown & Pumpkin Tour

29. Hike through Vibrant Colours

What better way to spend the crisp fall days than to get outside and hike? Whether you want a quick trail for fresh air or are planning a multi-day hiking and camping trip, there are some great places to hike to enjoy fall colours in Ontario.

• Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, 16160 Highway 12 East, Midland
• Fire Tower Trail, Restoule Provincial Park.
• Helenbar Lookout Trail, Mississagi Provincial Park
• Ganaraska Forest Hiking Trails
• Gibson Lake Loop, Frontenac Provincial Park (If you live nearby, join the Frontenac Challenge, which challenges you to hike all trails between Sept 1 and Oct 31). Frontenac is about 3 hours from Toronto, 2 hours from Ottawa and 45 minutes from Kingston.

30.  Enjoy a Fall Colour Drive

Pack your kids and a picnic, and go on a fall colour drive.

• 15 Fall Colour Driving Routes in Central Ontario
• Circumnavigate Rice Lake (open Google map and chart a path around the lake)
• Circumnavigate Simcoe Lake (open Google map and chart a path around the lake)
• Follow Highway 7 From Peterborough to Ottawa.
• Follow Rideau Canal locks from Ottawa to Kingston.
• Trent Severn Waterway Roadtrip
• Make a trip around Georgian Bay.
• The Grand Algoma Loop
• Wawa North Tour