Toronto 
What better way to spend the crisp fall days than to get outside and hike?
Photo Credit: Max Coquard
Whether you want a quick trail for some fresh air or are planning a multi-day hiking and camping trip, the following trails will give you some great ideas for places to hike in Ontario.
25+ Bucket List Ideas for Fall Activities and Getaways in Ontario
Cup and Saucer Trail
The Manitoulin Extension of the Niagara Escarpment provides avid hikers with an opportunity to adventure through hardwood bushes and trails this fall. The Cup and Saucer Trail is one of Ontario’s most popular hikes, consisting of a fairly difficult network of trails that extend to over 14 kilometres in length.
Choose between the Blue Trail (6.5 kilometres), the White Trail (5.5 kilometres), or Adventure Trail (0.5 kilometres). Depending on your choice, your hike time can be anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. Reward yourself with views of the iconic cliff walls, higher than 70 metres, that extend over 2 kilometres on the trails. Details
Max Coquard
Niagara’s Glen
Experiencing Niagara from the riverside is an exciting fall activity available to people of all abilities. This trail is located deep within the Niagara Gorge and overlooks the rapid waters of the Niagara River.
Follow along the 4-kilometres of paths that take you through the pristine Carolinian Forest, allowing you to take in the beautiful fall colours and view the Niagara River Whirlpool, a natural phenomenon of the Niagara River. Along the way, look for wild flora and fauna, as well as prehistoric geological formations. This trail will be a peaceful and welcome relief from the crowds at the top of Niagara Falls! Details
Elora Gorge
For a pup-friendly trail suitable for all skill levels, hike through the Elora Gorge Trails. The popular loop covers roughly 7.2 kilometres and boasts a well-maintained trail that is flat aside from mild slopes and hills – for safety be sure to stay on the marked paths. The Elora Gorge itself is a stunning 2-kilometre gorge formed by glacial meltwater that is surrounded by limestone cliffs.
The Elora Gorge hike is one of the most picturesque areas, and we highly recommend it for a family day trip. Details
River Gorge Trail
This fall, be sure to add Ferris Provincial Park to your list of places to visit if you want incredibly bright fall foliage combined with river views. Embark on the moderately difficult River Gorge Trail, which is a 3.5-kilometre trail perfectly suited for a crisp fall hike.
This park lies along the Trent River, which you can take from above on the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge. The trail takes you downstream past the Old Ferry Quarry and through meadows. You can also check out the scenic bluffs that provide views of the Ranney Falls. Details
Dundas Peak
Fall is the prime time to take one last hike to Dundas Peak and spend the day surrounded by beautiful forests. The trail itself is pretty leisurely, with a distance of 3.9 kilometres in total, but it features a stunning waterfall as your reward!
This is an ideal trail for walking, running, or bringing dogs. It’s important to note that due to its popularity, the trail gets fairly busy on the weekends, so we recommend visiting in the evenings during weekdays. Plus advance tickets are required for Fall season visit. Details
Pines Hiking Trail
In need of a longer, day-hike? Check out the Pines Hiking Trail in Quetico Provincial Park.
The hike is 10 kilometres round trip of moderate difficulty and takes about 3-4 hours to complete. Along the way, enjoy the protected pristine wilderness, particularly the red and white pine. The Pines Hiking Trail allows you to fully immerse yourself in the solitude of the wild, take rare glimpses of wildlife by waterfalls and enjoy the lovely glassy lakes. Does the day seem too short to fit it all?
Visitors can obtain an interior camping pass that allows for overnight camping! Details
Mizzy Lake Trail
Exploring Algonquin Park in the fall means embarking on at least a few hiking trails to get the full autumn foliage experience. One of the most popular trails is Mizzy Lake Trail, an intermediate, 12-kilometre trail that offers one of the best locations for spotting wildlife and a variety of scenery.
The trail winds past nine ponds and lakes, where you can often see beavers in action. Though a popular route, throughout your hike, you will surely experience solitude and immerse yourself in the sounds of nature surrounding you.
This hike does take time, so plan to have an early start if you want to complete it in one day! Details
Highland Backpacking Trail
Another Algonquin Park favourite, the Highland Backpacking Trail, is ideal for those wishing to explore the park for longer than a day.
The trail can be either 19 or 35 kilometres in length, depending on the loop chosen – either way, prepare to spend at least one night in the beautiful fall forest. Along the way, expect challenging terrain that includes steep climbs and side slopes.
Reward yourself with some of the most scenic views of Algonquin, along with wildlife such as deer, moose, owls and other birdlife, as well as several lakes and rivers. Details
Seaton Trail
The Seaton Trail, located near Pickering, follows the historic hunting and fishing routes of Aboriginal people. It is an easily accessible fall hike that covers 15 kilometres but has great viewpoints due to the elevation of the ridges that you reach throughout the hike. The trails are well-marked and are appropriate for novice hikers.
Visiting the Seaton Trail is recommended for the fall, as it is a great place to view the migration of Chinook Salmon upriver to spawn. Check out the West Duffins Creek and try to spot them yourself! Details
Mark S. Burnham Trail
Located within the Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park (near Peterborough), the Mark S. Burnham Trail winds through mature hardwood forests and gives hikers a beautiful landscape of fall colours. The different tree varieties include maple, elm, beech, and hemlock, and the trail often has wildflowers in bloom, each adding its touch to the pristine scenery.
This trail is an easy 2.5-kilometre hike that loops through the forest.
This is an ideal trail for those wanting to take a quick break from routine and witness the beauty of the outdoors this fall. Details
Coastal Trail
This one is for you if you’re looking for an intense, multi-day hike. The Coastal Trail is located in the Lake Superior Provincial Park and offers scenic cliffs, wooded areas, and cobblestone beaches.
The trail traces the coastline of Lake Superior for a distance of 65 kilometres one-way. However, it also has several access points, which allows hikers to shorten the hike as necessary.
As the hike is challenging, you must exercise extreme caution when hiking the terrain. Given that the colours of the leaves are spectacular at this time of year, give particular attention to the area near Agawa Bay for stunning backdrops. Details
Beaver Meadow Trail
Located in the heart of Muskoka, in Arrowhead Provincial Park, the Beaver Meadow Trail offers a moderate-difficulty hiking trail that is 7 kilometres in length.
During the fall, you can easily see the bluffs, a large beaver pond, and many wildlife species in the area. F
or those who are looking for hikes to do in under an hour, the Arrowhead Provincial Park has several other trails that can be accessed, such as the Big Bend Lookout, Homesteader’s Trail (3 km), Mayflower Lake Trail (1 km) and Stubb’s Falls Trail (2 km). Details
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
The Charleston Lake Provincial Park is located in Landsdowne and offers several moderate difficulty trails for hiking. Depending upon your interests, you can hike trails that let you discover more about the geological and human history of the park, the types of plants and wetlands, or take in the views of the scenic vistas.
We recommend taking the slightly more difficult Blue Mountain Trail during the fall – experience the fall colours throughout the mixed forests, wetlands, and rock ridges. If weather permits, you may even be able to see the Adirondack Mountains of New York State! Details
Fire Tower Trail
This lightly-trafficked trail consists of a 4.5-kilometre loop and is located near Parry Sound, in Restoule Provincial Park.
Perfect for all skill levels, this hike is especially beautiful during the fall months, as its remote location gives hikers the opportunity to experience the calm, unspoiled nature.
Immerse yourself within the hemlock forests and wetlands, and look for wildlife such as the great blue herons, white-tailed deer, ducks, and loons. Make your way to the Fire Tower for a lookout that stretches for many kilometres. Details
Helenbar Lookout Trail
In the Mississagi Provincial Park, located just west of Sudbury, hikers can find several trails through rugged landscapes and hills. This area is one of Ontario’s best-kept secrets and is a hiking paradise.
The Helenbar Lookout Trail is a 7-kilometre, moderate hiking trail that includes glacial erratics and a stunning lookout of the surrounding mountainous landscape.
This trail is especially beautiful in the fall with the red and yellow colours of the leaves. The Mississagi Provincial Park has six other hiking trails that vary in duration and difficulty levels but offer similarly spectacular fall hiking views.
La Cloche Silhouette Trail
Located in Killarney Park, the La Cloche Silhouette Trail is one of Ontario’s most rugged trails. It is a difficult hike, recommended for experienced hikers, that covers a distance of over 100 kilometres. The trail showcases the beautiful landscape of the wild Georgian Bay Coast, filled with pink granite and white quartzite ridges of the La Cloche Mountains.
This fall, reward yourself with views of the rolling hills, lakes and rivers that captivated artists such as the Group of Seven’s A.Y Jackson; when it comes time for a break, camp at any one of the 54 campsites located along the route.
The Point Pelee National Park Trails
The Point Pelee National Park is located at the southernmost tip of the Canadian mainland, offering a way of experiencing nature like never before. The park has several self-guided trails between 0.5 to 4-kilometres long. Observe diverse habitats such as open fields, cedar savannah and swamp forests.
Look for wildlife, such as red-winged blackbirds and painted turtles. Throughout the fall on the Tip Trail, witness the waves of vivid Monarch butterflies flying in the area.
Devonwood Conservation Area
The Devonwood Conservation Area, near Windsor, is a breath of fresh air within an urban centre. Explore the unique woodland via its extensive trail system, winding through 93 acres of forest.
The trails themselves are dirt paths that cover 4.5 kilometres and are perfect for exploring the outdoors this fall season. Along the way, try to identify the various species of trees throughout the woodlands – there are over 8 species of just oak trees in the area! Details
Grand River Conservation Trails
The Grand River Conservation Authority offers some of the best hiking in the area of Cambridge. Their four main trails are multi-use, having been built on old railway corridors.
We recommend the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail, which makes its way through lush Carolinian forests, offering beautiful fall colours throughout your hike as well as stunning river overlooks.
The 18-kilometre trail is ideal for people of all ages, as it is level and easy to navigate. End your hike by visiting Paris, the “Prettiest Town in Ontario.” Details
Top of the Giant
For avid hikers looking for a fall challenge, the Top of the Giant hike in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is the place to go. The trail begins at the Kabeyun South Trailhead, which is a 22-kilometre journey round-trip, and leads to the Top of the Giant trail for an additional 5 kilometres.
The steep climb is rewarded with incredible views of Lake Superior from the top of dizzying cliff overlooks. This is a challenging trail, with an estimated duration of 5 to 7 hours, recommended only for hikers in top physical condition. If you are planning on going solo, please note that there is limited cell service in the area, so prepare well! Details
The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail
To really enjoy the Kawarthas, you have to get out there and explore nature.
The Kawartha Trans Canada Trails gives you the opportunity to do just that. It runs between the Durham Region and Peterborough County, passing through serene landscapes that include lush greenery, maple trees, and spruce, which provide a perfect setting for a fall hike.
The trails feature several species of birds such as orioles, bluebirds, and cardinals. This trail offers a great opportunity to get to know small communities of Canada that were slowly vanishing from the map before its completion. Be sure to stop and get a photo at Doube’s Trestle Bridge! Details
Beausoleil Island Trails
All the trails of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park are found on Beausoleil Island.
The trails vary from short strolls to hikes that are demanding, both in time and difficulty. Each trail showcases the rich and diverse beauty of the Canadian Shield, whether you are exploring the wetlands or bedrock, looking for turtles or snakes. For a fall hike, we recommend taking the Huron Trail, characterized by a mature forest filled with beech and maple trees.
Their colours will be especially vibrant at this time of year! Check out the link below for information about other trails. Details
White River Suspension Bridge Hiking Trail
Spend a crisp fall day hiking through the White River Suspension Bridge Hiking Trail in Pukaskwa National Park.
The 15-kilometre round-trip hike is moderate, requiring preparation for a full day of hiking and an unforgettable experience. As you make your way to the bridge, hike through thick boreal forests to experience fall colours.
Take a break at Playter Harbour (about the halfway point) to enjoy yourself on a secluded beach. Once you get to the bridge, take in the scenic views of the bridge and thundering waterfalls, a highlight for many! Details
Ganaraska Hiking Trail
This is a challenging section recommended for advanced hikers, as it is over 37 kilometres in length and the area is known to have black bears. If you’re looking for an even more significant challenge, try to complete the Ganaraska Hiking Trail End-to-End Challenge.
Spring Creek Trail
The Spring Creek Trail is a short, 2.6-kilometre-long trail that is perfect for a crisp fall day. The trail connects the Dundas Valley at the west end to Warren Park on the east. Along the way, keep your eyes open for deer that are often spotted by the pond. The Carolinian forest turns to bright colours in the fall, and the footpath is surrounded by hills, open fields, groves and a creek that make the hike all the more worthwhile. This hike is a perfect getaway from the city to bring your mind some much-needed peace and quiet. Details
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