Barrie 
A road trip or day trip to Haliburton and the surrounding Highlands will offer up incredible fall scenery simply on the drive alone.
Credit: Haliburton Sculpture Forest
The Haliburton Highlands are on the eastern edge of the Muskoka region, a part of Ontario covered in dense forests over rolling hills, as well as dozens of lakes and rivers. The village of Haliburton (in the municipality of Dysart et al.) is central to the large county, and the area’s best fall scenery is on display around every street and avenue in town.
Haliburton sits on the shores of Head Lake with those tree-covered hills surrounding the rest of town. After exploring all the scenery or natural areas, there is much to discover within town between art, history, dining, and events.
Contents:
- Fall Fun in Haliburton
- Best Places for Fall Colour Hikes
- Places for a Fall Paddle,
- Museums & Art Galleries
- Fall Events in Haliburton
- How to Plan a Trip to Haliburton
- If You Have One Day
- If You Have a Weekend
- Best Time to Go
- Best Hikes, Lookouts and Activities
- Where to Eat
- What Still Operates Later in Fall
- Before you go:
Fall Fun in Haliburton
Best Places for Fall Colour Hikes
The waterfront trail in Haliburton, which follows the south shore of Head Lake, is lined with mature trees and creates a perfect backdrop in the fall for a walk or picnic beside the water. Around the village is the thick cover of the Highlands’ forests, which stretch out in all directions.
- Both Head Lake and Drag Lake Trails are excellent for a relaxing stroll enjoying fall colours in the heart of the village.
- Also local to the village is the Haliburton Sculpture Forest on the grounds of the Highlands Museum. The simple trails offer beautiful sculptures to explore while enjoying the fall foliage and lakeside scenery.
- The Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, north of the village, has over 400km of hiking trails to explore! These trails are ablaze with fall colours during late September and early October. Book a hiking pass, or the Reserve’s signature Canopy Tours, available until mid-October.
- Use Haliburton’s Skyline Park Road to access the Skyline Park Lookout Trail (196 Skyline Park Road); from here, hikers get a panoramic view of the fall colours surrounding the village and Head Lake. Stay a while and enjoy a picnic; tables dot the viewing area.
- Head north ~16 km to Sir Sam’s Ski & Ride for a fall colour chairlift ride. There are over 23 km of trails suited for all abilities traversing open meadow, hardwood forest, and ancient rock outcrops onsite.
- Barnum Creek Nature Reserve (#1118 Gould Crossing Road) is another great space for a fall hike immersed in nature.
Places for a Fall Paddle
The village of Haliburton surrounds Heed Lake which can easily be explored this fall with a canoe, kayak, or SUP. The village and county make it simple with access points all around Head Lake.
Three of the four boat launches are hand launches better suited to canoes and kayaks and are located at the north and south ends of Heed Lake. The boat launch at Heed Lake Park is the closest to additional facilities like washrooms, picnic areas, public docks, and parking.
- About 6km east of the village is another hand launch but for access to Outlet Bay, which connects Spruce Lake to Drag Lake. The area is filled with many interesting route options.
- There are over 25 public boat launches across the county!
- The local Algonquin Outfitters have a location in Haliburton with rental options for canoes, kayaks, or SUPs.
Museums & Art Galleries
There are opportunities all around Haliburton and the local trails for enjoying the history and arts. The area is home to a number of local art galleries and studios, public art, and the Highlands Museum. Plus, there are a few chances later this fall to meet with the artists who decorate the local galleries.
- Fall Studio Tours are taking place across the Haliburton Highlands this October. The event has artists featured at various studios across the county during weekends in early October, with several around the Haliburton village alone, and even more within 25km or less.
- The Haliburton Highlands Museum is a year-round attraction with indoor and outdoor exhibits to explore. The museum is in Glebe Park, across Head Lake from the village. It is home to the Sculpture Forest, and scenic fall picnic locations.
- A walk or bike ride around Haliburton will reveal public art galleries, the Jet Fighter Memorial, Rotary Locomotive, and the local parks.
Fall Events in Haliburton
These fall events around the village are all about celebrating the season, the autumn foliage, and making the most of the end of the warmer months. Among the events and celebrations are opportunities for sightseeing, learning about the local nature, shopping, or dining.
- Experience the fall colours during a visit to Haliburton with some local expert hikers. The Hike Haliburton Festival is September 17 to 20, with guided walking tours and hikes through the area’s best scenery. Plus, there are more adventures to sign up for as part of the festival this year like paddles, chairlift rides, and longer hikes.
- If you can’t make it for the hikes, there is yet another fall festival hosted right in the village of Haliburton at Head Park. ColourFest includes an afternoon of family-friendly fun and fall themed activities on September 19, 2026.
- Take in more activities at Head Lake Park this fall with the weekly Farmers’ Market open each Tuesday until October 6th.
How to Plan a Fall Colour Trip to Haliburton Highlands
Haliburton works best as a fall road trip rather than a checklist of attractions. The village itself gives you several easy stops, while Haliburton Forest, Sir Sam’s and Dorset require separate drives. From Toronto, allow roughly 2.5 to 3 hours each way, making a day trip possible, but a weekend gives you enough time to see the Highlands without spending most of the visit in the car.
You can experience the colours at several levels, from lakeside walks to elevated lookouts and treetop trails.
The free-to-visit Haliburton Sculpture Forest has 1.4 km of trails and pairs naturally with Haliburton village. Nearby Skyline Park, at 196 Skyline Park Road, provides a panoramic view over Head Lake and the surrounding hills. These are good stops to combine because both are in the Haliburton village area.
For a much larger outing, Haliburton Forest’s Canopy Tour takes about 3.5 to four hours and combines a forest drive, canoe crossing, riverside walk and an elevated boardwalk 10 to 20 metres above the ground. Tours run into mid-October.
You can also see the colours from a chairlift at Sir Sam’s, or climb Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower for a wider view over the Lake of Bays area.
If You Have One Day:
Keep the route compact. Start with Haliburton Sculpture Forest, then visit Skyline Park and have lunch in Haliburton village. Head Lake trail connects to the Sculpture Forest from Haliburton Village.
For the afternoon, choose one major attraction, not several. Book Haliburton Forest if you want the Canopy Tour, or drive to Sir Sam’s if chairlift rides are operating.
Trying to add Dorset Tower on the same day creates considerably more driving and works better as part of a weekend.
If You Have a Weekend:
Spend day one around Haliburton village and Haliburton Forest.
On day two, build a scenic drive around Dorset or Eagle Lake and Sir Sam’s. During the busiest fall period, Dorset Tower requires advance reservations between September 19 and October 25.
If your trip falls on October 3-4 or October 10-11, another option is the Haliburton Highlands Studio Tour, when artists open studios across the county. Because the studios are spread throughout the Highlands, it works especially well as a driving itinerary.
Best Time to Go:
Haliburton Highlands Tourism estimates the main maple colour period for October 1 to 12, followed by a golden-colour period around October 13 to 21. These dates are estimates and weather can shift the timing.
For 2026, the colour report showed Haliburton village at only 10% change in mid-September, so checking the current Haliburton fall colour report before leaving is more useful than relying on the calendar alone.
Best Hikes, Lookouts and Activities:
For an easy walk with an arts component, choose the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. It is a good first stop because you can combine it with downtown Haliburton and Skyline Park without adding much driving.
For the biggest time commitment, choose the Haliburton Forest Canopy Tour. Because it takes roughly four hours, treat it as the main attraction for that part of the day rather than trying to squeeze it between several other stops.
For an elevated view with less time involved, Sir Sam’s or Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower are easier to build into a driving route.
Where to Eat:
If you are staying around Haliburton village, plan your meal there rather than driving elsewhere between activities. Downtown makes a natural break between the Sculpture Forest, Skyline Park and an afternoon attraction. Up River Trading Co works well for coffee before heading out, while waterfront Hook Line & Sinker and downtown McKeck’s Tap & Grill are options for a meal after hiking.
If your day centres on Haliburton Forest, eating closer to the forest can save a return drive into town. Boshkung Smokehouse is located at the forest itself, removing the need to drive back into town for lunch or dinner.
For a weekend trip, splitting meals between Haliburton village and stops along your second-day driving route keeps the itinerary more efficient.
What Still Operates Later in Fall?
Sir Sam’s fall chairlift operates on selected weekends into October, while its hiking trails and lookouts are expected to remain open later in the month, weather permitting.
The Sculpture Forest remains open from dawn to dusk throughout the year. Haliburton Forest also continues offering hiking, watching wolves and other fall activities after the Canopy Tour season ends.
That means late October can still be worthwhile, but the style of the trip changes. Instead of planning around chairlifts and canopy tours, focus more on village walks, lookouts, hiking and scenic drives.
Where to Stay in Haliburton:
The accommodation options around town offer many lakeside and waterfront rooms and views. Or stay in the heart of town with the 23Maple B&B, or the Silver Maple Motel.
Among those waterfront options closest to town services are options like Arching Pines Bed & Breakfast, Lakeview Motel & Resort, or Kashaga Lodge.
Before you go:
Check the current fall colour report, seasonal operating dates and any reservation requirements. Peak colour, attraction hours and outdoor operations can change with weather.
For most Toronto visitors, one day is enough for Haliburton village plus one major attraction. A weekend makes more sense if you want to add Dorset, the Canopy Tour, Studio Tour stops or a longer scenic driving route without spending the trip watching the clock.
