+15 Incredible Places to See Fall Colours in Toronto
Fall, it’s the most beautiful time of year. The sun is shining, the sweaters have returned to the closet and pumpkin spiced lattes are in hand. And if you’re like me and love leaf peeping I have rounded up the best places to see fall colours in Toronto for you!
Since my birthday is in the fall, it’s an annual tradition to spend a few days in Toronto. Every visit I explore a few of my favourite places for fall foliage in Toronto, like Allan Gardens and the Toronto Islands. But I also seek out new places too!
If you’re planning to travel to Toronto in the fall, it’s one of the most amazing places to see fall colours in Ontario. So, pack your camera, don a cozy sweater and check out these top locations for fall colours in the six!
When can you see fall colours in Toronto?
The best time to see fall colours in Toronto is in October. However, depending on the weather, you can see leaves begin to change colours in mid-September.
Where is the best place to see fall colors in Toronto?
- Allan Gardens
- Toronto Islands
- Rouge Park
The Best Places to See Fall Colours in Toronto
Allan Gardens
It’s not only my favourite hidden gem in Toronto it’s also my favourite place to enjoy the fall colours in Toronto. While it’s a great place to visit year-round, Allan Gardens in the fall is enchanting.
A canopy of multi-coloured trees cover winding trails and frame the Victorian conservatory. It’s one of the best gardens in Toronto that’s free to visit.
Toronto’s summer crowds are gone and if you visit during a weekday you might have the place to yourself. So don’t be afraid to kick up those leaves and channel your inner child. And if the wind brings a chill to the air you can always escape into the conservatory gardens for a little warmth.
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Edwards Gardens
Enjoy a stroll through Edwards Gardens, home to the Toronto Botanical Gardens, trails, and even a small waterfall.
Set on 34 acres, Edwards Gardens is one of the best and most underrated places to experience fall in Toronto. Located in the Don Valley, the quiet park puts on a beautiful display of fall colours and has numerous perfect photo-ops.
Toronto Islands
Forget about summer fun in the sand! The Toronto Islands are one of the best places to see fall colours in Toronto and you’ll feel like you’re anywhere but the city.
Grab the ferry to Ward’s Island and enjoy a perfect fall day on the islands. Pack a lunch and spend a few hours wandering the deserted islands, snap photos of the brilliant fall foliage and enjoy playing in the piles of fallen leaves.
Plus, the Toronto Islands offers some of the best views in Toronto! Awesome views can be found from the ferry or at various locations across the Islands.
Are you looking for more fall fun? Here are over 20 fantastic things to do in fall in Ontario – many can be found in the city or a short day trip from Toronto.
Rouge Park
Toronto’s Rouge Park is North America’s largest urban park. To put that into perspective it is 19 times largest than New York’s Central Park.
In my opinion, the best time of year to visit Rouge Park is in the fall. Enjoy the over 10 km of trails, incredible cliffs, a wealth of biodiversity and all just a short drive from downtown Toronto.
Rouge Park is easily one of the best places to see fall foliage in Toronto as the trees seem to stretch for days. If you’re looking for the best places in the part to see the fall foliage head to the Vista Trail viewing platform or Glen Eagles Vista Trail for panoramic views of the park.
Trinity Bellwoods Park
Nestled in the heart of downtown Trinity Bellwoods Park is a Toronto jewel for your dose of nature. Not only is it a great place to find cherry blossoms in the spring but it shines bright with reds, oranges, and yellows in the fall.
And if you’re looking for an iconic shot of Toronto in the fall then Trinity Bellwoods Park is perfect. With a pathway leading through the park, lined with trees, there in the distance you’ll see the CN Tower.
High Park
It’s the largest park within the confines of the city, at 161 hectares, and is a nature lover’s oasis any time of year.
But High Park in the fall is when the park comes alive with wildlife, breathtaking colours and even a harvest festival.
Enjoy a picnic at Grenadier Pond with its backdrop of brilliant fall foliage mirrored in the pond and watch the ducks soak in the last warm rays of sun before the head south for the winter. And if you love fall festivals then check out the Harvest Festival where you’ll find artisans, music, pumpkin carving, great food, and even apple bobbing.
Osgoode Hall
Amongst the honking and craze of Queen Street there lies a fall wonderland that feels hidden from the towering buildings and traffic. It’s the grounds in front of Osgoode Hall.
Encased with a Victorian black iron fence, entering the grounds of the historic law society almost feels forbidden. But along the winding path is a canopy of trees that pop with oranges, reds, and yellows.
Philosopher’s Walk
Another Toronto gem is the Philosopher’s Walk that runs through the St. George campus of the University of Toronto. This charming footpath runs north and south along a ravine from a creek now buried below ground.
This tree-lined pathway is a sweet place to visit in the fall. Sit with a book or enjoy your lunch with a backdrop of beautiful fall foliage and listen to the colourful leaves rustle in the wind.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
It may be strange or macabre to some to wander a cemetery but they shouldn’t be overlooked. Cemeteries are full of history, sometimes gardens and rich beauty, as well as towering trees to stand guard over those who lay below.
Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery is so much more than just a cemetery. It’s a park, a National Historic Site of Canada and it’s home to one of the finest tree collections in North America.
If you want to escape the crowds of Toronto in the fall then head to Mount Pleasant Cemetery for a little peace, quiet and fall colours. Wandering the winding paths under a canopy of brilliant fall foliage and seek out some of the cemetery’s famous graves, like William Lyon Mackenzie King, Sir Frederick Banting, and Timothy Eaton.
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Evergreen Brick Works
Another great place to experience fall in Toronto is the Evergreen Brick Works. This former quarry and industrial area is located in the Don River Valley.
Here you can hike to the top of the Lookout Path to be rewarded with an epic skyline view of Toronto and a sweeping scene of the brilliant fall foliage the stretches from the Valley to downtown.
Blythwood Ravine Park
One of the many ravine hiking trails in Toronto runs through Blythwood Ravine Park. Blythwood Ravine Park is a perfect spot for Toronto fall colours!
The park is between Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens (to the west) and Sherwood Park (to the east). So, if you’re looking for great places in Toronto for fall colours then this is a wonderful choice!
There is a trail running through the park that follows Burke Brook, which is a tributary of the Don River. The trail takes you through and under a canopy of towering trees. You’ll forget you’re still in the city!
Insider Tip: There is parking available at Sherwood Park.
Coronation Park
If you’re looking for the best place to see fall colors in Toronto along the waterfront that has a lot to offer, I recommend Coronation Park.
With winding trails under a canopy of trees, Coronation Park feels so magical especially in the early mornings when it’s quiet.
Coronation Park is located just east of Ontario Place. The park is home to a royal oak tree that was planted to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI. You can find the oak tree in the southwest corner.
The park is also home to the Martin Goodman Trail that winds along the city’s waterfront. There’s also an off-leash area for dogs.
Crothers Woods
Along with being one of the best places to hike in Toronto, Crothers Woods is a hidden gem to visit in the autumn.
Crothers Woods is a large green space in the Don River valley. It’s home to around 10 km of trails and is a popular spot for mountain biking.
I think it’s the best place to see fall foliage in Toronto without the crowds. Every time I visit there’s limited people on the trails.
It was a warm fall day the first time I visited and I was so thankful for the shaded trails. You’ll find a variety of trees along the trails. There’s everything from sugar maples to white oak trees. Each offering a diverse range of fall colours.
Plus, Crothers Woods has one of the best Toronto skyline views.
Insider Tip: For free parking and easy access to the trails in Crothers Woods you can park at the Loblaws on Redway Road.
Scarbourgh Bluffs
One of the best places to visit in fall in Toronto is the Scarbourgh Bluffs! This popular attraction is known for its towering white sandstone cliffs, which are incredibly fragile.
Stretching along Lake Ontario, the Scarbourgh Bluffs Park is actually a collection of parks the run along the coast. The park is home to a beach, hiking trails, and gardens.
I recommend two places within the park to take in the fall foliage. One is at the base of the bluffs at Scarbourgh Bluffs Beach. There’s ample parking here as well as winding trails and places to enjoy a fall picnic. From the beach itself, you’ll get a fantastic photo of the fall foliage with the white cliff mirrored in the waters below it all.
The other spot to take in the fall colours is from above. At the top of the cliffs is another of the park spaces. However, parking is limited. If you do score a parking spot then take a wander along the trail for awesome views of the cliffs from above, Lake Ontario, and brilliant-coloured trees.
Insider Tip: The cliffs are VERY fragile! Please be careful when hiking along the top of the cliffs. I do not recommend going beyond the fence.
Wilket Creek Recreational Trail
Running between Edwards Garden and Wilket Creek Park, this accessible trail is great for strollers or people with limited mobility.
This paved trail is incredibly scenic with pops of fall foliage winding along the trail.
Bentline Trail
One of my favourite shady trails in Toronto is the Bentline Trail. Running along a former rail line, this trail has multiple access points and is a popular spot for a bike ride in the city.
My favourite part of the Bentline Trail to visit in the fall is section running parallel with Evergreen Brick Works.
More Places to See Fall Foliage Near Toronto
If you want to escape the city and are looking for where to see the colours of fall near Toronto then you’re in luck! There are a ton of great green spaces and parks near Toronto for leaf peeping!
Dundas Peak – One of the most popular places to see fall colours near Toronto is Dundas Peak! The lookout is located within Spencer Gorge Conservation Area in Hamilton. Dundas Peak lookout offers awesome fall views from atop of the Niagara Escarpment over Dundas, the Dundas Valley, and even Hamilton in the distance. Plus, there’s a waterfall along the trail to it! Dundas Peak is roughly an hour west of Toronto.
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area – An absolute gem is located only 30 minutes west of Toronto in Mississauga. It’s Rattray Marsh Conservation Area! The park runs along the shores of Lake Ontario and is home to one of the best boardwalk trails in Ontario! Plus, it’s an awesome park near Toronto to see fall colours!
Royal Botanical Gardens – Another incredible place to visit in the fall near Toronto is the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington! It’s the largest botanical garden in Canada and it’s only 45 minutes west of Toronto! The RBG, as it’s affectionately called, is home to gardens, an arboretum, and over 2,400 acres of nature sanctuaries.
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park – As one of the best provincial parks near Toronto, Forks of the Credit is the perfect fall day trip. This sprawling park is home to scenic fall hiking trails, a waterfall, and more.
Caledon – Located northwest of the city, Caledon is one of the best places to see fall colours near Toronto. The area is home to parks and scenic roads that are ideal for fall foliage.
Muskoka – The most popular place near Toronto to visit in the fall is Muskoka! Ideally located less than two hours north of Toronto, there are a variety of places to see fall colours in Muskoka. A few popular places include Arrowhead Provincial Park and the Frank Miller Memorial Route.
Things to do in the Fall in Toronto & the GTA
Other than checking out the fall colours in Toronto there are plenty of other fun things to do! From chasing ghosts to pumpkin patches, discover more Toronto fall activities!
Chase Ghosts – Toronto has a long and torrid history filled with ghost stories. There are plenty of haunted places in Toronto. And visiting one of these in October in Toronto is a great way to enjoy fall in the city. A few haunted places to check out include the Mackenzie House and Fort York National Historic Site. There are plenty of great ghost tours in Toronto too!
Toronto International Film Festival – Every September in Toronto celebrities and fans flock to the city for TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival. You can purchase tickets to the films as well as other events and talks that take place across Toronto.
Halloween Haunt – One of the biggest attractions in the GTA is Canada’s Wonderland. Every fall they host a Halloween Haunt event that’s full of creepy encounters and terrifying mazes and more. If you dare, add a visit to Halloween Haunt to your Toronto fall bucket list!
Where’s your favourite places to see fall colours in Toronto?
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