fall colours 2022

This is when fall colours are expected to peak in Ontario this year

Fall colours are peaking soon in Ontario, and if you head just outside Toronto to Algonquin Park you'll be treated to a spectacular show.

The park's fall colour report is one of the best ways to find out when you want to visit to see the best and brightest leaves changing, and it's currently being kept up to date with the status of various trees.

Maple leaves are just starting to turn from green to yellow, are expected to reach their peak fiery red colour around early October this year.

Based on recent photos of views from the Visitor Centre, it's still looking pretty green. You can also check out their live webcam for an up-to-the-minute look at the colours.

Aspens should be changing their colour in early to mid-October, and tamaracks should be turning golden yellow around mid- to late October.

Shorter days and cooler temperatures starting around September 5 and continuing up until mid-September have started the process of leaves changing colours, and on September 15 the temperature at the park finally dropped below zero, further encouraging changing colours.

If you're interested in taking a peek at some pretty leaves, now is a good time to start planning your trip, as by late October one of the best periods for observing them is already ending. 

In fact, we're just a week away from the average peak day of the Sugar Maple canopy in the western portion of the Highway 60 Corridor: September 27.

Just remember that times to view peak colours tend to be busy, so you might want to visit on a weekday or a rainier day when fewer people might be there.

Also, you don't need a permit when travelling through Algonquin Park on Highway 60 between Oxtongue Lake and Whitney, Ontario, but if you use any facilities like a trail, picnic ground or bathroom a day use permit is required.

There are also thousands more square kilometres of Algonquin to explore where you can see great fall colours with fewer people around.

With 34 types of trees and 24 of them deciduous (colour-changing), there's never really a bad time to take in the natural landscape at one of the province's most popular parks.

Lead photo by

Karen Maraj


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