Outdoor activities this fall in Toronto will ensure you spend lots of time in nature just outside your door. They'll keep you active with hikes, bike rides and park strolls, but don't worry; they'll also keep you cozy on warm patios and in front of campfires as you settle into this season.

Here are my picks for fun things to do outdoors this fall in Toronto.

Take a hike

High Park is big, fun and lovely. Bellwoods is cool, but in order to hike for real and see some spectacular fall colours, you've got to look at these amazing trails.

Get swept away by the fall colours

There's no better way to get outdoors this autumn than by doing a little leaf peeping. It's all about knowing the best places to go, from ravines like Moore Park and the Don Valley to hidden cemeteries like the Necropolis.

Check out an underrated park

Autumn means it's time to scurry around and stay outside as long as you can before the cold really snaps and we're stuck inside. Visit a lesser known park and make the most of the city while it's still comfortable to walk around in your well put together layers, sweaters and boots.

Gear up on a fall bike ride

Despite maniac drivers on the road, it seems like Toronto is getting easier to navigate by bike every year. Go deep into the Don Valley or around The Toronto Zoo for a stunning ride.

Have a campfire in a park

The smell of a campfire on a chilly night is like a warm blanket around your nostrils. If you don't have a fireplace at home, book an outdoor fire pit, head to a park, get a blanket and sit around the flames to cook, talk, sip or just stare in silence like a creep.

Head to the Islands

Decimated by floods through the spring and a good chunk of the summer, now's a chance to make up for lost time by heading to Toronto's island escape, which is particularly beautiful in autumn. There's no better time to play frisbee golf.

Visit an apple orchard near Toronto

Apple picking is an annual ritual for many Toronto residents. The chance to pick fruit fresh from the tree, shop farmers' markets at the height of harvest season and take in all that fresh country air is too good to pass up.

Hunt down secret sky line lookouts

Summer skylines are often so beautiful you have to stop whatever you're doing to take a photo. Fall skyline views seem all the more stunning for the crispness in the air, you know?

Slow things down with a long walk

You don't have to go for a challenging hike to take in the splendour of fall. Sometimes the best way to soak up the season is by taking a nice and slow walk through one of the city's nicest areas. The best thing about this activity is that you never have to travel far to do it.

Go waterfall hunting

It'll take you outside the borders of Toronto, but one of the ultimate fall activities in the vicinity is waterfall hunting in and around Hamilton. Particular favourites are Tiffany Falls, Albion Falls, and Tews Falls.