mono cliffs

This unreal cliff system near Toronto offers sweeping views of fall

You could spend a lifetime in Southern Ontario and still not discover much less visit all of its various natural gems, but fall is the ideal time to make a go at knocking places off your provincial bucket list.

Here's a suggestion for a place to add: Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. Located on the Niagara Escarpment, this series of rock faces, crags, trails, and lookouts is one of the best places near Toronto to take in the majesty of fall colours at their peak.

The vista from the viewing platform at the Cliff Top Trail is particularly memorable, as it juts out from the edge and offers a panoramic view of the dense foliage below. This is pretty much heaven for leaf peepers.

It's not all about the sweeping views, though. Another favourite spot in the park is the 100 foot stairway that snakes its way down the cliff to a wooden bridge that runs right through two rock faces. Both features are completely photo-worthy.

Mono Cliffs is a day-use park only but you will need a permit. The primary activities here are hiking and biking, which helps a bit with crowd control during peak foliage season. It's still busy, but not quite so hectic as other popular fall lookouts.

All told, there are eight trails at the park, as well as connections to the larger Bruce Trail. The longest of these — the Walter Tovell Trail — is just shy of five kilometres.

In other words, this isn't a place to engage in epic physical exertion. It's all about the natural landscape and the stunning views.

Lead photo by

Ernest So. With files from Derek Flack.


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Sports & Play

Fans think rich people killed the vibe at Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff game

The top 50 weekend getaways from Toronto

Leafs announcer calls out Toronto crowd as 'very disappointing'

Toronto Sun receiving heavy backlash for latest Leafs cover page

Auston Matthews' game-winning goal for Leafs left Bruins announcer speechless

What to expect at Toronto Maple Leafs tailgates outside Scotiabank Arena

Someone went on a rant about 'outrageous' food prices at Toronto's Rogers Centre

Mississauga wants an NHL team to compete with the Leafs