There’s something about fall in Ontario that always feels a little rushed.
One week, everything is still mostly green. Then suddenly you notice a few bright red maples on the way to work, the mornings feel cooler, and before you know it the countryside has completely changed. The hills are orange and gold, the roads are covered in leaves, and everyone is saying the same thing: we should go see the changing colours this weekend. And honestly, we should.
Fall colour season never lasts as long as we think it will. A few windy days, some rain, one especially cold night, and that perfect stretch of autumn can disappear almost overnight. The good news is that living in Toronto puts us within easy reach of some beautiful drives in almost every direction.
You don’t need to book a cottage or turn it into a full weekend away either. Pick a Sunday, grab a coffee, throw a jacket and a pair of walking shoes in the car, and head out for the afternoon.
Here are five drives worth considering this fall.
- Grey County and the Beaver Valley
If you have most of the day and don’t mind driving a little farther, head Northwest toward Grey County.
The Beaver Valley is one of those places that feels much farther from Toronto than it actually is. Once you get around Flesherton, Eugenia and Kimberley, the landscape opens up into rolling farmland, steep forested hills and some of the prettiest sections of the Niagara Escarpment.
Grey Road 13 through the Beaver Valley is especially beautiful in fall. There are plenty of opportunities to pull over, explore small towns or take a short walk. Eugenia Falls makes an easy stop, and if you keep going toward Kimberley and Meaford, the drive eventually brings you toward Georgian Bay.
This is a good one when the drive itself is the plan. Don’t rush it. Take the side roads, stop at a farm stand and make a full afternoon of it.
- Mono and Hockley Valley
For something closer, Mono is probably my favourite easy escape from Toronto.
Within about an hour, the subdivisions start disappearing and you’re suddenly surrounded by rolling hills, horse farms, old barns and tree-lined roads.
Take Airport Road north and wander around Mono Centre and Hockley Valley. If you want to stretch your legs, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is an obvious stop. There are trails through the forest and some great views from the escarpment.
But you don’t necessarily need a hiking itinerary. Some of the best moments here come from simply turning onto one of the smaller concession roads and seeing where it goes.
It’s the perfect option for one of those Sundays when you don’t leave home until noon but still want to feel like you went somewhere.
- East to Port Hope and Northumberland
Heading east gives you a completely different kind of fall scenery.
Port Hope is a great starting point, especially if you want to mix a country drive with a coffee, lunch or a walk through a pretty downtown.
From there, head north toward Garden Hill, Bewdley and Rice Lake. Northumberland County is full of rolling farmland, old forests and quieter roads that are especially beautiful once the maples start changing.
The Ganaraska area is also worth exploring if you feel like taking a walk before heading home.
This route feels less dramatic than Muskoka or the Beaver Valley, but that is also part of the appeal. It’s peaceful, relaxed and usually a little less hectic than some of the more famous fall destinations.
- North to Muskoka
If the colours are changing quickly, sometimes you just need to go north.
Muskoka is the classic Ontario fall drive for a reason. Lakes, granite rock, winding roads and forests in every direction make it hard to beat once the leaves really start turning.
Start in Gravenhurst and take Muskoka Road 169 toward Bala. Continue toward Port Carling and Bracebridge, stopping whenever something catches your attention.
One of my favourite parts of a Muskoka fall drive is that you don’t really need an attraction. A quiet lake, an old cottage road or a lookout you happen to notice can become the best stop of the day.
Take Muskoka Beach Road between Bracebridge and Gravenhurst on the way back. With the trees arching over portions of the road, it can be spectacular in October.
- West to Dundas and the Niagara Escarpment
For an easy drive west, head toward Burlington, Dundas and Ancaster.
Once you get off the highway, the landscape changes quickly. Dundas Valley and the surrounding escarpment are full of mature hardwood forest, ravines and winding roads.
You can stop for a walk around Dundas, explore some of the roads around Ancaster and Flamborough, or keep going toward Niagara wine country if you have more time.
It’s also a great choice when you want fall scenery without spending half the afternoon getting there.
Don’t Wait for the “Perfect” Weekend
We tend to think we have plenty of time to enjoy fall, until suddenly the trees are bare.
So don’t worry too much about catching the colours at exactly 100 percent. Part of the fun is seeing the season change.
Pick a direction. Take the slower road. Stop when something looks beautiful. Get out of the car once in a while. Buy the pie from the roadside stand. Most importantly, go sooner rather than later.
The colours won’t wait.
