Fall Colors in Ontario: The Best Parks to Visit
Best Parks for Fall Colors Near Toronto
Okay, we wanted to see fall colors and visited Algonquin before, but this time, we didn’t want to go to Algonquin again. Instead, we decided to try out different places to see fall colors closer to Toronto. So, we went to Westminster Ponds and Devil’s Glen Provincial Park.
For Algonquin Provincial Park, we’ll write a separate blog post for sure. In this one, we tried to find the best parks and places to go instead of Algonquin. Check out all the autumn color photos we have from both places! They look amazing. The autumn colors — with shades of red, orange, gold, and yellow (actually every type of yellow you can imagine, haha) — are all there, making both places perfect for autumn color photos!
Fall Colors in Ontario: Best Time to Visit
I would say visiting these places to watch fall colors would be a great choice. The best time to see fall colors is from late September to November. We went during the first week of November, and I guess we did not miss the colors at their peak! The pictures we took at Westminster Ponds and Devil’s Glen Provincial Park prove we didn’t miss a single bit of fall beauty that Ontario offers!
Westminster Ponds
Westminster Ponds is the largest Environmentally Significant Area (ESA), covering around 200 hectares in London, Ontario. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Toronto.
At first, when we arrived, it seemed like there was no parking, but there were parking spots. A wedding was taking place, so the area was crowded. We initially felt lost and worried we wouldn’t find a good spot to see fall colors. Eventually, we saw some people walking out, talking about the place, so we followed the direction they came from and found the area.
The first area we saw was a round road with paths branching off. We followed one path and discovered a pond. It seemed like just a pond surrounded by fall colors, but we were determined to explore further. As we continued down the trail, we realized the place offered much more.
Walking deeper into the trail, we saw beautiful fall colors all around us. The pictures say it all! Dogs are welcome on the trail, and it’s suitable for all ages. It was a comfortable walk, and we even found a floating dock that gave us an incredible view of the fall colors and their reflections in the pond.
The scenery was breathtaking. We stayed on the dock for a while, silently capturing the beauty in pictures and our memories. The floating dock gave us a vibe of being on a small, continuously shaking boat — it was fun!
After enjoying the view, we continued along the trail, which seemed to connect to the other side of the pond. I thought it might lead us back to the parking lot eventually. Unfortunately, one of our friends wasn’t in the mood for more walking, so after covering a few kilometers, we turned back. We promised to return another day to finish the trail!
Devil’s Glen Provincial Park
Devil’s Glen Provincial Park is another great spot to see fall colors. The trail leading to the lookout point wasn’t very long, and it’s also about a 2-hour drive from downtown Toronto.
The lookout point was amazing! There was one spot in particular that was perfect for taking photos. Everyone was taking turns sitting there for their pictures, while I focused on capturing nature, haha. We helped a few people take pictures at the lookout too.
It felt like Devil’s Glen Provincial Park’s main attraction was the lookout point since we didn’t see much in terms of hiking or additional trails. On our way back from the lookout, we noticed a trail leading downwards from the lookout area. It seemed interesting but also challenging, as the path didn’t look well-maintained.
Since we didn’t have enough time to explore further, we decided to save it for another visit!
