Fall foliage
Sat, 2007-10-13 18:09
#1
Fall foliage
Sat, 2007-10-13 18:09
#2
What are people's picks for the best foliage areas within a few hours drive of Toronto? I'm considering going to Hockley Valley or to Elora/Fergus.
Sat, 2007-10-13 18:15
#3
I would recommend the area of Hwy 7 and Hwy 41 for a fall scenic view.
Sun, 2007-10-14 08:55
#4
I'm not sure of the colour status at this moment, but I think taking HWY 10 all the way up to Markdale, then turning right onto County road 30, and sort of zig zagging up Beaver Valley and coming back around eventually to HWY 10 just south of Chatsworth will give you great vistas. Rebecca West and I drove through there this June and we were astounded by the views.
Mind you, it's probably more driving from Toronto than one would like to do in a day. But I'm sure there are some B&B's in the area.
A little closer off Hwy 10, make a left at Orangeville, heading towards Arthur. About half way turn north for Grand Valley. It's not quite as good a view as presented in Beaver Valley, but quite nice all the same. The road will take you to HWY 89, and an eastern heading will take you back to HWY 10 at Shelbourne.
Sun, 2007-10-14 09:22
#5
I had a nice drive along highway 2 between Port Hope and Brighton. There are some pretty spots along that way. Also, if you go north of Highway 2 and north of the 401 east of Toronto, you can probably find some west-east running highways that would be awfully pretty.
Sun, 2007-10-14 09:46
#6
Hmmmm ... Toronto area I'm not sure about, but it's always worth the drive to the Gatineau Hills just for the view in Fall.
Sun, 2007-10-14 18:03
#7
Tommy
Your routes are making me homesick.
Those are some very nice routes.
Sun, 2007-10-14 18:25
#8
quote:
I'm not sure of the colour status at this moment, but I think taking HWY 10 all the way up to Markdale, then turning right onto County road 30, and sort of zig zagging up Beaver Valley and coming back around eventually to HWY 10 just south of Chatsworth will give you great vistas. Rebecca West and I drove through there this June and we were astounded by the views.
I was up there for the thanksgiving weekend, carrying on up to Tobermory, we took a detour off hwy 6 at Wiarton to go on Rd. 9 which wends it's way along the east coast of the Bruce Peninsula, hitting Colpoy's bay, Hope Bay and Lion's Head,the colours were amazing. Also stopped into friends who have a place on a small concession outside of Chatsworth. Had a thanksgiving dinner outside due to the unseasonably warm weather. Went back up to Tobermory for a couple more days and did some hiking along the bruce trail, very peaceful. It has been a few years since I made the trek up this time of year I think I may have to do it annually.
Mon, 2007-10-15 09:57
#9
Heart Lake Road.
Mon, 2007-10-15 11:18
#10
There are some very scenic routes on the west and south sides of the Meaford Tank Range.
I am not sure what the conditions of the roads are this year and how well you can drive on seasonal roads are however the drive can very pleasant. I would recommend bring a few sandwiches for a picnic if you have a few hours.
Mon, 2007-10-15 11:55
#11
Anywhere along the Bruce Trails. Cobourg is also very beautiful right now. If you feel like driving three hours, I would highly recommend Bancroft.
Mon, 2007-10-15 12:42
#12
Mrs. oldgoat and I just got back from a few days at a lodge on Hay lake, just SE of Algonquin Park. I was surprised that the fall colours were still so good up there, I was figuring it would be pretty much gone by now. The weather was a little bit of everything, but more sun than was expected. Our plans were mainly to curl up and read, play cards, (mrs. oldgoat cheats!) and putter about or not as the spirit moved us. It's a place we used to go way back before we had kids, so we thought it would be nice in recognition of our 28th anniversery. Anyway, every time you turned a corner it was like driving into an A.Y. Jackson. It was just beautiful. Even saw a couple of mooses.
Mon, 2007-10-15 14:14
#13
Happy 28th anniversary Oldgoat!!
I saw a bear while photo hunting a couple weekends ago. It was amazing. I think he/she was a bear cub.
Mon, 2007-10-15 14:19
#14
Awwwww! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img] Happy anniversary! Give Ms. Oldgoat my best.
Tue, 2007-10-16 02:01
#15
Yes, happy anniversary, Oldgoat.
I was reminded too, of a trip from Niagara Falls along Lundy's Lane, it provides some good views as you cut across the escarpment.
Which lead me to realize that scenic routes are probably assured if one takes a map showing the escarpment, and translating that to a standard road map. Anywhere roads cut across, there are bound to be interesting vistas.
Sat, 2007-10-20 06:14
#16
While checking out the weather for a foray to the Dundalk area today, I came across this weather cam:
[url=http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index.php?product=weather_cams&placecod... foliage, Beaver Valley-- or at least a small bit of it.[/url]
Mon, 2007-10-22 02:15
#17
Ah, well, having returned from the Dundalk area, it seems to me that north of Shakespeare Ontario, the many to most of the maples have lost their leaves, leaving out the vibrant reds and oranges in the woodlots. There are exceptions. Passing through Arthur, and taking the road to Damascus (where I did not experience any sudden and profound insights) there were some maples still all aflame in fall colours.
But for sight seeing, I would stick to the south, where things are probably more colourfull.
In spite of a bout with what I think was some food poisoning on saturday, I still managed to get out for a slow walk through the woods up there sunday. Wonderful time of year to do this. No mosquitoes, no deer flies, and the temperature is perfect.
Tue, 2007-10-23 19:26
#18
joshmanicus
I don't know if this is too far out of range for you, but if you want to come down to my neck of the woods in the deep south, I reckon you'll catch the beginning and middle stages of fall foliage. It all depends on how far south you want to go.
Rondeau Provincial Park in Kent County is just starting it's fall routine from what I'm told. I'm also told by other sources who drive the southern counties that the Pinery Provincial Park and highway 21 are very nice right now.
I don't have anything to verify this, but I'll bet that the prime spot right now would also be Point Pelee National Park around Leamington.
Tue, 2007-10-23 19:39
#19
Fall has come and gone for quite a few weeks now.
The Tamarack in front of the house has yellow needles and will drop off pretty soon.
Wed, 2007-10-24 14:36
#20
Now that you mention it, Joshua, the north shore of Lake Erie from Port Stanley west is a large part of my local area I am not terribly familiar with, although many of my co-workers sing its praises.
Sun, 2007-10-28 06:09
#21
Ah. The junco's have returned to my back yard, I saw them this morning. A harbinger of late autumn. I think the first frost or snow fall in their northern summering grounds brings them here to their southern wintering habitat.
Frost or snow is never too far behind their arrival.