Top 8 Northern Ontario Provincial Parks to Visit in the Fall
View from the Fire Tower Trail, Restoule Provincial Park
With spectacular fall colours, few bugs and no large crowds, autumn is the perfect time to explore Ontario's northern provincial parks. From paddling peaceful lakes surrounded with golden foliage, to hiking leaf-covered boardwalks to breathtaking lookout points, there is so much to explore in Northern Ontario. Plan your next getaway or day trip with our top eight Northern Ontario Provincial Parks to visit in the fall.
What is the Best Time to See Fall Colors in Ontario
Fall colours in Ontario generally begin in mid to late September and continue into early October. This varies year-to-year based on weather and climate conditions. Fall colours tend to start earlier in northern Ontario, while fall leaf viewing can be enjoyed well into October in southern Ontario. We recommend planning a visit to a northern Ontario park the last week of September to enjoy great fall colours.
Kettle Lakes Provincial Park
Kettle Lakes Provincial Park is a beautiful hidden gem in northern Ontario. Only a 45-minute drive from Timmins, ON, this 1260-hectare park has 22 spring-fed lakes, formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. The lakes are perfect for paddling, especially for beginners, as they are small and well-sheltered from the wind. The lakes offer an especially stunning backdrop for fall paddling, providing stunning reflections on the calm waters. Fishing is also a great activity to enjoy at the park. Northern pike and yellow perch are naturally occurring in the majority of the 22 lakes, while many others are stocked with rainbow and brook trout. For those looking for hiking and biking opportunities, the park has over 14km of bike trails, and four fun forest hiking trails.
Top things to do: Camping, paddling, biking, fishing, hiking
Suggested hiking trails: Oh-Say-Ya-Wah-Kaw Trail, Tamarack Trail
Camping available: Yes
Roofed accommodation: One camp cabin, sleeps 5
Final operating date of the season: Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: Canoe, kayak and bike rentals*
Finlayson Point Provincial Park
Finlayson Point Provincial Park is an ideal spot to stay when exploring the Temagami region. Located directly off Highway 11, the park is only one hour north of North Bay, and is situated on the shore of Lake Temagami. With campsites equipped for tents, trailers as well as large RVs the park is a perfect base for exploring the waterways and hiking trails of the region.
While there are no trails directly in the park, there are several great ones nearby. One must-do hike is the nearby Temagami Fire Tower Trail at the top of Caribou Mountain, only a 5-minute drive from the park entrance. Take the short hike up to various lookout points with stunning views of the forests and lakes below, then climb the 100ft high Temagami Fire Tower for an unparalleled 360-degree panoramic view of the fall colours below.
For those looking to explore more of the surrounding area, the White Bear Forest trail system provides over 17km of additional hiking opportunities via interconnected trails through colourful hardwood, and old-growth pine forests. The Peregrine Trail is particularly special, as it winds its way through towering old-growth white and red pine forests with trees dating back over 270 years.
Finlayson Point Provincial Park also provides great access to Temagami's 2000+ lakes and is a great spot to fish for lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, bass, walleye and yellow perch. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at the park for an afternoon of exploration on Lake Temagami, or bring your own boat and explore the region's 2400km of paddling routes surrounded by vibrant fall colours.
Top things to do: Camping, fishing, paddling, hiking
Suggested hiking trails: Nearby Temagami Fire Tower Trail and White Bear Forest Trail System
Camping available: Yes
Roofed accommodation: One Temagami cabin, sleeps 6
Final operating date of the season: Last weekend of September
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: Canoe, kayak and bike rentals*
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Lake Superior Provincial Park is a spectacular destination in the fall, featuring kilometers of scenic hiking trails, peaceful paddling on inland lakes, and relaxing opportunities for both car and back-country camping in the heart of nature.
With over 100km of trails ranging from easy to very challenging, hiking one of the park's eleven main trails is a truly rewarding experience. Pass through multicolored fall canopies on your way up to spectacular lookout points overlooking Lake Superior and the vibrant rolling valleys and steep cliffs below, or explore wildlife, waterfalls, inland lakes and historic rock pictographs. Some must-do trails for a fall visit are the Awausee and Nokomis trails for amazing lookout points, Crescent Lake for a walk among stunning yellow birch trees, and Pinguisibi for views of rushing waterfalls among a backdrop of colourful fall foliage.
Fall is also a great season to explore the eight backcountry canoe routes in the park, ranging from day trips to the challenging 56km Sand River route. Paddle through varied landscapes stopping for photos with a colourful fall backdrop, or drop in a line and fish for lake and rainbow trout, as well as three species of salmon.
Top things to do: Hiking, paddling, camping
Suggested hiking trails: Easy: Trapper’s, Crescent Lake, Pinguisibi (Sand River), Agawa Rock Pictographs (open until mid-September weather permitting). Moderate: Orphan Lake Trail, Awausee, Nokomis
Camping available: Yes, including backcountry sites
Roofed accommodation: No
Final operating date of the season: Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend (back-country extends into late October)
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: Canoe rentals available*
Pancake Bay Provincial Park
Thirty minutes south of Lake Superior Provincial Park you'll find Pancake Bay Provincial Park, with its signature pancake-shaped bay. Venture out on the 3.2km of pristine sandy beach for a stroll at sunrise or sunset, or if you're feeling saucy, go for a dip in the refreshing crystal-clear waters. Pancake Bay is sheltered from the open lake by two protective headlands, and is one of the best beaches in North America.
Hiking the Lookout Trail is a must when visiting Pancake Bay Provincial Park. Stroll through a dreamy forest of red sugar maples and yellow birch, and be rewarded with amazing views from the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout over 214m up. The two lookout points overlook the stretch of Lake Superior known as the “Graveyard of the Great Lakes” where the Edmund Fitzgerald ship sank in a violent storm in 1975. The view from the top provides you with a better idea of the full pancake shape of the bay below, and the carpet of fall colours is nothing short of breathtaking.
Top things to do: Camping, hiking, swimming
Suggested Hiking Trails: Lookout Trail
Camping available: Yes
Roofed accommodation: One camp cabin (sleeps 5), as well as five yurts (sleep 6 each)
Final operating date of the season: Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: PFD rentals*
René Brunelle Provincial Park
A short 30-minute drive from Kapuskasing, ON, René Brunelle Provincial Park is a beautiful park with a rich past in Northern Ontario aviation history. With Remi Lake being a major base for floatplanes in the 1920's, you'll learn about the fearless bush pilots of the past who explored the region with missions ranging from extinguishing forest fires, mining exploration and aerial timber patrolling. The 1.5km La Vigilance Trail tells the story of the region's past through interpretive panels, and with a beautiful lookout points over Remi Lake, it's a must for anyone visiting the park. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife viewing opportunities including, beaver, Eurasian wigeons, spruce grouse, warblers, woodpecker, and flycatchers.
René Brunelle is also perfect for those looking to get out on the water, with kilometers of colourful shoreline to explore. Canoe, kayak and motorboat rentals are available at the park, and if you brought your own boat there’s a boat launch just outside the park, while mooring docks are located within the park itself.
Fishing opportunities are abundant at René Brunelle with walleye, northern pike, small-mouth bass, lake whitefish and yellow perch present in Remi Lake. The park also provides a handy fish-cleaning station for those heading back to the campsite to cook their catch. Although there are no dedicated biking trails in the park, the Moonbeam Nature Trails, located just outside the park, provide kilometers of paved cycling as well as multiple single-track mountain biking trails.
Top things to do: Boating, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing
Suggested hiking trails: La Vigilance Trail, Spruce Lowland Trail
Camping available: Yes
Roofed accommodation: One camp cabin, sleeps 5
Final operating date of the season: Last weekend of September
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: Canoe, kayak, motorboat and bike rentals*
Chutes Provincial Park
There's nothing quite like a majestic waterfall, and Chutes Provincial Park on the Aux Sables River is a great stop for fall waterfall viewing. Located between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Chutes, the park is known for its magnificent waterfalls. Follow the 6km Twin Bridge Trail for great views of the falls and river gorge, from both scenic lookouts and picturesque bridges over the rushing river. If you’re visiting at the right time, you may even catch the salmon run up the Aux Sables River. Watch as salmon of all sizes race up to spawn as the base of the main waterfall - definitely a sight to see!
For those looking to explore the surrounding area, Chutes Provincial Park is also located close to beautiful Manitoulin Island. With many fun trails to explore, one must-do trail for the fall season is the well-known Cup and Saucer Trail in Manitowaning. The views of the surrounding forests and steep cliffs from the trail’s lookouts are spectacular, especially when pops of colour begin to dot the landscape.
Top things to do: Camping, fishing, hiking
Suggested hiking trails: Twin Bridges Trail, Cup and Saucer Trail on nearby Manitoulin Island
Camping available: Yes
Roofed accommodation: No
Final operating date of the season: Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend
Paddling opportunities: No
Rentals: No*
Mississagi Provincial Park
Mississagi Provincial Park
A hidden gem just north of Elliott Lake, Mississagi Provincial Park has some of the most spectacular fall colours in Ontario. The drive up the Deer Trail in Algoma Country to the park is nothing short of impressive, with breathtaking vistas around every corner. The mix and vibrancy of colour in autumn makes fall hiking in Mississagi an absolute delight. The 7km Helenbar Lookout Trail is the crown jewel of the park, taking you up 130m to a stunning viewpoint overlooking the rugged colourful landscape below. There are five other trails in the park, varying in length, allowing you to explore the different geological features of the region including mountainous landscapes, serene lakes, plus majestic red and white pine forests.
Mississagi is also a paradise for paddlers, with excellent paddling opportunities on Semiwite Lake, Helenbar Lake, Flack Lake, as well as more challenging canoe routes for multi-day adventures. Bring your own boat or rent a canoe and explore Helenbar Lake, the site of the 1946 crash landing of a British Fighter Jet ditched by RCAF officer Lt. Mackenzie (the namesake of the Mackenzie backcountry trail). After he became lost in a storm and ran out of fuel, he crash landed in the lake, was stranded for 26 days on the shore of the lake, but managed to survive by foraging for berries.
Top things to do: Camping, hiking, paddling
Suggested hiking trails: Helenbar Lookout Trail
Camping available: Yes, including backcountry sites
Roofed accommodation: No
Final operating date of the season: The first weekend of October
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: Canoes*
Restoule Provincial Park
Only 1.5 hours north of Huntsville, Restoule Provincial Park offers the perfect setting for fall colour viewing, and is a great alternative to busy Algonquin Provincial Park nearby. Nestled between Stormy and Restoule Lakes, the park offers waterfront walk-in sites, back-country camping options, as well as RV and car camping sites. The ease of access to Stormy Lake makes hitting the water in a canoe, kayak or paddleboard a great fall activity, and paddling beside the 100m high Stormy Lake Bluff is truly spectacular.
For anyone visiting the park in the fall, the Fire Tower Trail is definitely recommended, with dramatic fall views over Stormy Lake from the top of Stormy Lake Bluff. The colours in the park are extremely vibrant and the landscape from the trail lookout is like a scene from a Group of Seven masterpiece. Don't miss the old Fire Tower, and the majestic pine forest just past the main trailhead.
Restoule Provincial Park is also a great place for a fall bike ride, with two double-tracked dedicated mountain biking trails through colourful hardwood forests. Rent a bike at the park office and go for a ride through a canopy of colour.
Top things to do: Camping, paddling, hiking, biking
Suggested hiking trails: Fire Tower Trail
Camping available: Yes
Roofed accommodation: No
Final operating date of the season: Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend, mid-November for day use
Paddling opportunities: Yes
Rentals: Canoe, kayak, paddleboards, mountain bikes*
To plan your fall visit to Northern Ontario’s Provincial Parks, visit Ontario Parks
To view the current status of the changing fall colours consult the Ontario Parks fall colour meter
* Please check with each park individually for rental availability, restrictions, and operating dates
Some activities in the above were provided by Ontario Parks, although all recommendations are our own.
