Ontario Fall Colours (colors) Road Trips and Drives

Georgian Bay Fall Colour Routes

Georgian Bay is one of Ontario's most dynamic resort destinations north of Toronto and must be visited during each season especially when the fall colours are coming into full autumn splendor. We have developed suggested several road trips for your fall color road trips.

Bruce Peninsula-Owen Sound to Wiarton Return Fall Colour Trip
Bruce Peninsula-Northern Section.
Collingwood Beaver Valley Fall colours (colors) Route
Georgian Bay Circle Road Trip Fall colours (colors) Route
Old Fort Road Fall Tour To Midland Ontario colours (colors)*

Bruce Peninsula-Owen Sound to Wiarton Return Fall Colour Trip

Owen Sound can be reached by Highway 6 heading north from Guelph, or via Highway 26 heading west from Collingwood. When heading out of Owen Sound you want to turn right on Grey County Road 1. Grey County Road will take you all the way to Wiarton. Along the Georgian Bay Shores. Consider a side trip to Balmy Beach where the road runs along the Bay and returns to Grey County Road 1. Go through Wiarton to the Spirit Rock Conservation area where you can hike a portion of the Bruce Trail to Spirit rock (moderate 90 minute hike return), then drive back into Wiarton and drive along the west shore of Colopys Bay to the detailed historical sign and look up to where you stood at Spirit Rock. See Photos. Head back to Owen Sound via Highway 6. For latest fall colour (color) changes please see Fall Colours Leaf Change Central Ontario

Places to Stay: Walter’s Falls: The Falls Inn Owen Sound: Book On Line at Comfort Inn Owen Sound, Owen Sound Travelodge, Days Inn - Owen Sound, Best Western Inn On The Bay

Driving Time: Allow a Minimum of 4-6 hours including hikes and attraction visits and a stop for a meal. This will be best experienced as a road trip of one full day trip.

Attractions: Wiarton Willie, Bruce Caves, Spirit Rock Conservation Area-Wiarton, Kelso Beach Owen Sound, Big Bay Beach, Memorial to Jean Cheshire, Township of Georgian Bluffs Parks-Cedar Hill and Centennial Parks. See Photos

Bruce Peninsula-Northern Section.

Owen Sound to Tobermory Via Hope Bay & Lions Head Fall Colours Route

Discover the beauty of the northern Bruce Peninsula with a direct drive from Owen Sound Via Highway 6 to the cut off for Colopys Bay via County Road 9. Follow the signs to Cape Croker Indian Reserve on County Road 18 and proceed to Light House Road. Proceed to the end where the Cape Croker Light house is located at the end of the road. The view is worth the drive see photos. Travel back through the Reserve to County Road 9 and turn right towards Hope Bay. There is a nice sand beach at Hope Bay.
As well, the Bruce Trail is accessible. Drive back out to County Road 9 and proceed north to Lion’s Head. Drive through Lion’s Head and keep to your right, to a series of back roads (mostly gravel), some along Georgian Bay. You will drive along Isthmus Bay Road, 40 Hills Road, and Cape Chin Road South. Signage is not prominent and you have to do a little exploring as you drive. There is a short trail which is part of the Bruce Trail at the Provincial Nature Reserve called Smokey Head White Bluff. Note: It takes you down to the cobble rocks on the beach. About 40 minutes return.

Continue driving until you see directions to Cape Chin North Road. Follow this road until you see the sign for Devil’s Monument. Drive to the end (gravel road) and hike about 20 minutes to the Devil’s Monument, you can also hike down to the beach, however the section below the monument is rugged and rocky. Drive back out to Highway 6 and Drive to Tobermory, Explore the town, and visit the new Visitors Centre at Fathom Five National Park. Drive back to Hope Bay—or to Owen Sound. See Photos.

From Tobermory you can catch the MS Chi-Cheemaun passenger-vehicle ferry to Manitoulin Island.the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world.

Driving Time. This will be a full day touring, hiking, and enjoying attractions and scenic views.
For latest fall colour (color) changes please see Fall Colours Leaf Change Central Ontario

Accommodation: Places to Stay: Walter’s Falls: The Falls Inn Owen Sound: Book On Line at Comfort Inn Owen Sound, Owen Sound Travelodge, Days Inn - Owen Sound, Best Western Inn On The Bay  Cape Croker: Camping at Cape Croker Indian Park. Hope Bay: Cedarholme Bed and Breakfast

Attractions and tourist Activities: English Tea at Cape Chin Country Inn, Bruce Peninsula National Parks Centre, Owen Sound Fall Fair, Wiarton Fall Fair, Cape Chin Tourist Area, Devil’s Monument, St. Margaret’s Church, Smokey Head-White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve, See Photo Page

Collingwood Beaver Valley Fall colours (colors) Route

Driving Directions: Take Highway 400 to Highway 27 north in Barrie. Go north to Highway 26, and proceed west to Collingwood and Thornbury. Proceed south again on County Road 13 to the Beaver Valley, and then go back north to Meaford, return through Thornbury and Collingwood. Enjoy family fall fun picking apples along the way.*****
Colours around the Niagara Escarpment are changing daily. For latest fall colour (color) changes please see Fall Colours Leaf Change Central Ontario

Places To Stay: Blue Mountain Chalets, Blue Mountain Lodges, Chalets at Blue,Chateau Ridge Condo, Cranberry Resort, Mountain Springs Lodge Resort & Conference Centre Pretty River Valley Inn, The Falls Inn, Tyrolean Village Resorts, Villa Rossa Chalet, Westin Trillium House-Blue Mountain
Flesherton: Cedars Cottage Resort
Places to Visit: Scenic Caves Nature Adventures, Meaford Apple Harvest and Craft Show, Meaford Golf and Country Club

Georgian Bay Fall colours (colors) Route

Driving Directions: Take Highway 400 North to 93 northwest to Southern Georgian Bay and the towns of Midland and Penetanguishene. Combine your fall drive with a fall colour cruise from Midland or Penetanguishene to capture the beauty of the 30,000 Island fall colours. A visit to Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons or the Wye Marsh Wildlife Center is fun for families.***** Take Highway 12 through Midland, picking up the 400 again north to Muskoka Road 5 to Port Severn & Honey Harbour. Return via Highway 400.
For latest fall colour (color) changes please see Fall Colours Leaf Change Central Ontario

Places to Stay: MIDLAND & AREA: Best Western Highland Inn & Conference Centre, Comfort Inn Midland, Little Lake Inn Bed & Breakfast, Paradise Cottages, Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast, Villa Beach, The PORT SEVERN & HONEY HARBOUR AREA: Christie's Mill Inn & Spa, Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort, Echo Falls Cottage, Muskey's Landing, Rawley Resort & Marina, Severn Lodge, Sunnylea Resort PARRY SOUND & AREA: Georgian Bay Fishing Camp, Glenwood Cottages & Marina, SunDog Retreat, The, Four Winds Cottage Resort, Whip-poor-will Lodge, Wyevale: A Wymbolwood Beach House B & B

Places to Visit: Hardwood Ski & Bike, Midland Tours Inc., Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Discovery Harbour - Penetanguishene, Huronia Museum & Huron/Ouendat Village, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, Port McNicoll Adventures - Port McNicoll, White Squall Nobel

See Southern Georgian Bay Video on U-tube

Old Fort Road Fall Tour To Midland Ontario colours (colors)*

Driving Directions: This route will take you past Simcoe County Forests, rolling rural country side, vistas of hills with spectacular fall colours, antique shops, farms with fresh farm eggs and honey for sale, through the charming villages of Wye Vale, Hillsdale and Waverly in the heart of Simcoe County. Detailed Fall Foliage touring route with mileage, places to see and suggested links to overnight accommodation stops. Detailed route directions on the back roads to Midland Ontario. For latest fall colour (color) changes please see Fall Colours Leaf Change Central Ontario

MIDLAND & AREA: Best Western Highland Inn & Conference Centre, Comfort Inn, Little Lake Inn Bed & Breakfast, Paradise Cottages, Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast, Villa Beach, The Wyevale: A Wymbolwood Beach House B & B
Places to Visit: Hardwood Ski & Bike, Midland Tours Inc., Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Discovery Harbour - Penetanguishene, Huronia Museum & Huron/Ouendat Village, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, Port McNicoll Adventures - Port McNicoll, White Squall Nobel

See Southern Georgian Bay Video on U-tube

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A number of fall drives, travel routes, circle tours, regional Ontario travel and tourism association routes, and suggested Ministry of Tourism great fall drives have been identified in addition to the fall drives and road trips above. Click here for more Ontario fall colour drives and road trips.