Ontario "Yours to Discover" Fall Colour Report

Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation Ontario Travel Information Centre 21 Mapleview Drive East Barrie ON L4N 9H5 Tel: (705) 725-7280 Fax: (705) 725-7285

The FALL COLOUR PROGRESSION REPORT is produced each Monday and Thursday during the beautiful fall colour season, in the province. This is the report for Thursday, September 13, 2012. Northern Ontario Region In the far north-western region of Ontario the fall colour season is just getting started. There are some small pockets of colour and a 20% to 30% change in the Kenora area. The Vernon Nature Trail, on the shores of Lake of the Woods, will be a great spot for a fall colour experience. The Thunder Bay region is just starting to see some pockets of colour with a 15 to 20% change. The north shore of Lake Superior sees the colour change just starting as well at about 10%. The Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma region are starting to offer some small pockets of colour with just a 10% to 20% change, to this point. Some small pockets of yellow are showing but green continues to dominant. Keep in mind a great way to see the colours in the Algoma region, is aboard the Agawa Canyon tour train. It is always best to book your tour and accommodation well in advance of your visit. The train runs through October 14th. There is only the odd tree starting to change in the North Bay area and north to Temagami with a 10% change. A good location to view the fall colour over the next couple of weeks will be at the tower lookout, right in the community of Temagami. The Sudbury area across to the Manitoulin Island region is showing just a 10% colour change. You can see some small areas of red and light orange starting to appear in the area. Killarney Provincial Park across to the French River area has just the odd tree starting to turn and a 10% colour change. The Granite Ridge hiking trail in Killarney Park is especially nice during the fall. The Algonquin Park area is an extremely popular fall colour destination. The highway 60 corridor is offering less than 20 to 30% change at this time with green still the dominant colour. An ideal viewing location, during the fall colour season is the view from the observation deck at the world class Algonquin Park visitor centre. Ragged Falls, just off highway 60, outside the west gate of Algonquin, also offers an ideal viewing location during the colour season. Central Ontario Region The central region is offering very little colour change at this time. The Parry Sound area is reporting just the odd tree changing with a 10% colour change. A great way to enjoy the upcoming fall colour season in this area of the province is aboard the 30,000 Island Cruise. The Muskoka and across to the Haliburton region 1

are reporting very little colour change at this time, about 10%. An ideal viewing location over the next couple of weeks will be the fire tower lookout in Dorset. Highways 35, 117 and 118 always offer outstanding fall colour. The Midland area is reporting just the odd tree starting to turn at this time. The Collingwood area is reporting some small pockets of colour at this time and a 10% change. The apple harvest is well under way in the region. The Kawartha Lakes region is reporting just a splash of colour here and there and a 10% change at this time. Highway 45 from Norland to Kinmount will provide some nice colour during the fall colour season. Ottawa Region No significant colour change at this time. Eastern Ontario Region The Cornwall area and across to Prescott region and along the St. Lawrence River is showing no significant colour change as yet. The change is less than 10% at this time. The colour is more advanced to the north at from 10 to 20% in the Pembroke area. Most of eastern Ontario is still 7 to 10 days away from appreciable colour. South-Western Ontario Region No significant colour change at this time in South-western Ontario. The Owen Sound area has just a 10% change with a few pockets of gold and red. Inglis Falls and Harrison Park are always outstanding fall colour locations in the Owen Sound region. The Beaver Valley region is offering just a 10% change. During the fall colour season you can enjoy the vistas from numerous lookouts along Regional Roads 7 and 13 and at the Eugenia Falls area. Niagara Falls Region No significant colour change at this time. Keep in mind that the month of October can offer outstanding colour along the Niagara Parkway from Niagara on the Lake to Fort Erie. Greater Toronto Region No significant colour change at this time. We are starting to get a good list of Fall Colour Studio Tours. These tours allow you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall colour throughout Ontarios countryside while perhaps visiting the many artist and artisan studios. These are self guided, well signed driving tours that start and finish where you like. The following tours take place over the weekend of September 15th to the 16th The 19th Annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, Sept. 15th and 16th Sylvan Circle Art and Artisan Tour in the Echo Bay region of Northern Ontario, Sept. 15th 27th Annual Uxbridge Studio Tour, Sept. 15th and 16th Bradford, West Gwillimbury, Bradford/ Holland Marsh area, Sept. 14th to the 16th 24th Annual Hills of Erin Studio Tour, Erin/Hillsburgh area, Sept. 15th and 16th, 22nd and 23rd Contact: Jack Lynch Travel Promotion Officer Ontario Travel Centre Barrie 2