Fall is here. The cooler temperatures and colourful leaves make for great opportunities to de-stress from your hectic schedule and reconnect with family and friends.
There are incredible spaces close to home right here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) where you can explore new ways to have fun this fall. Here’s a list of some of our favourite ways to enjoy the season.
1. View Our Trails in Technicolor
Savour the spectacle of fall colours at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) parks and lands across the GTA. Our trails offer a rewarding outdoor autumn experience, whether you’re up for a leisurely stroll or something a little more challenging.
Enjoy the mature forests, meadows, and kettle lakes of the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve. Experience the rolling hills of Caledon and the Humber River at Albion Hills Conservation Park. Explore the diversity of wildlife habitats at Nashville Conservation Reserve. And stroll the boardwalk through a thriving wetland at Kortright Centre for Conservation.
FIND MORE LOCATIONS FOR FALL WALKS
2. Bird Watching
With more than 18,000 hectares of land under its care, TRCA provides access to some of the best bird watching locations in the region. Grab your binoculars and see if you can spot some of your feathered favourites.
Tommy Thompson Park provides a natural habitat for many species of waterbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds, making it a favourite of local birders.
Other popular destinations include Altona Forest, East Duffins Headwaters, Claireville Conservation Area, and the William Granger Greenway, home to bird breeding territories of the Scarlet Tanager, Hairy Woodpecker, and Wood Thrush.
FIND MORE BIRD WATCHING LOCATIONS
3. Mountain Biking
Take in the fall colours on two wheels!
With more than 50 kilometres of mountain biking trails, Albion Hills Conservation Park offers an envigorating cycling experience for riders of all ages and skill levels. Breathe in the crisp autumn air as you explore a spectacular forest setting in the hills of Caledon.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CYCLING AT ALBION HILLS
4. Take a Journey Into the Past
Experience autumn just as Canadians of the 1860s did, at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Enjoy the splendour of the changing leaves as you walk the streets of an authentically re-created 19th century rural Ontario community.
Choose one of the Village’s guided experiences, or explore at your own pace. And bring the whole family on the weekend for a day of spooktacular Halloween fun!
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO THE VILLAGE
5. Go Salmon Spotting
Every fall, an amazing natural phenomenon takes place right here in the heart of Canada’s largest city: salmon make their annual migration through the rivers and streams of the Greater Toronto Area to their spawning grounds.
Want to learn more about salmon and their journey? Join TRCA for one of our upcoming Adventures of Salmon events:
If you spot a salmon while exploring the GTA’s local waterways, remember to report your sighting using TRCA’s interactive story map. You’ll be helping our monitoring team assess the state of the local salmon population!
LEARN MORE ABOUT SALMON IN THE GTA
Enjoy Free Admission to TRCA Parks
A TRCA Conservation Parks Membership Pass provides access to outdoor recreational experiences across the GTA.
Get free admission to locations including Black Creek Pioneer Village, Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park, Heart Lake Conservation Park, and Kortright Centre for Conservation, along with free parking and exclusive discounts on recreational activities.
COMING SOON
Enter TRCA’s FALL INTO NATURE Giveaway Contest for a chance to win a TRCA Annual Family Parks Membership Pass!
