Five places in York Region to enjoy fabulous fall colours

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 26, 2017
By Adam Martin-Robbins

The brilliant reds, oranges and yellows that make autumn such a great time to get outdoors and explore the region's forests will really start popping in the next couple of weeks and this year's colour show is expected to be spectacular given all the rain we saw this summer.

Here are five prime spots in York Region to enjoy the fall splendour:

Kortright Centre for Conservation

The 555-acre park in Vaughan features an expansive trail network through thick, mixed hardwood forest. Sweet spots in fall include Maple Sugar Bush Trail and the Lookout on Forestry Trail, which affords great vistas of the forest and the East Humber River.

Nokiidaa Trail System

This 20-kilometre trail follows the East Holland River from Aurora north up to Holland Landing and passes through several conservation areas - Rogers Reservoir, Sheppard's Bush and Mabel Davis, among them - dotted with deciduous trees. It links to other community trails, providing plenty of possibilities for fall colour viewing.

Rouge Park

Markham is the northern gateway to this sprawling national park, spanning 5,000-hectares of protected woodland and four municipalities, which is considered by some to be the best place in the GTA to get your fill of fall. Parks Canada offers free, guided walking tours from Oct. 3 to 9.

Thornton Bales Conservation Area

Nicknamed 'The 99 Steps,' this 20-hectare conservation area in King sits atop the Oak Ridges Moraine and is renowned for its steep slopes and dense forest featuring sugar maple and American beech. The drive along 19th Sideroad is also a treat as it's lined with towering trees.

York Regional Forest

The Hollidge and Eldred King tracts off Highway 48 in Whitchurch-Stouffville boast a wide array of deciduous trees with leaves that offer an explosion of colour. A parking lot and an accessible trail make it an easy place to enjoy an outing.