We know how keen you are to visit Algonquin Provincial Park in the fall, and we hate to see folks turned away because the park is full.
Every year, the park welcomes visitors from as far away as northern Ontario, the southern United States, and even overseas!
If you’re planning a day-trip, don’t forget to reserve your permit in advance. Otherwise, you risk being turned away at East Gate or West Gate due to the park reaching capacity for the day.
But if the park does fill up (or even if you’d prefer a magical fall destination that’s a little less crowded), don’t despair!
No matter where you’re coming from, we have parks in every possible direction that deserve your attention. While it’s true we don’t have any plans to establish parks in the United States or overseas, we’re confident we can help our visitors find a park that is not just an alternate for Algonquin, but deserves its own recognition!
Looking for…
A nearby park?
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Open all year
Arrowhead is 40 minutes from Algonquin’s West Gate, but it deserves a spotlight all its own.
With famous scenic lookouts like Big Bend and Stubbs Falls, your best chance to take in the beautiful fall colours of its mixed forest is during the week, when traffic’s a big quieter.
Take advantage of canoe and kayak rentals, including new accessibility watercrafts, or hike along 12 km of trails.
Why not pop into the town of Huntsville while you’re here and take advantage of their boutique shops and restaurants? Read more here.
Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park
Open until October 20, 2024
Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls is only 10 minutes from Algonquin’s West Gate.
This day-use park features a breathtaking waterfall after just a short hike.
All of the famous features of Algonquin: rocky cliffs and magical fall colours, with a dash of white water. What’s not to love?
But this park quickly fills up if Algonquin is at capacity, so you’ll want to arrive early in the day!
A near-northern gem?
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Open until October 15, 2024
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is located about 50 km east of North Bay, on the northern border of Algonquin.
This park boasts 14 km of hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous.
The trails wind through Canadian Shield forests of both deciduous and coniferous trees, providing ample fall colour viewing opportunities.
Prime riverside and lakeside campsites are more likely to be available during the fall than the summer, especially midweek. Book your getaway today!
Driftwood Provincial Park
Open until October 15, 2024
Driftwood Provincial Park is a favourite among the regulars who return every year — and it’s not hard to see why!
Known for its sunsets and riverside campsites, Driftwood stretches along the shoreline of the Ottawa River on the Trans-Canada Highway between Pembroke and Mattawa.
Rent a canoe and see the colourful foliage from the river, or go for a hike on over 6 km of trails in this quaint and cozy park.
Learn more about fall adventures at Driftwood here.
Restoule Provincial Park
Open until October 15, 2024
Restoule has become increasingly popular in the fall for one very good reason: it has so much to offer!
Numerous trails from easy to strenuous are available, all of which have spectacular views of fall colours. Extensive mountain biking trails take you through colourful forests, and rentals (mountain bike, canoe, kayak, SUP) are available too!
Stunning backcountry camping sites are just a short canoe, kayak, or boat ride away. You’ll want to plan in advance for your trip to this park, which is just south of Lake Nipissing, or take a midweek visit!
Read more about the easy-to-reach backcountry here, and about fall activities here.
Mikisew Provincial Park
Open until October 15, 2024
Mikisew is the perfect fall getaway (especially if you’ve always longed to play disc golf in a picturesque forest setting!).
This park, on Eagle Lake about midway between Huntsville and North Bay, boasts a wonderful disc golf course.
If discs aren’t your thing, the park also has over 4 km of forest trails, and a 1 km trail that winds through the campground and along the shore of Eagle Lake.
Use this park as a base camp to explore the region, or its busier sister park, Restoule Provincial Park, only an hour away. Learn more here.
An eastern park?
Bonnechere Provincial Park
Open until October 20, 2024
Bonnechere is a unique park with amazing features: numerous barrier-free and accessible activities and amenities, the Footprints in Time trails, and a family/senior friendly layout that attracts campers and RVers alike.
If that wasn’t enough, the park is located in the heart of the Ottawa Valley, making it the perfect basecamp for daytrips into quaint towns and an endless autumn landscape that is as colourful as it is rugged.
Learn more about what to do at the park here.
Fitzroy Provincial Park
Open until October 15, 2024
Fitzroy has become increasingly popular in the fall, especially with RVers from Ottawa.
This cozy park is bursting with wildlife in the two rivers – Ottawa and Carp – that meander through the campgrounds.
The park’s hiking trails span 3 km and offer QR codes for an interactive learning experience.
Located at the beginning of the Ottawa Valley, Fitzroy is perfect for convenient daytrips to the city or to enjoy the sweeping views and experience the small towns of eastern Ontario.
A park closer to southern Ontario, the GTA, or the USA?
Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Open until October 31, 2024
In the heart of the Kawartha cottage country, this park offers 10 km of biking and over 6 km of hiking trails.
This includes a panoramic view perfect for taking in the fall colours of the surrounding area, and a walk through eskers and kames left in the wake of the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago.
The lake is a favourite for fishing too, but make sure to check the Fishing Regulations to find out what’s in season!
Lake St. Peter Provincial Park
Open until October 15, 2024
Less than half an hour from Algonquin’s East Gate, this park offers a lot of the same brilliant fall colours.
It has two hiking trails, including one that leads to a spectacular view overlooking Lake St. Peter and another that leads through the ruins of a log cabin.
Not enough hiking for you? The 200 km Hastings Heritage Trail is just a few kilometres away!
This charming park is also a favourite destination for RVers.
Awenda Provincial Park
Open all year
Fall hikers who love cooler, sunny weather need look no further than Awenda, which has 30 km of trails to choose from.
You’ll love the Bluff Trail which can be accessed at various points throughout the park and offers views of Georgian Bay, low-lying wetlands, and – you guessed it – picturesque bluffs.
Explore 2,900 ha of forested land that hugs the southeast corner of Georgian Bay. It’s a feast for eyes seeking fall colours.
Awenda’s colours are usually trailing behind in the season compared to other parks, but who doesn’t love more time to enjoy these beautiful colours across the province?
Silent Lake Provincial Park
Open until March 23, 2024
Located between Peterborough and Bancroft, this park has been a favourite with autumn visitors for years.
Silent Lake has campsites to accommodate those arriving with tents or RVs.
Both its biking and hiking trails are extensive, 28 km and 19 km respectively, and include options for the more experienced and adventurous outdoorsperson.
The motor-free lake ensures you’ll get peaceful views of the changing leaves all around the shoreline.
