With the autumn equinox behind us and Thanksgiving weekend approaching, fall colours are nearing their peak, increasing interest from visitors and prompting local businesses and provincial parks to prepare for the seasonal influx.
Ken Cole, co-owner of The Great Vine in downtown Huntsville, is updating locals and tourists on Muskoka’s changing fall colours through his new "leaf report" project.
“The colours are edging their way along to peak, and that’s what we want to keep everybody abreast of,” Cole said.
Cole credits his two employees at The Great Vine for the inspiration behind the videos. He said customers this time of year are always asking about “the leaves and the colours and this season,” so the team at Great Vine wanted to create a way to show them.
As of Oct. 3, Cole has uploaded 19 leaf reports to the Great Vine's Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Cole said he expects the fall colours to peak around Oct. 13 – which leads right into the Thanksgiving weekend and will be a busy time for Muskoka.
“There are so many tourists out. It’s a beloved time of the year for a lot of people who don’t get a chance often to see these colours, and so they come up here in buses and cars, in families and groups,” he said.
The most recent leaf report led him to the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower in the Algonquin Highlands to view the trees from above.
About 60 km away from the Dorset Tower is the west gate entrance to Algonquin Provincial Park – another popular fall tourism destination.
Booth’s Rock Trail in Algonquin Park is a 5.1-kilometre loop that leads to a scenic lookout and features an abandoned railway.
The park’s website lists the hike rating as difficult, and the trail guide explains it to be “fairly rigorous” with “magnificent views of Rock and Whitefish Lakes.”
Up until Oct. 20, visitors need a special vehicle permit to access parking and the trail. Daily permits are available for $21 after tax (seasonal permit holders can book for free).
But the tickets are selling out fast, so Ontario Parks suggests booking the Hwy 60 corridor under the ‘Day Use’ tab in its reservation system ahead of time.
If the park is at capacity, no one (not even seasonal pass holders) will be permitted to purchase a day pass at the gate or enter. Only those who bought in advance or who are camping in the park can access the trail.
Tickets go on sale each morning at 7 a.m. and visitors can book five days in advance. Last Saturday sold out for both Highway 60 and Booth's Rock Trail parking and access.
For more Ontario Park information, visit OntarioParks.com or phone 1-888-668-7275.
Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
