5 walks to see spectacular fall colours in Toronto

Getting out for a walk is a great way to see fall colours in Toronto.

Toronto is blessed with a ravine system that can make hikers feel like they have left the busy city streets behind and escaped to a rural forest.

Autumn can be spectacular in the ravines with fall colours typically at peak in October or early November. There are tons of good spots to see colours.

Here are five great walks in the city:

High Park

This park is wonderful any time of year but in the fall, the large forested area transforms into an array of reds, yellows and browns. While it can be nice to follow the sidewalks along the roads, this park also has a trail loop, which brings walkers closer to the forest and Grenadier Pond.

To access the five-kilometre loop, walkers can start from High Park station, enter through the north gates of the park and head east then south along the dirt paths. The walk continues along paved portions and then along the pond on the west side of the park.

Doris McCarthy Trail

On the opposite end of the city is the stunning Doris McCarthy Trail. Named after the Canadian artist who once lived nearby, this trail dips into the Bellamy Ravine toward Lake Ontario. The path opens up with views of the lake and the large steel sculpture, Passage, that pays homage to McCarthy. The path then follows the lake east with views of the Scarborough bluffs.

This trail is accessed off Ravine Drive and Kingston Road. The trail extends several kilometres east and hikers can choose to visit the Guild Park and Gardens about five kilometres from the starting point.

The sculpture Passage pays homage to artist Doris McCarthy.

Moore Park Ravine

This 6.3-km loop trail in the Rosedale area is one of the most popular trails in Toronto, according to AllTrails. This is one of the walks that can feel very far from urban life. The tree canopy covers almost all the trail making it a great spot to catch fall colours. The loop passes through Evergreen Brickworks, which has a year-round farmer’s market on Saturdays.

This loop can be accessed from several points and is a short walk from Rosedale Station.

The ravines in midtown Toronto offer an escape from the city.

Humber River Recreation Trail

This is an out-and-back 10.1 km trail along the Humber River. The path starts across the historic, 1916 Old Mill Bridge, a concrete arch bridge with a stone facing. The trail follows the river past salmon jumps that are typically active in late September and early October, then up to Lambton Woods.

This easy walk is accessible from Old Mill Station.

Lambton Woods can be stunning in fall.

Glen Stewart Ravine

A hidden gem in the city, the Glen Stewart Ravine is small but enchanting with wooden boardwalks taking hikers through the forest. A stream runs alongside the trail surrounded by steep wooded slopes. Hikers can continue on through to the trails along Lake Ontario to the historic Leuty Lifeguard Station.

The ravine can be part of a longer walk from Main Street Station or drivers can park near Kingston Road and Main Street to access the trailhead.

Lead photo of High Park: Karen Longwell