Ontario Trails News - join us for Trails Talk - every other Tues 1PM Google Hangout from the Ontario Trails News Archive

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Trails Talk

Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community.

We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. 

November 10, 2015 - Trail Accessibility - what you need to know and how we can add your accessible trail to our website.

November 24, 2015 - Northern Ontario Trails, trails tourism and about projects we have underway in the north.

December 8, 2015 - Trail Committees, what they are, what they do and where they are in Ontario.

December 22th, 2015 - Festive Trails - how to get your events on the OTC website, what events you have on and how we can let more people know about all the great stuff happening on Ontario Trails.

January 5th, 2016 - Kinghorn Trail Association - all about the development of this important northern trail with Kirsten Spence.

January 19th, 2016 - Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations - with Thomas Allgoewer - a half hour discussion about how to facilitate your organization goals and objectives through fundraising efforts.

February 2nd, 2016 - Edge Auditor - the program that helps you know and log in all the facts about your trail, with Niall Lobely.

February 16th, 2016 - Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge.

March 1, 2016 - The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassesgijig and Kirsten Spence.

March 15, 2016 - Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it?

March 29, 2016 - Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall

April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies.

Ontario Trails News - join us for Trails Talk - every other Tues 1PM Google Hangout from the Ontario Trails News Archive

Follow us on twitter

Trails Talk

Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community.

We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. 

November 10, 2015 - Trail Accessibility - what you need to know and how we can add your accessible trail to our website.

November 24, 2015 - Northern Ontario Trails, trails tourism and about projects we have underway in the north.

December 8, 2015 - Trail Committees, what they are, what they do and where they are in Ontario.

December 22th, 2015 - Festive Trails - how to get your events on the OTC website, what events you have on and how we can let more people know about all the great stuff happening on Ontario Trails.

January 5th, 2016 - Kinghorn Trail Association - all about the development of this important northern trail with Kirsten Spence.

January 19th, 2016 - Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations - with Thomas Allgoewer - a half hour discussion about how to facilitate your organization goals and objectives through fundraising efforts.

February 2nd, 2016 - Edge Auditor - the program that helps you know and log in all the facts about your trail, with Niall Lobely.

February 16th, 2016 - Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge.

March 1, 2016 - The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassesgijig and Kirsten Spence.

March 15, 2016 - Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it?

March 29, 2016 - Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall

April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies.

Ontario Trails News - join us for Trails Talk - every other Tues 1PM Google Hangout from the Ontario Trails News Archive

Follow us on twitter

Trails Talk

Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community.

We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. 

November 10, 2015 - Trail Accessibility - what you need to know and how we can add your accessible trail to our website.

November 24, 2015 - Northern Ontario Trails, trails tourism and about projects we have underway in the north.

December 8, 2015 - Trail Committees, what they are, what they do and where they are in Ontario.

December 22th, 2015 - Festive Trails - how to get your events on the OTC website, what events you have on and how we can let more people know about all the great stuff happening on Ontario Trails.

January 5th, 2016 - Kinghorn Trail Association - all about the development of this important northern trail with Kirsten Spence.

January 19th, 2016 - Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations - with Thomas Allgoewer - a half hour discussion about how to facilitate your organization goals and objectives through fundraising efforts.

February 2nd, 2016 - Edge Auditor - the program that helps you know and log in all the facts about your trail, with Niall Lobely.

February 16th, 2016 - Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge.

March 1, 2016 - The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassesgijig and Kirsten Spence.

March 15, 2016 - Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it?

March 29, 2016 - Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall

April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies.

Ontario Trails News - we launch trails talk in November, and more from the Ontario Trails New Archive

Follow us on twitter

Trails Talk

Join us every other Tuesday at 1pm EST for a lively half hour discussion on trail issues of importance to the trails community.

We will be using our Google Hangout to facilitate our Trail Talks. 

November 10, 2015 - Trail Accessibility - what you need to know and how we can add your accessible trail to our website.

November 24, 2015 - Northern Ontario Trails, trails tourism and about projects we have underway in the north.

December 8, 2015 - Trail Committees, what they are, what they do and where they are in Ontario.

December 22th, 2015 - Festive Trails - how to get your events on the OTC website, what events you have on and how we can let more people know about all the great stuff happening on Ontario Trails.

January 5th, 2016 - Kinghorn Trail Association - all about the development of this important northern trail with Kirsten Spence.

January 19th, 2016 - Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations - with Thomas Allgoewer - a half hour discussion about how to facilitate your organization goals and objectives through fundraising efforts.

February 2nd, 2016 - Edge Auditor - the program that helps you know and log in all the facts about your trail, with Niall Lobely.

February 16th, 2016 - Explorer's Edge - all about the great trails in RTO 12 with James Murphy of Explorer's Edge.

March 1, 2016 - The Georgian Bay Coast Trail - who supports it, what is happening and all about our spring community meeting in Killarney. With Luke Wassesgijig and Kirsten Spence.

March 15, 2016 - Trans Canada Trail - with Jane Murphy and Al McPherson. You've heard about it, how is it progressing? How can you support it?

March 29, 2016 - Hiking, what is it? Who does it? What you need to know about community programs, and trail leadership programs - with Bill Mungall

April 12th, 2016 - Trail Building - are you interested? What is trail building all about? Who does it and the skills you need, with stories from trail builder Zane Davies.

Ontario Trails News - lots of colour left in Ontario, from the Ontario Trails News Archive

Learn more about Ontario's Trails and where you can see the fall colours

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/fall-colours-leaves-northeast-ontario-1.3268365

Ontario Trails News - head into fall, look around Toronto from the Toronto Star, Ontario Trail News Archive

VIEW 5 PHOTOS

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MELISSA RENWICK / TORONTO STAR Order this photo

The changing fall colours surround the Don Valley Parkway and can be seen against the downtown skyline from the Leaside Bridge on Millwood Rd.

By: Shawn Micallef Living Columnist, Published on Fri Oct 09 2015

Fall is the best time for a hike because the air is fresh, the lower temperature means there is no sweating and jaunty outfits can be worn rather than sportswear. The leaves are changing too. People go wild for fall leaves and embark on “leaf-peeping” expeditions, travelling far to see the changing colours. However, in the GTA you don’t have to go far, and this weekend the colours will be popping all over the city. Here are five suggestions for Thanksgiving weekend walks where the autumnal spirit is alive, just be sure to bring your own decorative gourds.

Toronto Island

COLIN MCCONNELL/ TORONTO STAR

Even though Centreville Amusement Park is closed for the season, you can visit Charlotte the Landrace pig at Far Enough Farm on Centre Island.

When the summer picnic and beach crowds have gone, the Toronto Islands are still worth a trip as there’s a sense of having the island to yourself at times. Take the ferry first to Wards Island and walk through the cottages near the dock, then meander west towards the Centre Island ferry dock for a few hours, by the boardwalk and over to Algonquin Island. Though Centreville Amusement Park is closed for the season, Far Enough Farm (centreisland.ca/far-enough-farm ) adjacent to it is free to enter and open every day from 10 to 5 p.m. You can visit Charlotte, their Landrace pig, and the other animals, all of whom are giving thanks they’re not on your table this weekend.

ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE/ TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Rouge Park is a truly wild and rural hike and it's accessible by TTC.

Rouge Park

MELISSA RENWICK/ TORONTO STAR

The changing fall colours surround the Don Valley Parkway and can be seen against the downtown skyline from the Leaside Bridge on Millwood Rd.

Rouge Park may be the wildest and most-rural hike you can take inside the Toronto city limits, and it’s accessible by TTC. This is the corner of the city where farm and city landscapes meet and the Rouge has some of the most dramatic ravine cliffs in the area. Begin at the Rouge Park Conservation Centre across Morningside Road from the Toronto Zoo. Here, the historic Pearse House (rvcc.ca/Pearse_House.html ), home to a family that ran an old sawmill on the river, adds to the rural feel of the park. Follow the trails that loop down to Twyn Rivers Dr. and return up the other side of river.

MELISSA RENWICK/ TORONTO STAR

If you visit the Humber Arboretum, be sure to climb the hill by the Centre for Urban Ecology building for the panoramic view across the Humber Valley.

Leaside Bridge

SHAWN MICALLEF FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The viewing platform at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park affords views of the beautiful rolling Ontario forest and farmland spreading out to the east.

The Leaside Bridge carrying Millwood Rd. across the Don Valley is the less-famous upriver sibling of the Prince Edward Viaduct, but it’s nearly equally impressive. Opened in 1927, the bridge commands spectacular views of the Don Valley Parkway as it makes gentle curves along the river and the buildings of Thorncliffe Park. Nature and city complement each other here wonderfully as the dozen or so stark, white apartment towers poke up through the tree canopy.

Humber Arboretum

Found behind Humber College’s North Campus, the Arboretum(humberarboretum.on.ca/) is a series of botanical gardens and natural areas near the end of the west branch of the Humber River multi-use trail. Established by horticultural students at Humber in 1977, its 100 hectares has six kilometres of trails and contains 1,700 species of plants and animals. Be sure to climb the hill by the Centre for Urban Ecology building for the panoramic view across the forested Humber Valley.

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

For an out-of-town holiday weekend excursion, take the hour-or-so drive to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park (ontarioparks.com/park/monocliffs ) north of Orangeville for a Niagara Escarpment hike. A series of eight trails pass through park’s varied landscape, some connecting with the Bruce Trail, and one looping down near the cute Village of Mono Centre where a mid-hike Thanksgiving tipple can be had at the local pub. A viewing platform extending out at the top of the cliffs affords a deep appreciation of the escarpment’s height, with views of the beautiful rolling Ontario forest and farmland spreading out to the east.

Shawn Micallef writes every Friday about where and how we live in the GTA. Wander the streets with him on Twitter @shawnmicallef.

Lot's of events around Ontario and on Ontario Trails

Ontario Trails News - hikers worried trails to close due to lack of hiking, Ontario Trails News Archive

Follow hiking trail information on our Ontario Hiking Trails page

Timmins

Link to video

Ontario Trails News - head into fall, lot's of events, Ontario's Trail News Archive

Lot's of events around Ontario and on Ontario Trails

5 underrated places to check out fall colours in Toronto

Posted by Alice Prendergast / OCTOBER 3, 2015

14 Comments

Toronto gets a lot more scenic when the temperature starts to drop, and what better way to celebrate the beginning of fall than by seeing the colours of the leaves change. While you could head to a well known green space like Glen Stewart Ravine or Rouge Park, why not go off the beaten trail? These low key places will have you taking in the beauty of autumn without the crowds.

Here are my picks for the most underrated places to check out fall colours in Toronto.

Craigleigh Gardens Park
A mere kilometre from the Brick Works is Craigleigh Park, a peaceful 3.4 hectare reserve filled with greenery. When the seasons start to change its tree canopy is one of the most beautiful in the city. If you're looking to do more than see the fall colours, the park also features an off-leash area for dogs and is in close proximity to a ravine trail (for those who like to hike).

Park Lawn Cemetary
Though a cemetery doesn't normally seem like a joyous destination, it can be come fall time.Necropolis and Mount Pleasant are both popular destinations for checking out fall fall foliage, boasting trees galore and great views. However, Park Lawn should not be overlooked. Its grounds are filled will manicured trees and bushes that look even more stunning when they start to change.

Chatsworth Ravine
This ravine, just south of Yonge and Lawrence, is the optimal place to enjoy autumn outdoors nearNorth York. It may not have the grandeur of Moore Park or Glen Stewart, but it looks mighty fine dressed up in fall colours. Plus, with it's below-the-radar status you'll find it distinctively less populated.

Guildwood Park
At Guildwood Park you'll find much more than just greenery. Among its trails and trees there are architectural gems from demolished buildings. It's a favourite for engagement photos, but even if you're not with a loved one you'll be able to snap some 'grams with the changing colours in the background.

Windfields Park
This former farm site offers 31 hectares of green space in the Bayview and Lawrence area. It boasts 15 bike trails as well as outdoor fitness equipment, making it ideal for those who want to view the fall colours while staying active (it really kills two birds with one stone).