One-Tank Trip for
Sept. 16/17
(c) By Jim Fox
The hills are about
to come alive with a kaleidoscope of autumn colors and they’re going to be
spectacular.
While many people
lament a summer that wasn’t exactly to their liking, the fall foliage show will
be “glorious,” says Dave Phillips, Environment Canada’s senior climatologist.
“I think it’s going
to be the most spectacular, colour-change season in history,” he added, noting
the trees have enjoyed the wet and not-so-hot summer.
In anticipation of
the season, Ontario Parks and Ontario Tourism have launched their fall colour reports,
predicting great things to come soon.
 |
| The hills are about to turn vibrant at Bass Lake Provincial Park near Orillia. (Jim Fox photo) |
“Ontario is the
premier destination for those wishing to see summer’s lush greenery transformed
into a mosaic of magnificent rich shades of red, orange and yellow,” says Kevin
Forget of the Ontario Travel Information Centre in Barrie.
The first of the
weekly “Fall Colour Progression Reports,” running online until mid-October, is
designed to “enrich” your day-tripping experiences.
“Discover great scenic
lookouts, fall driving and hiking tours, special fall packages, community
events, studio tours and more,” Forget says.
As far as the
colours so far, things are just starting to change.
To view the report
or for more information, go to ontariotravel.net
or call 1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746).
Beep, beep
As Ontario Parks rolls out its first leaf-peeping
report this year, it notes that Algonquin Park in Muskoka is “often seen
as the fall colours flagship.”
 |
Vibrant fall
colours will soon be showing off this season in Algonquin Provincial Park.
(Barbara Fox photo)
|
It also advises – or
warns – there can be a traffic backlog several kilometres long on busy fall
weekends, especially at the West Gate near Huntsville.
The report issued
this week notes there has been a 20-per-cent colour change there.
“Sugar maple fall
colour is strengthening with each passing day and is currently showing a
greenish-yellow colour,” it says.
Typically, late September
to early October offer the best maple viewing, while early to mid-October offer
the best poplar (aspen) colour.
The reports,
available at ontarioparks.com/fallcolour, show
the latest changes in up to 60 provincial parks across Ontario.
There’s a map and
peak-viewing chart, with staff updating their park conditions weekly.
It says the summer
weather will lead to “brilliant reds and golds,” with now through late-October
the prime-time viewing time “when campsites are plentiful and camp cabins and
yurts are easier to book.”
Yours to discover
Why not discover some
not-as-congested parks as there are numerous ones near Algonquin.
These include
Arrowhead, Bonnechere, Lake St. Peter, Mikisew, Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls and
Samuel de Champlain provincial parks.
 |
|
Algonquin Provincial Park showing off its autumn colours.
(Barbara Fox photo)
|
Other options that
are “every bit as vibrant in the autumn” are Chutes, Driftwood, French River
and Restoule provincial parks and Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park.
Closer to home,
among the parks reporting a 10-per-cent colour change include Bronte Creek in
Oakville.
Take the linear
Ravine Trail for viewing the best fall colours and scenery, with great views of
the creek below.
MacGregor
Point, south of Port Elgin, has a similar report while
things are about to change at Pinery Provincial Park on Lake Huron near Grand
Bend.
Bike
or hike Pinery’s 14-kilometre Savanna Trail and view the forests
on its 10 hiking trails.
Sauble Falls
Provincial Park in Wiarton is also showing 10 per cent, with best viewing in
the campground, on the trail and at the falls.
Farther afield,
parks officials suggest driving the Lake Superior Coastal Route that follows
the “majestic north shore” between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay for
spectacular colours.
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
No comments:
Post a Comment