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Almaguin Fall Colour Crawl 2025
Fall in Almaguin is a season like no other. With brilliant colours painting the forests and backroads, it’s the perfect time to explore the Highlands. From scenic stops and cozy cafés to local shops and welcoming places to stay, this Fall Colour Crawl roundup will guide you to the best spots to see, savour, and settle in while enjoying autumn at its peak.
🌳Lookouts & Trails:
Take in the vibrant foliage along trails, parks, and lookouts. Ideal for a leisurely stroll, a photo op, or simply enjoying the crisp fall air.
🌄 Must-see nature stops for photos:
High Rock Lookout (Sundridge)
Tom Thomson Park (South River)
Moose Mountain (South River)
Brooks Falls (Perry Township)
Screaming Heads (Burk’s Falls)
Heritage River Walk (Burk’s Falls)
Sprucedale Recreation Trail (McMurrith/Monteith)
Sterling Falls (Burk’s Falls)
Richard Thomas Memorial Park (Burk's Falls)
Remember!
Stay on the Path – Keep to marked trails to protect nature and avoid getting lost.
Pets on Leash – Keep dogs leashed and under control at all times.
Clean Up – Pack out all trash and dispose of pet waste properly.
Respect Wildlife – Observe animals from a distance; do not feed or disturb them.
Leave No Trace – Do not pick plants or remove natural items.
Be Considerate – Yield to other trail users and maintain a safe pace.
Stay Safe – Wear proper footwear, bright clothing, bring water, and check weather conditions.
☕ Shops, Eats & Cozy Stops
From local cafés and restaurants to unique boutiques and artisan finds, there are plenty of places to warm up, fuel up, and pick up something special while you take in the stunning autumn views.
Burk’s Falls: Savour This Bakery, Burk’s Falls Cafe & Grill, Circling Hawks
South River: Naisa Cafe, Crystal Cave, South River Scoops ‘N’ More, 89 Main, Turtle Joe’s
Sundridge: Zaks, Sips , Bernard’s Bistro on the Lake, Copperhead Distillery
Emsdale/Sprucedale: Picadilly Billy, Dragonfly Collective
Pictured (left) Sips, (center) Copperhead Distillery, (right) Savour This Bakery
🎃Pumpkin Stops:
No fall adventure is complete without a pumpkin! Visit a Pumpkin Stop for farm-fresh pumpkins, festive décor, and perfect photo opportunities for the season.
Sundridge: Foodland
Burk’s Falls: Garden Market, Valumart
South River: Freshmart
Novar: Clover Farms Hope’s Foodland
Pictured The Garden Market, Burks
🏨 Cozy Accommodations:
Almaguin offers a range of accommodations—from rustic lakeside cottages and family-run inns to tucked-away cabins surrounded by vibrant colours of fall. Whether you’re looking to curl up by a fireplace, enjoy a lakeside sunset, or wake up to the sound of leaves rustling outside your window, you’ll find the perfect retreat to make your fall colour crawl both restful and memorable.
Algonquin Woods, Emsdale
Bear Lake Resort, Sprucedale
Brimanard Bay Bed & Breakfast, Sundridge
Bookers Clear Lake Cottages, Emsdale
Brennan’s Hill Camping & Cabins , South River
Camp Katrindo, Katrine
Dayspring Cottages, Katrine
Cutter’s Cove Cottages, Emsdale
Deer Lake Wilderness Retreat, South River
Duins Pineridge Resort, Burk’s Falls
Edgewater Park Lodge, Kearney
Fern Glen Inn B & B, Emsdale
Maple Brae Lakeside Cottages, Emsdale
Pickerel Lake Cottages, Burk’s Falls
Pit Stop 518, Kearney
The Northridge Inn & Resort, Sundridge
The Shores of Deer Lake, South River
Trailhead Cabins, Parry Sound District
Warbler’s Roost, South River
Pictured (left) Trailhead Cabins (right) Pit Stop 518
📍 Scenic Drives & Routes:
🍁The Lake Loop – Start at Sips in Sundridge and follow Main St as it becomes Forest Lake Road. Turn right onto Lakeshore Drive, where maples light the roadside in fiery red. Continue onto South Lake Bernard Rd, circling the shimmering waters of Lake Bernard. End your journey at High Rock Lookout Park, where a sweeping panorama of scarlet, orange, and gold stretches across the horizon. (17.5 km)
Recommended stops along the route: Find a fall themed treasure at 89 Main in Sundridge, stop at Waterfront Park in Sundridge—don’t miss the Lucy Maud Montgomery bench just past the splash pad. Pop by for a tasty lunch at the Double Decker, then continue to Copperhead Distillery for locally made moonshine and spirits.
🌄 Rolling Hills Route – From Doe Lake Municipal Park travel along 3 Mile Lake Road in Katrine and right onto Leggetts Road, then right onto Chetwynd Road - follow the winding roads with hills brushed in copper and amber onto Highway 518. Roll past Sand Lake through the picturesque town of Kearney, and then past Beaver Lake and for the finale finish at Brooks Falls in Emsdale. Along the way, take in rolling hills brushed with fiery reds, golden yellows, and deep rustic oranges of autumn that can only be experienced in Almaguin. (44.3km)
Recommended stops along the route: Savor a slice of handmade pizza at Katrine Pizza in the Katrine General Store, then soak in autumn views over a meal at the Red Canoe Restaurant at Edgewater Park Lodge.
🌊 Cascades and Colours Tour – Begin at Stirling Falls in Burk’s Falls, where rushing waters are framed by golden birches and crimson maples. Roll through the quaint downtown of Burk’s Falls. Follow Hwy 520 East which turns into Ferguson Rd and passes by Doe Lake Park, a perfect stop to enjoy the autumn colours over sparkling lake views. Continue along Ferguson Rd and take a left on Doe Lake Rd, then right onto Katrine Rd. Follow Katrine Road to Hwy 592 South and turn right. Follow until Deer Lake Road, turn left which leads you to the cascades of Brooks Falls, a picture-perfect finale to your autumn drive. (24.6km)
Recommended stops along the way: Enjoy a hearty meal at Burk’s Falls Cafe & Grill, indulge in treats from Savour This Bakery, explore the magical at Circling Hawks Centre, and take a relaxing picnic break at Doe Lake Park.
As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, Almaguin becomes a patchwork of colour, flavour, and charm. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, wandering trails, discovering local shops, or unwinding at a lakeside retreat, every road leads to something worth slowing down for. This fall, let Almaguin’s beauty guide your journey—and create memories as vibrant as the season itself. 🍁✨
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Follow our Fall Colour Crawl map to explore local shops, cozy cafés, and scenic spots bursting with autumn hues. Whether you’re hunting for pumpkins, sipping warm drinks, or strolling through vibrant trails, there’s a stop for every fall lover.