The unpredictability of late-fall weather can make planning outdoor excursions a little tricky. Within a few hours, things can shift from balmy sweater weather to the season’s first flurries. That’s no reason to hole up inside, though! Here are some excellent options for outdoor fun to enjoy no matter what weather Mother Nature sends our way during those final weeks of fall.
Cast A Line and Fish the Grand River
Get the gear and the guidance you need to spend an afternoon fly fishing the Grand River in Paris right through November. Fly Water Guiding is offering a five-hour Introduction to Spey Casting course that will demystify spey casting, lines, and fly presentation and help you get started fishing with confidence. Beyond guided experiences, the Grand offers excellent shore access at spots like Pinehurst Lake, where anglers find productive pools through late autumn.
Grand River, Paris
Walk The Bruce Trail and Explore Hamilton’s Waterfalls
Fall rains make autumn a wonderful time of year to catch Hamilton’s waterfalls in all their gushing glory. Choose from our collection of self-guided trips or Grand Experiences’ all-inclusive five-day Bruce Trail Waterfall Walking Tour, which includes an expert guide, shuttle service to and from hiking points, meals and accommodations. Webster’s Falls and Tews Falls near Dundas deliver particularly impressive displays after autumn storms, while the Chedoke Radial Trail connects multiple cascades in a single four-kilometre loop.
Pick A Day For One Last Paddle
Chilly fall waters are uninviting, but expert guides and excellent rental gear will help ensure you stay on top of the Grand River instead of in it! Embark on a guided adventure with local experts from Grand Experiences to paddle from Glen Morris to Paris, or explore at your own pace with rentals provided by Grand River Rafting along the same route. Be sure to download their custom Grand River Rafting App that provides additional information, augmented reality points along the route, and extra deals and trip suggestions if you head into Paris proper!
Grand River, Brant
Eat And Explore
Tasty Road Trips offers all-inclusive, self-guided tours that will help you explore and taste your way across communities like a local! Sign up for their ‘A Taste of Paris – Sip, Savour & Shop‘ tour as it guides you to tasting stops, walking paths and scenic strolls along the waterways that surround “Ontario’s Prettiest Town”. Be sure to check the Downtown Paris BIA website and social media too before you go because they may have a pretty… awesome event going on when you do. Or head into Brantford with their ‘Dial into Flavour‘ to visit the Bell Homestead National Historic Site and enjoy local flavours in the town as well!
Mountain Bike Through Escarpment Trails
Hilton Falls Conservation Area maintains six distinct mountain biking trails that reward riders who don’t mind autumn’s cooler temperatures. The Bent Rim trail challenges technical riders with demanding terrain, while Red Oak Trail offers a mellower ride around the reservoir where fall colours reflect off calm water.
Strap On Some Skates
Hamilton Waterfront’s Pier 8 Outdoor Rink serves up fun skating most of the year. Recreational roller skating and events like the summer Salsa on the Waterfront are available during warmer weather, and when winter arrives, it transforms into an ice rink with rentals nearby and a steady supply of hot chocolate at William’s Fresh Cafe.
Should winter weather arrive early, Burlington’s 10,000 square-foot Rotary Centennial Pond with year-round water feature offers ice-skating on an artificial ice surface. Harmony Square in downtown Brantford is home to another wonderful outdoor rink. Weather permitting, Conservation Hamilton also offers ice skating at Valens Lake and Fifty Point. Check their Ice Status before you go to verify that the ice is safe for skating.
Keep On Camping
While many campsites shut down for the season at Thanksgiving, Valens Lake Conservation Area offers campsites on a first-come, first-served basis all fall and winter long. The cozy cabins at Chiefswood Park are another excellent option for campers who don’t want to brave cooler fall temperatures in a tent.
Find even more ways to get outside and enjoy the final weeks of fall with our suggestions for cycling, hiking, golf and more.
