Fall is in the air, and it’s time to plan an excursion to enjoy the best leaf viewing hotspots. Plan to get outside when the forests reach their pinnacle of colour, usually around the beginning of October. Not sure where to go to take in nature’s splendour? There is no shortage of nature destinations, scenic drives, hiking trails and wonderful walks in Hamilton Halton Brant.

  • 1

    Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington

    Experience Carolinian forest in its colourful fall cloak along Royal Botanical Gardens 27 kilometres of walking trails that include over 20 lookouts, 7 boardwalks and 21 stream crossings. You’ll want to hike both in the Arboretum and along the nature trails. Although leaf viewing choices here are almost endless, don’t miss the Rock Garden in autumn. This unique spot for uncommon perennials, flowering conifers, Japanese maples, ornamental flowering trees and water features displays remarkable fall colours and fantastic textures in the form of berries, seed heads and the colourful foliage of trees and shrubs.

    A different type of colour adorns the garden beds at Laking Garden, where irises pop up on the Lower Terrace and autumn crocus and lily-of-the-field make their way out of the ground, marking the borders of the garden in pink and yellow. Vines, trees and perennials also provide fabulous interest in Hendrie Park. RBG posts fall colour reports and provides a blooms calendar on its website to help you time your visit.

  • 2

    Fall Waterfall Wonder

    Explore some of the hiking trails along the Niagara Escarpment to discover fall waterfall wonders surrounded by beautiful changing foliage. Through November, Spencer Gorge Conservation Area, which is home to Tew Falls and Webster Falls and the stunning Dundas Peak, will offer reservations for two-hour hiking windows. Reservations must be made online in advance. Not too far away, you can find Hilton Falls Conservation Area in Burlington, which is home to another spectacular waterfall. Online reservations are also required here for fall visits.

  • Hamilton
    Dundas
    Hamilton
    3

    The Rural Roads of Waterdown and Dundas

    These picturesque towns boast quiet, tree-lined streets that merge into driver-pleasing countryside, with cafés, gourmet shops and farms beckoning along the way. Take Snake Road, a winding, tree-canopied dream for drivers and cyclists that starts in Burlington and leads you to Waterdown.

    Consider a stop at Dyments, a pumpkin patch and farm market in Dundas that sits just past the crest of Sydenham Hill with epic views from the top of the Niagara Escarpment. If you need a warm-up from the autumn chill, Detour Café offers great brunches and the city’s best coffee, located in the heart of Dundas’s quaint retail strip. Read our Fall For Dundas and Ancaster article for more stop suggestions.

  • 4

    The Niagara Escarpment and Bruce Trail, Halton

    Fall-coloured trees make a walk on the Bruce Trail and Niagara Escarpment extra enjoyable. The conservation areas of Halton and the Credit Valley are perfect spots to access these famous natural wonders.

    Experience the Niagara Escarpment’s cultural heritage at Limehouse Conservation Area in Halton Hills. Seeing the vibrant red, yellow and orange leaves in one of the last old-growth forests in Ontario is a “natural.” The Bruce Trail and its side trails here take visitors through a variety of Escarpment landscapes. Head to its geological heart at an area known as the “Hole in the Wall,” where ladders cut through fissures in the Escarpment rock.

    Terra Cotta Conservation Area is a trail lover’s paradise with a variety of trails that run through the forests, fields, lakes and ponds of the Niagara Escarpment’s surroundings and let you experience natural settings close to urban and rural developments.

    Spanning roughly one hundred square kilometres across and near the Niagara Escarpment, Rattlesnake Point has bold-faced cliffs, 13 kilometres of trails, and lots of scenic views and lookout points to populate your Instagram account with fall foliage photos.

  • 5

    Eramosa Karst, Stoney Creek

    If you’re looking for an exciting natural adventure on your hunt for fall foliage, head to Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. Filled with underground caves and streams, meadows and forest, it is also home to what is believed to be the largest number of unique karst features in any protected area in the province. Trails, boardwalks and bridges encourage exploration of unique geological formations, including a natural dolomitic limestone bridge and Ontario’s tenth-largest cave. On the outskirts of Stoney Creek, this special watershed area has four kilometres of trails to explore this autumn.

  • 6

    The Grand River, Brant

    Canoe, kayak, or raft the Grand River and enjoy the fall-painted leaves of the surrounding Carolinian forest. Grand Experiences and Grand River Rafting are all great local outfitters that will provide your group with the expert guidance and gear you need for a memorable trip.

    The 2-kilometre Six Nations of the Grand River Nature Trail in Ohsweken takes hikers on a journey through Carolinian forests and is an excellent option for young hikers. Interpretative signs along the route help create an appreciation for the largest single block of Carolinian woodland in Canada.


Find new ways to play in Hamilton Halton Brant this fall. Explore available experiences, take advantage of special offers and discover the amazing events that will be taking place while you’re in town.

Travel Deals View All >>

Experiences & Tours View All >>

Now thru September 1

Hamiltonian Tour Boat

Hamilton Waterfront – Pier 8

47 Discovery Drive, Hamilton, ON L8L 8K4

Open Weekends Only until June 29th. Daily from June 29th to September 2nd. Price (includes...

Now thru December 7

Oakville Museum Guided Tour

Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate

8 Navy Street, Oakville, ON, L6J 2Y5

Tuesday to Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. General admission by donation (Suggested $7 per...

Now thru December 31

All Natural Skincare Workshop

Backed By Bees

6214 Appleby Line, Burlington, Ontario L7M 0P7

Dates and Times: March 1st - 1:30pm to 3:30pm March 20th - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Now thru July 20

Yoga and the Bees

Backed By Bees

6214 Appleby Line, Burlington, Ontario L7M 0P7

Dates: June 22nd, July 20th from 11:00am - 12:00pm

Now thru December 21

Team-Building Art Experiences

studio k2

The Cotton Factory, DyeWorks Building, 9 Landsdowne Avenue, Hamilton

Serving Southern Ontario and scheduled to suit your team requirements — in studio, on or...

July 25

Sunset Wine & Cheese

Date & Time: July 25, 2025 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm Admission: $25 per person

Now thru September 28

Wake Up the Wild

African Lion Safari

1386 Cooper Road, Hamilton, ON, N1R 5S2

Available on select dates from Jun to Sept, 2025. Tour subject to availability. Advanced reservations...

Now thru November 4

Rural Routes and River Retreat

Woodstock and Paris, ON

Dates: The 3-day package is available Sunday to Tuesday on select dates May 4 through...

August 21

RBG After Dark: Hot Summer Sizzle

Royal Botanical Gardens

680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4

Date & Time: August 21, 2025 from 6:30pm - 10:30pm Tickets: $25 (+hst) per person...

Now thru December 31

Introductory Flight Lesson

Brantford Flight Centre

110 Aviation Ave. Brantford, ON N3T 5L7, Canada

Dates: All year round Cost: $152.55 including HST

September 25

RBG After Dark: So Long Summer

Royal Botanical Gardens

680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON, L7T 4H4

Date & Time: September 25, 2025 from 6:30pm - 10:30pm Tickets: $25 (+hst) per person...

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