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Summer Colours (colors) routes and Wildlife Viewing
Consider a road trip north this Summer to enjoy Ontario's
outdoors--- enjoy Summer
events, touring, shopping at a farmers market, a budding artist show,
a
fishing getaway or Summer wildflowers,or
just plain old fashioned fresh air and exercise. The colours
of Summer north of Toronto will be showing the hues of various yellows,
greens, whites and purples with the buds getting fatter ready to burst
into full summer foliage. As the Summer flowers start to bloom and the
snow disappears, a number of the early blooming crocuses are appearing
with a blanket of white, yellow and blue colours (colors). May is a good
month for viewing wildlife before the full bloom and leaf foliage appear.
Moose and deer can be seen in and around the Algonquin Park area, and
regions further north. Before heading out on your Ontario Summer or summer
drive, check out our Summer
summer Ontario Drive Tips.
The following Ontario travel routes provide a variety of terrain to see
the Summer changes taking place. A number of the lakes north of Toronto
will be thawing through April. If you are lucky, you will be able to here
the "ice crackle and sing" as it suddenly changes back to the
smooth flowing liquid we call water.
Overnight Summer Colour Routes and Suggested Summer Colors
Trips within 1-7 hours from the junction of Highways 400 & 11 in Barrie.
 Algonquin
Park Northern Drive Summer colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: To catch Algonquin
glory, follow Highways 400 and 11 north to Huntsville, then take Highway
60 east through Dwight and Oxtongue Lake to Algonquin park where there
are many marked nature trails. When leaving the park proceed east on Highway
60 to Whitney. Stay on Highway 60 east to the Barry's Bay and turn right
at Highway 62 and south on Highway 62 to Combermere, Maynooth, Bancroft
, and Highway 28 south to Lakefield and Peterborough.
.
Places to stay: ALGONQUIN PARK Bartlett
lodge DWIGHT ,Bondi Village Cottage Resort, Foxwood Resort, Logging Chain Lodge, Sring Lake Resort, GILMOUR:
Beaver Creek Resort Inc. HUNTSVILLE & AREA:
Beauview Cottage Resort, Cedar Grove Lodge, Clyffe
House Cottage Resort , Colonial
Bay Cottages,
Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville
Inn, Private
Muskoka Luxury Chalet Rental ,
Tulip Inn, Woodland
Summers Penlake B&B ,
Trillium Resort & Spa WHITNEY: Couples Resort, The OXTONGUE LAKE Algonquin's
Wolf Den Hostel, Cabins and Timber Frame Ski Lodge BARRY'S BAY,
Chippawa
Cottage Resort,
Easy Living Camping and RV Park, LAKEFIELD: Pine
Vista Resort,
Wantasa Resort, Village
Inn, The
Suggested Attractions-Editor's
Pick. Ragged Falls--One of the most scenic waterfalls
sought out by photographers. Just a short hike off highway 60 before Algonquin
Park past Oxtongue Lake-no charge admission.
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 Algonquin
Park Southern Drive Summer colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: This travel route assumes you are
already in the village of Haliburton Ontario.Haliburton
Village to Bancroft to Haliburton Village Return (all roads are paved):
The colours on the south side of Algonquin and the Haliburton Highlands
are equally as splendid in the Summer and less traveled. Follow Highways
118 East to County Road 4. Turn left on county road 4 to Wilberforce.
At the stop sign turn left at county road 648 and proceed to Harcourt.
Just past Harcourt look for County Road 10 and proceed to Maynooth (this
road runs along the very south side of Algonquin park with access roads
to the Park). Stay on County Road 10 until the stop sign. Turn left and
you will enter Maynooth on Highway 62. Visit several of the funky craft
and antique stores here. Take Highway 62 South to Bancroft (Mineral Capital
of Ontario). Take Highway 28 south and proceed to the village of Paudash.
Turn right on 118 North (west) through Cardiff, Tory Hill, and back to
Haliburton Village. Approximate leisurely driving time with stops (3 hours)
See Haliburton
Summer colour gallery
Places to stay: Haliburton: Sir Sam's Inn and Spa Purdy: Blue Moon Retreat Minden: Boshkung
Lake Cottage, Buttermilk Summers
Resort, Ogopogo Resort, The Pines on Boshkung, Sandy Lane Resorts, Bancroft Hotels: Best
Western Sword Motor Inn
Places to Visit: Leslie
Frost Centre, Sculpture
Forest
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 Barrie
to Horseshoe Valley to Orillia Return to Barrie Summer colours (colors)
Route
Driving Directions: Spectacular
Colours and views along the Horseshoe Valley Road From Highway 400, Take
Highway 27 North (Bayfield exit) through Barrie to Simcoe Road 22 (The
Horseshoe Valley Road) turn right through Craighurst, Horseshoe Valley,
Coulson, Jarratt to Highway 12. Turn right at Highway 12 and proceed East
to Orillia. Upon leaving Orillia, take Highway 11, South to Barrie.
A delightful surpise for music lovers is the Colours
of Music Festival, returning to Barrie for its fourth season and running
from September 22 for 10 days.
Side Trip to Simcoe
County Eco Farmers Market each Friday until Thanksgiving Weekend.
Places to Stay: Barrie:
Bona Vista Spa and Bed & Breakfast, Carriage
Hills / Carriage Ridge Resort, Comfort
Inn (Hart Drive),
Horseshoe Resort Orillia:Comfort
Inn Orillia, Best
Western Couchiching Inn, Orillia
Travelodge Hotel, Days
Inn Orillia, Quality
Hotel Champlain Hotel Waterfront, Econo
Lodge Orillia
Places to Visit: Hardwood
Hills Nordic Ski & Mountain Bike Centre, Serendipity
Princess Cruise,
Snow Valley Resort Limited,
Mount St. Louis - Moonstone Elmvale
Summer Fair Web
Site Click Here
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 Barrie
to Orangeville Summer
colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: Take Highway
27 to Highway 26 west to Stayner. A beautiful view of Summer colours is
behind the Simcoe County buildings with extensive trails.***** Proceed
on Highway 26 to Stayner south on County Road 42 which changes to County
Road 18 to Mansfield. Continue south to Highway 89. A nice diversion is
Violet Hill with a stop to Mrs. Mitchell's. Travel east on Highway 89
to Highway 50. Proceed on Highway 50 south to Loretto. Go west again to
Hockley and enjoy the Summer colours. After leaving go west on County Road
18, south to Mono Mills, and west on Highway 9 to Highway 400.The Hockley
Valley area and the Caledon Region have colours changing daily.A
delightful surpise for music lovers is the Colours
of Music Festival, returning to Barrie for its fourth season and running
from September 22 for 10 days.
Places to Stay: BARRIE: Bona
Vista Spa and Bed & Breakfast, Comfort
Inn (Hart Drive), Harbour
View Inn, Horseshoe
Resort, Caledon: Millcroft
Inn and Spa
Places to Visit: Hardwood
Hills Mountain Bike Trails
Elmvale Summer Fair Web
Site Click Here
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 Collingwood
Beaver Valley Summer colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: Take Highway
400 to Highway 27 north in Barrie. Go north to Highway 26, and proceed
west to Collingwood and Thornbury. Proceed south again on County Road
13 to the Beaver Valley, and then go back north to Meaford, return through
Thornbury and Collingwood.
Places To Stay: Blue
Mountain Chalets, Blue
Mountain Lodges, Chateau Ridge
Condo, Mountain
Summers Lodge Resort & Conference Centre and Tyrolean
Village Resorts Flesherton: Cedars of Lake Eugenia Cottage Resort - Flesherton
Places to Visit: Scenic
Caves Nature Adventures
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 Midland-Honey
Harbour-Port Severn Area of Georgian Bay colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: Take Highway
400 North to 93 northwest to Southern Georgian Bay and the towns of Midland
and Penetanguishene. Combine your Summer drive with a Summer colour cruise
from Midland or Penetanguishene to capture the beauty of the 30,000 Island
Summer colours. A visit to Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons or the Wye Marsh
Wildlife Center is fun for families.***** Take Highway 12 through Midland,
picking up the 400 again north to Muskoka Road 5 to Port Severn &
Honey Harbour. Return via Highway 400.
Places to Stay: MIDLAND & AREA: Best
Western Highland Inn & Conference Centre, Comfort
Inn, Little
Lake Inn Bed & Breakfast, PORT SEVERN & HONEY HARBOUR AREA:
Muskey's Landing,
Rawley Resort & Marina Inc, Severn
Lodge, Sunnylea Resort
Places to Visit: Hardwood
Hills Mountain Bike Trails, Midland
Tours Inc., Wye Marsh Wildlife
Centre, Huronia
Museum & Huron/Ouendat Village, Sainte-Marie
Among the Hurons, Aborigional
Tourism Association, Martyrs'
Shrine, Awenda
Provincial Park, Georgian
Bay Islands National Park
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 Haliburton
- Huntsville Summer colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: Take Highway
11 north to Highway 118 east. Travel east on 118 to Hiwghway 35 and proceed
south on 35 to Minden. Take 121 east to the picturesque village of Haliburton,
then take Highway 118 west from Haliburton Village back to Highway 35.
Proceed north to the village of Dorset, to the Lookout Tower at Dorset.*****
Proceed north on 35 to Dwight and go west on Highway 60 to Huntsville,
return home via Highway 11 from Huntsville..
Places to Stay: HUNTSVILLE & AREA: Bartlett Lodge, Beauview
Cottage Resort, Blue Water Acres, Clyffe
House Cottage Resort, Colonial Bay Cottages, Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville
Inn, Muskoka Moments Bed & Breakfast, Private
Muskoka Luxury Chalet Rental, Tally - Ho Inn,Trillium
Resort & Spa, Tulip Inn, Woodland Summers
Penlake B&B, HALIBURTON & AREA: Sir Sam's Inn and Spa,
Boshkung Lake Cottage, Buttermilk Summers Resort, Ogopogo Resort, Sandy Lane Resorts,
Places to Visit: Nature
Trails,
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 Lake
of Bays North Muskoka Via Bracebridge, Baysville, Dorset, Dwight, North
Portage, Baysville, Bracebridge Summer colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: This is a
beautiful trip through the North Muskoka woodlands with excellent lake
views. Take Highway 117 from Bracebridge to Baysville, stay on Hwy 117
to Dorset, turn left on to Highway 35 (look for Dorset Fire Tower). Go
north on Hwy. 35 to Dwight, turn left on Highway 60 going east to Muskoka
County Road 9. Make a left turn on Muskoka Rd. 9 to North Portage. Proceed
along Muskoka road 9 back to Baysville, and east on 117 to Bracebridge.
Places to Stay: Dwight: Bondi Village Cottage
Resort, Foxwood Resort,
Logging Chain Lodge, Oxtongue: Algonquin's
Wolf Den Hostel, Cabins and Timber Frame Ski Lodge, Summer
Lake ResortBracebridge Hotels Cedarwood
On Lake Muskoka Cottages & Nighty Rooms, Inn
At The Summers, Sleep
Inn Bracebridge, Travelodge
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Lake Simcoe Summer Colours (colors) Circle Tour
Driving Directions: One of the
interesting Summer colour routes close to Toronto is a tour around Lake
Simcoe using a combination of Highway 400, Highway 11, and a number of
side roads that take your through Barrie, Orillia, Lagoon City, Beaverton,
Sutton, Keswick, Holland Landing. This tour route can be started on the
East Side of Lake Simcoe, or the West Side going north.
Places to stay: Barrie: Bona
Vista Spa and Bed & Breakfast, Comfort
Inn (Hart Drive), Harbour
View Inn, Horseshoe
Resort Orillia:Comfort
Inn Orillia, Best
Western Couchiching Inn, Orillia
Travelodge Hotel, Days
Inn Orillia, Quality
Hotel Champlain Hotel Waterfront, Econo
Lodge Orillia Sutton: The
Briars
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Lakefield
to Barry’s Bay Summer colours (colors) Bay
Driving Directions: Drive north
from Peterbourgh along the river on county road 23 to Lakefield. Proceed
north from Lakefield on Highway 28. You will start to see the transition
of land forms and colours in the Canadian Shield—more rock, contrasting
evergreens with backdrops of Summer color will provide many photographic
opportunities. Take Highway 28 to Bancroft, and proceed north to Highway
62 and Maynooth. Stay on 62 to Barry’s Bay where you will pass through
the Hamlet of Maple Leaf, and Combermere(watch for scenic lookout sign
just before Combermere.
Interesting Side Trips: Buckhorn, Harcourt.
Places to Stay: LAKEFIELD: Pine
Vista Resort, Wantasa Resort,
Village Inn, The, BUCKHORN:
Westwind Inn On the Lake Couples Resort.
BARRY’S BAY.Chippawa Cottage Resort.
GILMOUR: Beaver Creek
Resort Inc. Purdy:
Blue Moon Retreat
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Mostly
Muskoka Summer colours (colors) Route
Driving Directions: Travel
highway 11, north to the towns of Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Port Sydney,
travel west from 11, accross 141 to Parry Sound, work your way to 169
South to 118 East. Either continue south to Bala on 169 , or go west on
118 to Port Carling for a quick side trip. Return to 169 and proceed south
to Bala. Travel west from Bala on Muskoka Road 38 to Highway 400. Take
Muskoka Road 5 to Honey Harbour to see the Georgian Bay side of Muskoka.
Return to Hihgway 400 south to Barrie.
Places to Stay: Bayview Wildwood Resort, Black
Lake Cabins,Clear Lake Village Resort, Eden Place Bed & Breakfast, Muskey's Landing, Quiet Bay Log Motel & Café, Severn Lodge, Sunnylea Resort , Wit's
End B&B, Woodland Echoes Resort
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North Bay to Timmins, Gogama, Sudbury,
North Bay Summer Colors (Colours)
A direct drive to Timmins will take you into gold
country, not just because of the Summer colors but as a result of the gold
mining. Allow for an overnight stay to get the most out of the attractions
in the area. Proceed north on Highway 11 from North Bay and travel through
the towns of Martin River, Temagami, New Liskeard, to Matheson. In Matheson
travel west to Timmins on ighway 101. Return to North Bay by travelling
west on Highway 101 to Highway 144. Go south through Gogama to Sudbury,
and east on Highway 17 through Sturgeon Summers to North Bay.
Places to Stay: NORTH BAY & AREA: Booth Landing Camping & Cottages,Crystal Summers: Okimot
Lodge on Tomiko Lake, Moose Point Cottages, New Liskeard:
A selection of hotels on-line. SUDBURY & AREA:
AGogama: Green
Wilderness Lodge Lavigne: West
Nipissing Resort, Thorne: Opimika Winderness Camp and Cottages, Timmins:
A selection of hotels on-line
Places to See:
Shania Twain Centre, Timmins
Underground Gold Mine Tour
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North Bay - Sudbury Summer Route colours (colors)
Driving Directions: Take Highway
11 north through Huntsville, Burks Falls (side trip to Magnetawan), Sundridge,
South River, Trout Creek (side trip to Port Loring) Powassan, Callander,
to North Bay. Go west on Highway 17 to Sudbury through to Sturgeon Summers
West Nippising (side trip to Lavigne, Chrystal Summers), to Sudbury. Return
on Highway 69 south through French River, Pointe au Baril, and Parry Sound
(side trip to Ahmic Harbour). Continue South on Highway 69 to Highway
400.
Places to Stay: NORTH BAY & AREA: Booth
Landing Camping & Cottages, Hummingbird
Hill Spa - Country Retreat, Kearney: Sand
Lake Cottages & Inn Thorne:
Opimika Winderness Camp and Cottages
Lavigne: West
Nipissing Resort, Parry Sound: Four
Winds Cottage Resort, SunDog
Retreat, The Crystal Summers: Okimot
Lodge on Tomiko Lake, Moose
Point Cottages, Magnetawan:
Quiet Bay Log Motel
& Café, Woodland Echoes
Resort,
Places to Visit: Science
North & Dynamic Earth
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 Old
Fort Road Summer Tour To Midland Ontario colours (colors)*
Driving Directions: This route
will take you past Simcoe County Forests, rolling rural country side,
vistas of hills with spectacular Summer colours, antique shops, farms
with fresh farm eggs and honey for sale, through the charming villages
of Wyebridge, Hillsdale and Waverly in the heart of Simcoe County. Detailed
Summer Foliage touring route with mileage, places to see and suggested
links to overnight accommodation stops. Detailed
route directions on the back roads to Midland Ontario.
Places to Stay: MIDLAND & AREA: Best
Western Highland Inn & Conference Centre, Comfort
Inn, Little
Lake Inn Bed & Breakfast, Kings
Inn
Places to Visit: Midland
Tours Inc.,
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Sainte-Marie
among the Hurons,
Martyrs' Shrine,
Side Trips: Midland
to Discovery Harbour on Georgian Bay,
Midland to Awenda Provincial
Park on Georgian Bay.
More Area Information: Midland,
Penetanguishene,
Georgian Bay Eco Museum
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Peterborough
- Kawarthas Summer Route colours (colors)
Driving Directions: Take Highway
11 north to Highway 12 Orillia. Follow the signs toward Casino Rama and
turn left at the Rama Road and follow the Rama Road to the first stop
lights or County Road 45 Monck Road--turn right and proceed east to Norland.
Watch for the Quaker Oats Farm. A
stop here to see the animals is fun for the family. The fruit tarts are
out of this world.***** Proceed east to Norland and turn right at Highway
35 and proceed south to County Road 8 and turn left to Fenlon Summers. Proceed
to Bobcaygeon, take County Road 36 to Noggies Creek, to County Road 507
and proceed to Buckhorn. Proceed south on County Road 23 towards Lakefield
and Peterborough.
Places to Stay: PETERBOROUGH & AREA:
Pine Vista Resort,
Wantasa
Resort, The Briars,Village Inn, The
BUCKHORN: Westwind
Inn On the Lake Couples Resort. Fenelon
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Sault
Ste. Marie Summer Route colours (colors)
Driving Directions: Proceed to
Sudbury via Highway 400 and 69 north to the Highway 17 Trans Canada. Proceed
to Sault Ste. Marie through Blind River. Return on the same route or travel
through Sudbury on Highway 17 to North Bay and south on Highway 11.
Places to Stay: Birch
Lodge, Moose Point Cottages,
West Nipissing Resort
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