Algonquin’s fall colour follows a pattern, and the park measures each year against a peak average built from more than 50 years of observations. This guide uses those records and the 2026 report to explain when colour arrives, where to see it along Highway 60, and what to plan around.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Average maple peak, western Highway 60 corridor | September 27 |
| Earliest recorded peak | September 15 (1982) |
| Latest recorded peak | October 9 (1996) |
| 2026 maple peak | September 29, two days later than average |
| 2026 aspen peak | October 7 and 8 |
| Source | Algonquin Park fall colour report, based on 50+ years of records |
| Next report | Early to mid-September 2027 |
Quick answer
Aim for the last week of September for maples, early October for the yellow "Golden Encore", and mid-October for tamaracks. Colour moves in waves, so a cottage week that spans two weekends sees more than one wave.
The three waves
Mid-September to early October: maples. Sugar and red maples give the orange and red. The park’s West Side, including the Highway 60 corridor, is dominated by maples. The average peak for the sugar maple canopy in the western Highway 60 corridor is September 27.
Early to mid-October: the Golden Encore. Poplar and birch turn yellow-orange, and the maple understory shows orange. The park names the eastern part of the Highway 60 corridor and the East Side as places to see this wave. The East Side is dominated by pines, whose needles stay green.
Mid to late October: tamaracks. Tamaracks peak in yellow, mainly in wetlands and bogs. By late October or early November, depending on conditions, all deciduous trees are bare.
What happened in 2026
The park’s 2026 reports have concluded. The maple peak came on September 29. The park reported good early maple viewing from September 17 and some of the season’s best canopy colour from September 26 to 29. Aspen reached peak intensity on October 7 and 8. Strong winds and rain from October 13 to 16 increased leaf fall, and light snow fell on October 17. Use these dates as one year’s example, not a promise for the next.
Where to go on Highway 60
The park suggests these stops, with km markers: the West Gate (km 0), the Algonquin Art Centre (km 20), Two Rivers (km 33), Rock Lake Road (km 40.3), the Visitor Centre (km 43), Opeongo Road (km 46.3), Brewer Lake (km 49) and the Logging Museum (km 54.5). It suggests an interpretive trail dominated by maples to see the understory colour up close. It names the Spruce Bog Boardwalk, the Mizzy Lake Trail and Opeongo Road for tamaracks.
Ontario Parks lists these Highway 60 trails with views: Hardwood Lookout at km 13.8 (1 km, view of Smoke Lake), Track and Tower at km 25 (7.5 km, lookout over Cache Lake), Hemlock Bluff at km 27.2 (3.5 km, view of Jack Lake), Centennial Ridges at km 37.6 (10 km, strenuous) and the Lookout Trail at km 39.7 (1.9 km).
Campgrounds and day use in the fall
Several campgrounds in 2026 ran into October: Achray, Brent and Lake of Two Rivers to October 25, Canisbay Lake, Raccoon Lake and Rock Lake to October 18, and Kearney Lake and Whitefish Lake to October 12. Mew Lake runs all year. Day-use areas Brent, Achray and Basin Lake ran to November 15. Check the park page for the next season’s dates.
Permits and crowds
Each vehicle in the park needs a valid provincial park permit. The fall colour page gives no current crowd data and does not state current permit requirements. Read the park’s Fees and FAQ pages before you drive in on a long weekend.
How to use the park’s report
The park publishes a fall colour report each autumn and says the next one returns in early to mid-September 2027. Read it in the week before you travel. It tells you which wave is under way. Maples dominate the western Highway 60 corridor, and the park points to the eastern corridor and the East Side for the Golden Encore. If you drive in from a cottage near Dwight or Haliburton, plan which end of Highway 60 you want to reach first, and start there.
Planning a fall stay
Pick a cottage week that spans the last weekend of September, because the average maple peak falls on September 27. Add a second trip in early October for the yellow wave. Book campgrounds against the 2026 end dates above, and check the park page for next year’s dates. Keep a day free for weather. In 2026 strong winds and rain from October 13 to 16 stripped many leaves, and light snow arrived October 17.
FAQ
When do the fall colours peak in Algonquin?
The average sugar maple peak in the western Highway 60 corridor is September 27. The park’s records range from September 15 to October 9. Checked November 3 2026.
What was the 2026 peak?
September 29, two days later than the average. Checked November 3 2026.
When do tamaracks turn?
Mid to late October, mainly in wetlands and bogs. Checked November 3 2026.
When is the next fall colour report?
The park says to check back in early to mid-September 2027. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages near the park
Browse cottages in the Algonquin Park gateway or the Haliburton and Algonquin region. See Algonquin Provincial Park camping and day trips.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the municipalities around Algonquin Park. Our dataset has no confirmed short-term rental rule for this municipality yet, so confirm with its clerk before you list.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Typical timing: maples mid-Sept to early Oct; average peak western Hwy 60 corridor Sept 27; earliest Sept 15 (1982); latest Oct 9 (1996); Golden Encore early-mid Oct, eastern Hwy 60 and East Side named for viewing; tamaracks mid-late Oct; all deciduous bare by late Oct/early Nov; West Side incl. Hwy 60 maple-dominated, East Side pine-dominated; maple interpretive trail for understory | https://algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/general_park_info/fall-colour-report.php | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | 2026: maple peak Sept 29 (two days later than 50+ year average); good early maple viewing Sept 17, best canopy Sept 26-29; aspen peak Oct 7-8; wind and rain Oct 13-16; light snow Oct 17; reports concluded; next report early/mid-September 2027 | https://algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/general_park_info/fall-colour-report.php | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Suggested stops by km: West Gate 0, Art Centre 20, Two Rivers 33, Rock Lake Rd 40.3, Visitor Centre 43, Opeongo Rd 46.3, Brewer Lake 49, Logging Museum 54.5; tamarack spots Spruce Bog Boardwalk, Mizzy Lake Trail, Opeongo Rd; no crowd data; permit requirements not stated | https://algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/general_park_info/fall-colour-report.php | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Lookouts with km markers: Hardwood Lookout km 13.8, 1 km (Smoke Lake); Track and Tower km 25, 7.5 km (Cache Lake); Hemlock Bluff km 27.2, 3.5 km (Jack Lake); Centennial Ridges km 37.6, 10 km strenuous; Lookout km 39.7, 1.9 km | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/algonquin/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | 2026 campground end dates (Achray, Brent, Lake of Two Rivers Oct 25; Canisbay, Raccoon, Rock Oct 18; Kearney, Whitefish Oct 12); Mew Lake all year; Brent/Achray/Basin Lake day use to Nov 15; each vehicle needs a permit | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/algonquin | 2026-11-03 |