Our Favourite Spots for Fall Colour Around Rice Lake and the Kawarthas

There’s a reason people plan whole weekends around fall in the Kawarthas. The maples turn first, then the oaks and birches follow, and for a few weeks the drive to the resort becomes half the destination. Whether you’ve got a full day to spend behind the wheel or just an hour before dinner, here’s where to find the best colour around Rice Lake.

The Full Drive: Leaf It to Lang

If you only do one fall drive this year, make it this one. It’s a local favourite for good reason: about 70 km, roughly two to three hours with stops, and it happens to end right here at Elmhirst’s. Stops along the Leaf It to Lang route include:

1. Millbrook. Start in this quaint village lined with locally owned shops. Pick up charcuterie at Millbrook Mercantile (28 King Street East), baked goods at The Peddler (17 King St.), and don’t leave without a butter tart from Doo Doo’s Bakery (187 County Rd. 28, Bailieboro). Pack it all up for a picnic later.

2. Rolling Grape Vineyard & Restaurant. A short drive from Millbrook (260 County Rd. 2, Bailieboro), this is a good spot to pull over for a glass of wine or a wood-fired pizza on the patio, with the vines turning colour around you.

3. Lang Pioneer Village Museum. In Keene (104 Lang Rd.), the grist mill and heritage buildings are especially photogenic against fall colour. If your timing lines up, keep an eye out for seasonal events like Applefest.

4. Harley Farms. Also in Keene (1630 Heritage Line), stretch your legs on a walking tour, say hello to the farm animals, and stop by the farm store for meat, seasonal vegetables, and other local goods before you go.

5. Elmhirst’s Resort. End the day where the route was always headed: a night on the shore of Rice Lake. Settle into a cottage here at the Resort, and watch the colour reflect off the water while you let us handle dinner.

Prefer to Stay Close to Rice Lake?

If a full-day trip isn’t in the cards, you don’t have to go far. The roads around Rice Lake, particularly near Rice Lake Scenic Rd and Close Point Road, offer some of the best colour and water views in the region, with the lake’s islands lit up in red, orange, and yellow this time of year. It’s an easy hour out and back, perfect for guests who’d rather spend the afternoon on the water or by the fire.

Venture Farther Into the Kawarthas

Got extra time? Petroglyphs Provincial Park, home to the country’s largest collection of Indigenous rock carvings, is a worthwhile detour further north, with fall colour framing the trails. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, the largest provincial park south of Algonquin, is another option for anyone who wants a proper hike among the reds and golds before heading back to the resort.

When to Go

Peak colour in the Kawarthas typically lands in early to mid-October, though it shifts a little year to year depending on weather. If you’re planning around it, check Ontario’s fall colour report before you set out, and build in a buffer weekend in case the leaves are running early or late.

Make a Weekend of It

However you spend the day, come back to a cottage with your name on it. Our Couch Potato Package includes 15% off accommodation plus breakfast and dinner, so all you have to do is enjoy the view. 

The Leaf It to Lang route above is based on The Kawarthas Tourism’s official driving tour. 

More fall colour resources:

• Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report, for real-time updates on peak colour across the province

• Best-Loved Fall Colours, Northumberland Tourism, for more drives around Rice Lake and Northumberland County