Glorious Fall Colours In Algonquin Park
As Bob and I drove through Algonquin Provincial Park, a sea of glorious fall colors stretched before us.
Not since the autumn of 2014 had people been raving about the vibrant show of coloured leaves in Algonquin Provincial Park. It seemed that the dry summer of 2022 had contributed to the intensity and richness of the myriad shades of this year’s fall colors.
It is possible to experience many different moods of Algonquin Provincial Park. Crisp autumn mornings result in dense fog in many low-lying areas.
On one such morning, Bob and I entered the Park early in search of a Moose.
We became concerned that any Moose would be hidden by the veil of fog rising from many of the wetlands where a Moose might linger.
A quick stop at the Smoke Lake boat launch provided a different perspective of that Lake so named for the impenetrable cover of fog that normally obscures a view.
As the warmth of the sun’s rays heated the air causing the fog to rise, most beautiful scenes of the radiant coloured leaves were revealed to us.
Bob and I were not the only ones headed into Algonquin Park to see the fall colours. Given the major problems in the past with people stopping their cars in the middle of the highway and even on bridges to snap photos, the park authorities installed road signs saying no stopping in live lanes.
Bob and I had purchased our daily entrance permit online five days before we visited the Park. Every day that we visited Algonquin, the quota for sale of the daily permits had been met; they were sold out. Here, at the West Gate entrance to Algonquin Park, measures had been put in place to control and monitor incoming traffic.
Algonquin Park rangers were kept very busy providing the visitors with information. We took note of 5 RV Campers that had just arrived from British Columbia. People travel long distances to see the beauty of Algonquin in the fall.
Continuing our drive through the Park, it was hard to restrain ourselves from stopping every whipstitch to snap a photo. Many views were simply photographed through the car’s windshield.
Mother Nature sure was providing a treat with all that eye candy!
The beauty abounded everywhere.
Even a simple vignette encompasses the radiance of a red Maple Leaf.
The early morning fog had all but evaporated from the calm reflective waters above Tea Lake Dam.
A few Common Mergansers drifted in and out of the deep shade all the while on the search for prey.
The Mergansers were having great luck catching frogs.
Though little fall colour was on show at this location, I always love this particular scene.
While taking in that view, a lone Canada Jay arrived in a nearby tree.
At that same location on a different day, a huge surprise was in store for us when we spotted a Horned Lark foraging at the side of the road. That was a first-ever sighting for us in the Park.
We did more than drive through Algonquin Park, but hiked many trails over the course of a week. This Golden-crowned Kinglet was observed near Mew Lake.
When hiking the Mizzy Lake Trail, a Ruffed Grouse strutted across the path near Wolf Howl Pond. Ruffed Grouse are more often seen during the fall months.
It was a cluster of American Pipits that flitted about the boardwalk near Dizzy Lake that had us halting in our tracks in order to snap a few photos.
But the day of our fall colour tour, it was hard to pull our eyes away from the forest canopy.
It was pretty hard not to notice these Wild Turkeys strolling at roadside. They’re huge!
And we did manage to spot a Moose. Sightings had been few and far between. The general feeling was that the unseasonably warm autumn had caused the Moose to delay their rutting season. When the Moose are seeking a mate, they are more frequently seen along the highway.
Continuing along, the cavalcade of colour stretched all along the highway 60 corridor in the Park. Our hearts full from the exquisite beauty we had witnessed, it was time to head home.
You can get more details on the Fall Colours in Algonquin Park at: Algonquin Park Fall Colour Report
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